Bobservations' Column
Titled - "The Lion of Judah Roars"
Written by: Pastor Bob Lawrenz
In Chapter 10, the Earth and those that remain on it are now in a changed world. Half of those that missed the Rapture are now dead. It’s a new world as a New World Order seeks to fix its chaos and lawlessness. One cannot trust their neighbors, and parents cannot trust their own children. Losses of every kind have struck at the core of human relationships.
As John sits on the Isle of Patmos, his view is from above. But in his spiritual state, he sees yet another Angel come down from heaven. But this one is different from the other angels that he has seen. This one comes in clouds. This one comes with a rainbow upon his head, like the promise made to man that God would never destroy the Earth with a flood ever again. And the appearance of this one reminds John of the first image of Jesus he saw in Revelation 1. His face was as the sun, and His feet were as pillars of fire! And this time, His feet straddled the sea and the earth.
When He spoke, He spoke with the sound of a lion’s roar, and as seven thunders carry His voice echoing across the void. The seven thunders uttered something, and the Angel told him not to write their words. This is the Lion of Judah, speaking in a voice that is familiar to him. It is Jesus in His glorified state: the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Amidst all the destruction on the Earth, John is immediately at peace at the sound of His voice.
But the thunder John has heard in the vision always bring an opportunity, and judgment follows. John might ask himself, “How much more can these people endure?” At the end of chapter 9, they refused to repent of their own works and those of the devil (Galatians 5:19-21): they turned not away from their idolatry (greed), nor from their murders, their drug abuse, their fornication, or from their thieving ways.
We have so many great and precious promises, and yet these people still love their sin, and wear it like a badge of honor. They’re being given space to repent, bur refuse to do so even in a world that is half destroyed. More Judgment must surely be coming!!!
Proverbs 1:22,23:
Sunday Morning's Audio Message:
In Chapter 10, the Earth and those that remain on it are now in a changed world. Half of those that missed the Rapture are now dead. It’s a new world as a New World Order seeks to fix its chaos and lawlessness. One cannot trust their neighbors, and parents cannot trust their own children. Losses of every kind have struck at the core of human relationships.
As John sits on the Isle of Patmos, his view is from above. But in his spiritual state, he sees yet another Angel come down from heaven. But this one is different from the other angels that he has seen. This one comes in clouds. This one comes with a rainbow upon his head, like the promise made to man that God would never destroy the Earth with a flood ever again. And the appearance of this one reminds John of the first image of Jesus he saw in Revelation 1. His face was as the sun, and His feet were as pillars of fire! And this time, His feet straddled the sea and the earth.
When He spoke, He spoke with the sound of a lion’s roar, and as seven thunders carry His voice echoing across the void. The seven thunders uttered something, and the Angel told him not to write their words. This is the Lion of Judah, speaking in a voice that is familiar to him. It is Jesus in His glorified state: the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Amidst all the destruction on the Earth, John is immediately at peace at the sound of His voice.
But the thunder John has heard in the vision always bring an opportunity, and judgment follows. John might ask himself, “How much more can these people endure?” At the end of chapter 9, they refused to repent of their own works and those of the devil (Galatians 5:19-21): they turned not away from their idolatry (greed), nor from their murders, their drug abuse, their fornication, or from their thieving ways.
We have so many great and precious promises, and yet these people still love their sin, and wear it like a badge of honor. They’re being given space to repent, bur refuse to do so even in a world that is half destroyed. More Judgment must surely be coming!!!
Proverbs 1:22,23:
“How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scorners delight in their scorning? And fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.”Bobservations' Column - Audio Version:
Sunday Morning's Audio Message:
Revelation 10:1-11 - "The Lion of Judah Roars"
Summary/Notes:
Suffering in all its forms is directly related to sin and separation from God. Whether suffering in this world is the result of our own poor choices and sinful actions, or because of the sinful actions of others, it is still the result of a world separated from the Creator. Let’s face it, scripture tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Yet God did not leave us here to suffer pointlessly. God is loving and merciful and the pain, the suffering and even God’s judgments are used to draw us to Himself. His desire is that all men would repent of their sin and turn to Him. There are really no innocents. The truth is, that people have rejected God, rejected His authority, rejected His word, rejected His Son, the gospel of salvation, and His forgiveness. They will not recognize Him as their Creator. They do not want Him as their Lord. They will not abandon their sin, nor will they repent and seek the Lord. People have chosen the way in which they will walk, and many are well on their way to destruction.
