Day 248, Revelation 10
The sermon explores the significance of Revelation 10, highlighting the delayed wrath of God, the symbolism of the book eaten by John, and the patience of Jesus in delaying His return to give people time to repent.
David Servant delves into Revelation chapter ten, highlighting the mysterious angel with one foot on the sea and one on the land, the thunderous peals of thunder that John was forbidden to record, and the impending end signified by the delay in the 'mystery of God.' The chapter symbolizes the beginning of the end, leading to the final judgments before Jesus' return, emphasizing the bittersweet nature of the message. David emphasizes the importance of repentance and God's patience, as reflected in 2 Peter 3:9-10, underscoring the urgency of preparing for the day of the Lord.
Text
The eleven short verses of chapter ten are parenthetical between the sixth and seventh trumpet judgments. It begins with an angel who is apparently quite large, as he places "his right foot on the sea and his left on the land" (10:2), who cries out with a loud voice. At the same time, John hears "seven peals of thunder" (10:4) which communicate something that John is forbidden to record. So there is a sure example of something God does not want us to understand.
Apparently, however, that particular event signals the end of a long delay to the finishing of the "mystery of God...as He preached to His servants the prophets" (10:6-7). That must be reference to all that was foretold in the Old Testament about "the day of the Lord." Although the final pouring out of God's wrath upon the earth had been delayed for a long time, nothing will be able to stop it when the seventh angel sounds. This is the beginning of the end.
The book that John then ate was symbolic of the words he would prophesy concerning all that would occur after the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, what we will be reading in the remainder of Revelation. Although that book was sweet in his mouth, it was bitter in his stomach, perhaps symbolizing the bittersweet quality of the message. We're all looking forward to the inevitable end of things, but who is looking forward to the final judgments that precede Jesus' wonderful return? And once He has returned, there will never be another opportunity for mercy and repentance, which is why, according to Peter, Jesus has delayed His return for so long:
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up (2 Pet. 3:9-10).
I'm glad the Lord was patient with me!
Sermon Outline
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I
- The Parenthetical Nature of Revelation 10
- The Angel and the Seven Peals of Thunder
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II
- The Delayed Wrath of God
- The Seventh Angel and the End of the Mystery
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III
- The Book Eaten by John
- Symbolism and the Bittersweet Quality of the Message
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IV
- The Delayed Return of Jesus
- Patience and Mercy
Key Quotes
“Apparently, however, that particular event signals the end of a long delay to the finishing of the 'mystery of God...as He preached to His servants the prophets' (10:6-7).” — David Servant
“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” — David Servant
“I'm glad the Lord was patient with me!” — David Servant
Application Points
- We should be grateful for God's patience and mercy, and take advantage of the time we have to repent and come to Him.
- The final judgments that precede Jesus' return should motivate us to live in a way that honors Him and prepares us for His coming.
- We should be looking forward to the wonderful end that Jesus will bring, and living in a way that reflects our hope in Him.