Bible Commentaries
Revelation 10

Verses 1-11

1. Intro:
   1. Advertisements are comical today on what they have to “warn us of”.
      1. This pill may cause: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of limbs, etc.
      2. I received a cortisone shot in my shoulder a few weeks ago & the doctor had to warn me that the needle may cause a slight blemish.
   2. The bible also should have a warning label on it:
      1. Warning: “This book is habit-forming. Regular use causes loss of anxiety, decreased appetite for lying, cheating, stealing, & hating. Symptoms: increased sensation of love, peace, joy, & compassion!”
   3. Q: Do you place “yourself” under the correction of Gods Word?
      1. Read #52 Logs (B.P.)
   4. Read chapter! - Heavenly scene; Longest Vision here in this book!
   5. Here we have another chapter set aside to assure us that... “Not for a single moment has God abandoned, our protected planet, to His foes!”
      1. After a few days of a storm it sure is refreshing when the Sun peers its rays thru. It may just be a glimpse, but it’s a quick reminder that behind all those dark clouds.....the sun still shines!
   6. Ch.10 is another breath (inhale/exhale). It turns our Eyes upon Jesus!
      1. All troubles in this world stem from the fact that men have lost sight of Him!
   7. For centuries men believed bad theories of astronomy...“that the Earth was the center of the universe”! - (Ptolemy; Greek Astronomer, 2nd cent. AD)
      1. Many defective theories arose to back up this theory!
      2. Men didn’t have the key, for they ignored the “centrality of the sun”!
   8. Then came a Polish Astronomer Copernicus who rejected Ptolemy's system in the 16th century and developed his own heliocentric theory, which correctly stated that the sun was located at the center of the solar system.
      1. Thus the world has forgotten the centrality of the SON…that He is the center of everything!
      2. Man has come up w/all sorts of preposterous ideas, trying to prove “himself” as the center of the universe…instead of God!
   9. Instead of looking to the Prince of Peace ruling over the Nations....man looks to the United Nations, for the worlds answers!
   10. So John turns our eyes back on Jesus!
2. SWEET & SOUR MESSAGE! (1-11)
   1. EYES ON JESUS! (1-3)
   2. This Angel? - Just another angel? Or, Jesus?
      1. Clothed w/a Cloud (Ps.104:3; Acts 1:9; Rev.1:7)
      2. A Rainbow on His head (4:3)
      3. Face like the sun (1:16)
      4. Feet like pillars of fire (1:15)
      5. Loud voice (1:10,15)
      6. Lion (5:5)
      7. Swearing (5,6)
   3. Foot on earth & other on sea – His mission involves the whole world.
   4. EYES ON JOHN! (4-11)
   5. (4) “Seal up...” – John’s 1^st time muzzled!
      1. Proof God knows more than you!
         1. Read Job 26:14
      2. Don’t crave to know the hidden things of God!
         1. Aren’t there some things you keep hidden from your little children...for their sake? (maybe details of a tragedy/ you simplify it, mommy was in an accident!)
            1. Here, God is purposefully holding back what al is going to happen. How much worse can it get!
         2. Maybe God hides some things just so they’ll be a blessing later? {Helped mom w/groceries....Red car}
         3. Deut.29:29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
      3. “Remember the purpose of scripture is to Save Sinners & to Sanctify Character....not to Satisfy Curiosity!” (www)
   6. (5,6) I swear! - hand up.
      1. Mt 5:34 "But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne.”
      2. Heb 6:13 “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself.”
      3. I swear by God the Eternal One & by God the All-Powerful Creator!
   7. (6,7) Delay no longer –
      1. See 7^th Trumpet in 11:15.
      2. The end of Satan’s kingdom has come! - Chapter 12 he’s thrown out of heaven & from accusing the brethren ever again.
   8. What Joy this brings to the Martyrs & others who ask “how long?”
      1. God has His times & purposes on schedule!
      2. Yet, now He is the God who still Delays! - Thank You Lord!
      3. Heb 10:37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.”
   9. (8) John has been faithful to: record the letters; enter the open door into heaven; overcome his fears of all the things he was seeing in this strange & wonderful world; now he’s about to get a little bit more involved.
      1. He is challenged to approach the mighty angel & take the scroll He’s holding! – I think I’d rather take away a bone from a ravenous dog (Bongo & Rake story).
      2. Well, he didn’t take it, but he did ask for it(9).
      3. So, he’s told to take it & eat it???
   10. Strange wording? – Yet we say - “Hey did you like the book you just read? Yes, I ate it up!”
   11. David used this analogy, “More to be desired are they(His Word) than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”
   12. Jeremiah used this analogy, “Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.”
   13. As did Ezekiel also in 2:8-3:3.
       1. To both Jeremiah & Ezekiel God’s message was both sweet & sour!
          1. It caused tremendous pain for both of them.
   14. (9,10) Both bitter & sweet? - Remember the old commercials of Miller Light in the 70’s where they’d fight over whether it Taste great, or was, less filling [it was both]
       1. Here we have something sweet to taste & bitter to digest.
       2. Probably quite low in calories!
   15. We should allow the word of God to affect us 1^st before we minister it to others!
       1. 1Co 15:3 “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received”
       2. We must take the Word:
          1. Taste it & see it is good.
          2. Receive it inwardly like food.
          3. Then Digest it & let it become part of us!
       3. To eat God’s word is to “fully digest” what God is saying.
          1. This will give better results then the binge-&-purge approach to Scripture. [Q: What’s your approach?]
   16. Digestion does what? – It continually breaks food particles down further & further.
       1. Food is made up of large, complex molecules. Digestive system breaks down into smaller, simple molecules to be absorbed into the bloodstream. Then travels to each of our cells. Which uses them for growth, repair, & energy.
       2. What a great picture of what God’s Word does also for us!
          1. It effects mind, heart, then our will & is for growth, repair, & energy.
       3. Also what distinguishes plants from animals/humans is that plants can produce their own food supply…we can’t.
          1. We really on an external food supply.
   17. This is also a vivid picture of Truth. 1^st it’s pleasant to the taste, then once fully digested it brings heaviness!
       1. Sweet – God’s wrapping things up, & His Kingdom is coming!
       2. Bitter - But there 1^st will have to be much blood shed & more beasts, & bowls, & battles to come.
       3. John could not take a mere academic interest in the Revelation...it upset him!
       4. I think its normal then when we are reading the OT & run across the wars & slaying of men, women, & children, to be upset.
       5. Q: Can you take a mere academic approach to Revelation?
       6. Q: Will you let Jesus coming for His saints, & His coming judgment for those who are not His... affect you?
   18. (11) The Little Book obviously contained future prophesies.
   19. This is a vivid picture of Prophesy. We taste Revelation “hey, that’s neat”; then once fully digested it brings a very sobering picture of the damned!
   20. God still needed John to declare His message to the people.
       1. The scene is being set for the final conquest, the man of sin shall be revealed, the final show-down is triggered.
       2. God & Antichrist; good & evil, will face each other; final & total victory will be won; the questions will find their answers, & the wrongs will be righted.
          1. God promised for centuries He would balance the scales of justice for us!...And He will!
       3. Evil may flourish now, but it cannot in the end be triumphant!
   21. Q: What do you expect from Gods Word?
       1. Some expect a “jolt” every time they read the bible!
       2. It’s more like taking Vitamins! - You don’t take Vitamins for a “jolt” but for the long term benefits!
          1. I don’t feel a new strength surging thru my body when I take my Vitamins C. But I know they’re profitable over time!
   22. Remember, A Bible in the hand is worth two in the bookcase.
   23. “Men do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself, but because it contradicts them.”