Make no mistake, God has never been silent about the issue of sin. As all the pain, horror, disease, destruction and deceptions of this world accumulate, there is a time come when there will be no more delay, it will all come to a screeching halt. The Lord who is faithful to His promises will come when the mystery of His silence will be broken; and that day is connected to the seventh trumpet. At the sounding of the seventh trumpet, His silence will end, and Christ will come. His kingdom will be established on earth. Satan will be halted, bound in chains, and delivered to a prison; and with him, the demons of hell and those who have rejected His gift of salvation. Righteousness will rule, knowledge will fill the earth, Christ will be King, and God will speak.
But before that seventh trumpet is blown, there is this brief interlude taking place in chapter 10.
Revelation 10 begins:
Another Mighty Angel (verse1) - There seems to be some disagreement as to who this is. Some commentators understand this to be one of the highest-ranking angels in heaven. He is powerful, filled with splendor, greatness and strength. However, the descripton of this “mighty angel” makes it obvious that He is none other than Christ Himself (compare 1:7, 15-16). The word “angel” simply means “messenger.” John has seen Him first as the glorified Son of man (1:13), then as God upon the throne (4:10), and the Lamb with the title scroll (5:8). Now He appears as the mighty Angel of the Lord, claiming possession of the land and sea.
Rainbow (verse 1) - The beautiful rainbow is an eloquent representation of both divine judgment and mercy in judgment. It was seen above the emerald throne and the One who sat upon the throne (4:3) in heaven. Now, near the very middle of the tribulation, He descends to the earth, and the rainbow is still above His head as a glorious crown. It is a wonderful reminder of the Noahic Covenant that God will always protect His own.
Feet Like Pillars of Fire (verse 1) - This mighty angel’s feet and legs indicate the firm resolve which will execute the Day of the Lord.
The Little Book (verse 2) - “Little Book” is from the Greek bibliaridion which is from biblion, as used for “book” in Revelation 5:1-9. “The book” represented the title deed to the whole earth. All its seals have been broken by this time, so the book is fully “open” with the writing signifying ownership fully displayed.
Right Foot on the Sea, Left Foot on the Land (verse 2) - Although Satan has temporarily usurped the sea and the earth, this symbolic act demonstrates that ALL creation belongs to the Lord and He rules it with sovereign authority. The mighty angel will descend from the clouds and stand astride both land and sea, proclaiming His ownership. Reminds us of Acts 1 - Jesus taken up in the clouds. He will also come back the same way.
Seven Thunders (verse 4) - Seven Thunders correspond to the “voice of the Lord.” The “voice of the Lord” occurs seven times in Psalm 29:3-9, clearly describing the events of the great flood in Noah’s day. The psalmist saw in his vision that “the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters.” This marks the first time in history that those in rebellion against God on the earth had ever heard thunder. The seven thunderous voices at the flood had been voices of judgment, the inference here in Revelation is the same. It’s interesting that there were also just seven times when God spoke to Noah (Genesis 6:13; 7:1; 8:15; 9:1,8,12,17). The first thunder in earth history, as there was no rain on the earth until the flood (Genesis 2:5).
** See also: Jeremiah 25:30; Hosea 11:10; Joel 3:16.
Seal Up (verse 4) - John hears a familiar voice. He was close to Jesus, the one that Jesus loved. He hears the voice in the vision, but in reality, on earth, it is the sound of thunder. John was told he must conceal the message of the seven thunders until God’s time (see Revelation 22:10).
