Revelation 10 A Mighty Angel; No Further Delay; The ‘Little’ Book: Sweet to Eat – Bitter to Digest This section of Revelation, starting at Rev. 10:1 and which continues to Rev. 11:14, follows the book’s given narrative pattern and comprises a supplemental interlude between the sounding of the 6th and 7th TRUMPETS [as chapter 7 did for the 6th and 7th SEALS]. This portion of scripture describes the general events and conditions prevailing during the final Tribulation ‘week’ prophesied by Daniel’s 70x70 Weeks of Years {Dan. 9:24-27} which span the seven year peace treaty of the anti-Christ. These events bridge the 1st and 2nd half of this ‘seventieth week’ of Daniel’s prophecy – the latter includes the period of time related to the 1st thru 6th TRUMPET JUDGMENTS during the GREAT TRIBULATION – JACOB'S TROUBLE. The following is a summary of these events: • Another ‘mighty angel’ appears holding an opened ‘little scroll’, who evidently claims the earth and sea on behalf of Heaven and its King, the LORD Jesus Christ. • There will be no more delay; the ‘MYSTERY OF GOD’ is to be finished. • The ‘little scroll’ which is opened and John is told to eat. It tastes sweet as honey in the mouth, but it causes heartburn (sour stomach). • John is told he must prophecy again (i.e. in further detail) about many peoples, nations, tongues and kings. • The Temple, the altar of prayer and worshipers are measured. But the ‘outer court’ is excluded and given to the Gentiles for 42 months. • Two Witnesses prophecy for 1260 days (42 months or 3 ½ years). They have power like that of Moses and Elijah. • Two Witnesses are slain by the Man of Sin [the anti-Christ who is possibly possessed by the Apollyon, the king of the bottomless pit (i.e., the abyss, depthless well)] but after 3 1/2 days God resurrects them and they are raised up into Heaven! • There is a great earthquake which collapses 1/10 of the city of Jerusalem and kills 7000 people. rd th • The 3 Woe, the 7 TRUMPET judgment, comes quickly. [Note that Jesus pronounces eight woes on the Pharisees in Matt. 23:13-36]. REV. 10:1 Ø THE APPEARANCE OF ‘ANOTHER’ MIGHTY ANGEL “And I saw another strong (or mighty) angel.” [‘angelos’ = messenger]. John sees another ‘mighty angel’ come to earth from Heaven. The Greek word for ‘another’ here [243 allos (al’- los)] means that it is another [angel] of the same kind. The other ‘mighty’ angel was introduced back in Revelation 5:2 and is the one who asks the key question: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” The description of this angelic being1 is somewhat similar to one that given in Daniel 10:4-6. 1 J.A. Seiss makes a strong case that this ‘mighty’ or ‘strong’ angel is indeed Christ Jesus because of the comparative description given in Revelation 1:13-15 and the fact that He is owner of the earth and sea. M.R. DeHaan and H.A. Ironside agree this ‘mighty angel’ is referring to Jesus Christ. But Jon Courson does not believe it is Jesus because the appearance of Jesus on the earth at this time seems out of place in the flow or progression of the unveiling of God’s judgment and the setting up of the millennial kingdom of Christ. J.F. Walvoord in his commentary on Revelation also does not think this is Christ even though He is represented as the ‘Angel of the LORD’ in the Old Testament. He believes there is no contextual evidence that requires this messenger to be Christ and suggests this ‘mighty angel’ may be an archangel given special authority and power such as Michael has – the “great prince” who stands for the Revelation 10 -1- Copyright Ó 2004, 2007 K. G. Schiessel It is only the extraordinary appearance of this angel which has led some to identify him as Christ. But there is ample evidence and reasoning to show that this angel is only a mighty angel similar to the one introduced earlier in chapter 5. In the Old Testament it appears that the pre-incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ, was manifested as the ‘ANGEL OF THE LORD’ {e.g., Gen. 16:7; 22:11; Ex. 3:2, 4; Judge 2:1; 1 Kings 19:7; Psalms 34:7-8; Isa. 37:36; Zech. 12:8}. Note that Exodus 3:4 ascribes deity to the ANGEL OF THE