Revelation 10:1-11
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.” And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.
Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.” (ESV)
Big Idea: Because the gospel is the ultimate explanation of all reality, we must receive and proclaim it.
I. We Must Receive the Gospel (vv. 1-7)
The good news of redemption in Jesus Christ explains all reality, so we must receive it. If we do, we will live with a true perspective on past history, we will live authentically in the present and with hope for the future.
A. Past (v. 1): Before God created the world he planned to save a people through the death of his Son (13:9). Through his holy angels he executes his will on the earth in human history. The angel in this passage comes with a cloud, rainbow, sun, and fiery pillars. The cloud represents God’s presence; the rainbow reminds us of his promise in Genesis after the flood; and the sun conveys that this angel has been in presence of Jesus and the Father who are infinitely powerful.
B. Present (vv. 2-3, 5-7): The gospel also makes sense of the present. Presently God is working out his plan of saving his people by applying the accomplished work of Christ to them. Planting his feet on land and sea represents his power to cause his message of salvation to go forth regardless of human, natural or spiritual opposition. Specifically, God’s redemptive plan is to save diverse individuals from every tribe, tongue, people and nation and unite them in one church.
C. Future (v. 4): Finally, the good news provides a confident perspective for the future because it tells us Jesus rose victorious to rule and reign until the end of history. God himself speaks (“voice of the seven thunders”) and prevents John from writing down what he heard about the end of time. While God reveals everything in Scripture we need to know for life in this world, there are some things that will remain concealed until a set time in the future.
Consider: How might understanding that God is actively working redemption at all times help you to put circumstances and events in your own life in a new light?
II. We Must Proclaim the Gospel (vv. 8-11)
The gospel is not just an acceptable worldview among many or a strategy for coping; it is the truth, the reality, the meta-narrative of life and the cosmos. We know it only because God has graciously revealed it to us through the Christ of Scripture. Receiving this infinitely valuable revelation obligates you to share it with others. The only debt you owe for receiving the gospel is the debt of giving it away.
A. Everywhere (v. 8): John returns to the image of the angel standing on the land and sea. Remember it conveys that God intends for the gospel to go everywhere and no force can stop its forward advance. Now he tells us that God has dignified us by including us in the spread of the gospel. By commanding us to “go and get the scroll” he tells us to proclaim the gospel everywhere.
B. At all times (vv. 9-10): This is essentially the point John is making with the image of eating the gospel (Ezek. 2:8; 3:1–3): you must take it in to the point that it becomes a part of who you are. Your life must be a demonstration of the gospel to others.
C. To all people: The final proof that the gospel is inside you and working its way out is that you are always moving toward people who are not like you. We must be approaching different-looking, different-spending, different-living people in order to take Christ who is inside you to them. It is not the gospel you are living and speaking, if it is not a reconciling gospel.
Consider: Which of these imperatives about proclaiming the gospel resonated with you most? How can you practically be obedient to this call in your life?