Sware (verse 6) - To swear by, or affirm, promise, threaten - God is faithful to His promise. What He has said, He will do.
Him that Liveth (verse 6) - Daniel apparently saw the same glorified man in vision that John was seeing in reality (Daniel 12:7; 10:5-8). It may even be that both were describing the same scene, the same proclamation, the same prophecy - the prophecy that there was yet a little time remaining for human repentance. In fact, Daniel records that there would still be “a time, times, and an half” (Daniel 12:7), which corresponds to 3 1/2 years and agrees fully with the chronology of the remaining time indicated to John (11:2; 13:5). Note also that the one who “Liveth for ever and ever” is, of course, the Creator (4:10-11) and yet also is the Lamb (5:13), for they are one. “Because he could sware by none greater, he sware by himself” (Hebrews 6:13).
Created Heaven (verse 6) - The sworn assurance that there will be a supernatural completion of all things must appeal to the fact that there was a supernatural creation of all things. Those who deny a real creation by God tend also to deny a purposeful completion by God (2 Peter 3:3-6).
Time No Longer (verse 6) - This does not mean that time will cease, it means there will be no more delay. God’s purging of earth will not be further delayed after the “days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he begins to sound” (10:7). This initiates the plagues of the Day of the Lord (11:15), indicating that the time of the disciples anticipated has come. The prayers of the saints will be answered (6:9-11).
The Mystery (verse 7) - This is a Greek term meaning “to shut” or “to close.” In the New Testament, a “mystery” is a truth that God concealed but has revealed through Christ and His apostles. Here the mystery is the final consummation of all things as God destroys sinners and establishes His righteous kingdom on earth.
As He Declared (verse 8) - This mystery, though not fully revealed, was declared to God’s prophets. It is “the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth” (Ephesians 1:10). It is the consummation of God’s plan in bringing His glorious kingdom in Christ to fulfillment. It involves the salvation of the elect and their place in His glorious kingdom and all that goes with that. It includes the judgment of men dead in their sin, and demons. The mystery previous hidden refers to all the unknown details that are revealed from this point to the end of Revelation, when the new heavens and new earth are created. To believers living at that time in a world overrun by demons and unparalleled natural disasters, the realization that God’s glorious plan is on schedule will bring great comfort and hope in the midst of judgment.
Take It, and Eat It Up (verse 9) - This illustrates taking in God’s Word. John’s physical reactions demonstrate what every believer’s proper response to God’s judgment should be - sweet anticipation of God’s glory and our victory, and at the same time, the bitterness of seeing God’s wrath poured out on those who reject His Son.
It Shall Make Thy Belly Bitter (verse 9) - As John, or any of us, truly digests what the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments hold in store for the sinner, John becomes nauseated, as it would any of God’s children. God is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Men will perish because they will refuse to repent. We must accept with Christ in the perfect justice of consigning to hell the multitudes who have rejected or ignored His salvation, including those we love: friends and family.
Sweet as Honey (verse 9, 10) - God’s final victory and vindication are sweet realities to the believer. God’s Word and His Promises are refreshing, comforting, palatable, pleasing, satisfying. Yet to those who reject His Word, it is bitterness and sorrow, as poison. Bitter waters bring death. Having ears, they will not hear. Having eyes, they refuse to look and to see. They choose their own paths, the paths that lead to everlasting damnation.
Prophesy Again (verse 11) - John is still instructed to observe and record the events of the judgments yet to come. God’s calling on his life was to warn men about the bitter judgment that awaits those who reject the Lord. While he had no opportunity to preach to all nations as an exile on Patmos, He was to write and distribute all that God had shown him so that sinners everywhere (peoples, nations, tongues and kings). All would know that while judgment is presently restrained, a future day is coming when the seventh angel will sound his trumpet and sin’s dominion will be broken, the freedom of Satan and his demons will come to an end, godless men will be judged, and believers will be glorified.
The message for all of us is to remind us that we are God’s hand and feet in this world. We are to share the gospel of salvation and to warn non-believers of the coming judgment.
