Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Rev 10:1 and following. Indeed Chapter 10, in the continuation of the trumpets, corresponds to Chapter 7 in the series of seals. It forms an important parenthesis between the sixth and seventh trumpets, precisely like chapter 7 between the last two seals. This is the perfect order that reigns in this book of Revelation. It is for this reason that we still find here the Lord, as it seems, under the guise of an angel. As we have seen previously (chapter 8) performing the functions of high priest, here he is the angel who claims for himself the royal rights. A mighty angel descends from heaven, clothed in a cloud, a special sign of Jehovah’s majesty; no one but him has a title to show himself like this. In addition, the rainbow is on his head, no longer around the throne, because here we have taken a step forward. He approaches the earth; he will claim, in a very short time, what he is entitled to. “The rainbow is on his head, and his face like the sun”; it is the supreme authority; “and his feet like columns of fire,” the firmness of divine judgment.
“And he had in his hand a little open book. And he put his right foot on the sea and the left on the land; and he cried out aloud, like a lion roared.” John was going to write what he had heard, but it is forbidden to him. Revelations were to be sealed for the present. “And the angel whom I had seen standing on the sea and on the earth, raised his right hand to heaven, and swore by him who lives in the ages of ages, who created heaven and the things that are there, and the earth and the things that are there, and the sea and the things that are there, that there would be no more delay’. God was about to put an end to the mystery of inaction in which He now seems to remain as to the government of the world. It now allows him to follow his own paths, while putting a certain brake on it. Men can sin, and at least as it is a direct intervention, God does not appear except on a few exceptional occasions. But the time is coming, and he is hastening, when God will surely visit sin; then he will no longer tolerate for a single moment anything that is contrary to his nature. This is the blessed century to which all prophets turn their gaze; and the angel, here, swears that this time is approaching, and “that there would be no more delay, but that in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound the trumpet, the mystery of God will also be over.” The mystery here is not Christ and the Church, but, as we have said, the fact that God allows evil to continue its course with an appearance of impunity.
At the end of the chapter, John is told, “You must prophesy again about peoples and nations and languages and many kings.” The meaning of these words soon becomes clearer. There is to prophecy, a kind of appendix, in which for special reasons it begins its course again. But let us recall attention to the contrast that exists between the small open book that the prophet takes and eats, and the great book sealed with seven seals. It is a small book, because it deals with objects enclosed in a relatively tight sphere; it is open, because things must no longer be described in a mysterious way, as was the case under the seals and even more so under the trumpets. Everything will be made perfectly clear in what is exposed and this is, therefore, the case in the following.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
The angel and the little open book:
- Books
1 Sam 10:25 Samuel then made known to the people the right of kingship, and he wrote it in a book, which he laid before the Lord. Then he sent all the people home, each one at home. Jb 19:23 Oh, I would like my words to be written, that they be written in a book; Ec 12:12 Ecclesiastes strove to find pleasing words; and what was written with righteousness were words of truth. Acts 19:19 And a number of those who had exercised the magical arts, having brought their books, burned them before everyone: their value was estimated at fifty thousand silver coins. Rev 5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a book written inside and out, sealed with seven seals.
- Creation of Heaven
Gen 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Ps 102:26 You once founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. Isa 40:22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and those who inhabit him are like grasshoppers; He extends the heavens like a light cloth, He unfolds them like a tent, to make them his home. Je 32:17 Ah! Eternal Lord, Behold, you have made heaven and earth By your great power and your outstretched arm: Nothing is surprising on your part.
- Oaths authorized when testifying
Ex 22:10 If a man gives another a donkey, an ox, a lamb, or any animal to keep, and the animal dies, breaks a limb, or is removed, without anyone having seen it, Nb 5:19 The priest will make the woman swear, and say to her: If no man has slept with you, and if, being under the power of your husband, you have not turned away from it to defile yourself, these bitter waters that bring the curse will not be fatal to you. Dt 6:13 Thou shalt fear Jehovah your God, serve him, and swear by name. 1 Kings 8:31 If anyone sins against his neighbor and is sworn to make him swear, and if he comes to swear before your altar in this house, Jer 12:16 And if they learn the ways of my people, If they swear by my name, saying: The Lord is alive! As they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will enjoy happiness in the midst of my people.
- Divine Call to Spiritual Direction, Examples
Abraham Gen 12:1 Jehovah said to Abram, “Go away from your land, from your homeland, and from your father’s house, into the land that I will show you.
Moses Ex 3:10 Now go, I will send you to Pharaoh, and you will bring out of Egypt my people, the children of Israel.
-Gideon Jg 6:14 The Lord turned to him, and said, Go with this strength that you have, and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; is it not I who send you?
-Elisha 1 Kings 19:19 Elijah left there, and he found Elisha, son of Schaphath, who was ploughing. There were twelve pairs of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah approached him, and he threw his coat on him.
-Isaiah: Isaiah 6:8 I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Who shall I send, and who shall walk for us? I replied: Here I am, send me.
Paul Acts 26:16 But stand up, and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you to establish you as a minister and witness to the things you have seen and to those for which I will appear to you.
From all the above, we note that once again Christ appears in the guise of “another angel,” here also accompanied by signs of grace. The cloud He wraps Himself in and the pillars of fire on which He stands are a reminder of God’s care for Israel in the wilderness (Ex 13:20-22); the rainbow (Rev. 4:1-4) speaks of God’s covenant with the earth (Gen 9:12-17). His promises are thus indirectly recalled. But Christ also possesses the attributes of authority: His face is like the sun, and He claims His rights to own the world. He has in his hand a small open book representing a short period of prophecy already revealed in the Old Testament. This is the second “half week” of great distress (Dn 9:23-27), during which God still recognizes the temple, the altar, and “those who worship in it.” Remarkably, these three and a half years are evaluated in months (42) to talk about oppression, but also in days (1260) to measure the testimony of a faithful residue. God has counted each of these days and knows what it represents in courage and suffering (Ps 56:9-14). These are the preliminary misfortunes falling on all Christianized Jews and Gentiles; it is not yet the direct antagonism of the power of evil against God. That is what will be developed; but first, in the little open book, we will see this phase put in its place in the general history. Thus, the book is seen as open, as a part of the well-known prophecy and conducted directly to the end on known ground; these are not the ways of God unrevealed and even less manifested, preparing the final outcome. Christ descends and asserts his right over all things here on earth: he places his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the earth and makes the voice of his strength heard, to which the voice of the Almighty responds. But the revelations of this voice are sealed; then Christ swears by the One who lives in the ages of centuries, that there would be no more delay. All things tend to the final outcome. At the sound of the seventh trumpet, the mystery of God must be completed – his direct power will intervene. The prophet must begin to prophesy again about peoples, nations, and languages. May the Lord strengthen us all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “the seventh trumpet. »
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.