LORD in verse 3:2. When Jesus was here in His humanity, He was not an angel—He was a man. He came in the form of that which he wanted to save {Heb. 1:1-2; 9:15-17}. John 1:1-5, 14 tells us that the ‘Word’ became flesh and dwelt [lit. ‘pitched a tent’] among us. Furthermore, after Christ took upon Himself our humanity, after He died and rose again and received a glorified body, we now see Him in the place of great power, honor and glory at God’s right hand {Heb. 1:3; 8:1; Rev. 5:12}. We never see Him manifested in an angelic form again. Throughout the book of Revelation Jesus Christ is revealed in His glorified and exalted role as Creator, Redeemer and Judge—He is exalted to the nth degree. It is true that ‘clouds of glory’ are associated with the Second Coming of Christ {Rev. 1:7}, but the angel described here is not coming in clouds of glory, he is clothed with a cloud. Furthermore, this is not describing the Second Coming of Christ to the earth to establish His Kingdom; rather, this angel makes the announcement that He is coming soon {Rev. 10:6-7}. (Angels, you recall, announced His first coming {Luke 2:8-14}, and, as we see here, they will announce His second coming to the earth). So, although his description of this messenger is somewhat similar to that of the glorified Christ Jesus {refer to Rev. 1:13-15}, we know that Christ is not an angel nor does He appear in the book of Revelation as an angel. This then is evidently describing ‘another’ mighty messenger [similar in kind to the one in Rev. 5:2] – He is Christ’s special envoy endowed with characteristics which are representative of the glorified Son of God. He comes down out of Heaven bearing the credentials of Christ’s exalted position and is given great authority to act on His behalf. Now notice the appearance of this mighty angel: • He is clothed with a cloud [God's promise of Christ’s 2nd Coming]. This is the mighty angel’s attire, his outer covering as a special emissary from Christ. He appears to be enveloped by a ‘cloud’, a white ‘fog’. Clouds are associated with ministry of God in many and various ways, including with Christ Himself {Matt. 24:29-30; Acts 1:6-9; Rev. 14:14}. Ø The Two Witnesses will later ascend into a ‘cloud’ in Rev. 11:12 after their resurrection. Jews {Dan. 12:1}. J. Vernon McGee also does not think this person is Christ Jesus because He was incarnate and He is revealed in the Book of Revelation as the post-resurrected, glorified Christ. In the New Testament Jesus is depicted as the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world but nowhere as an angel (of the LORD). Revelation 10 -2- Copyright Ó 2004, 2007 K. G. Schiessel Ø Jesus ascended into Heaven and a ‘cloud’ received Him [i.e., He disappeared into a cloud] out of the disciple's sight! The cloud is reminiscent of our Heavenly destination! Ø The Israelites were led in the wilderness by a pillar of cloud by day. Exodus 13:21-22. • He has a rainbow around his head [God's promise of Grace]. This is his ‘covering’ and is a reminder of Gods’ covenant with man and assurance of His promises {Gen. 9:11-17}. There is a rainbow resembling an emerald encircling God’s throne in Heaven {Rev. 4:3}. • His face was like the sun [God’s promise of His presence]. This is the signature of the glory of God {e.g., see Rev. 1:13-16}. In the new earth there will no longer be a sun but it will be illuminated by God’s very presence {Rev. 22:5}. But it does not necessarily follow that this mighty angel must therefore be the Son of God. Remember that Moses’ face shone after he had been in the presence of God {see Ex. 34:29}. This angel’s face is shining because he has come out of Heaven from before the presence of the LORD. You will recall that the raiment of the angels at the resurrection of Christ also bright as lightning {see Luke 24:4}. The angel in Revelation 18:1 illuminates the earth with his ‘glory’ yet no one asserts that he is Christ. • Has feet like pillars of fire [God's promise of Righteous Judgment] This is the signature of the judgment of God. Note the similarity with Rev. 1:15 where the glorified Jesus’ feet are described as “…..bronze glowing in a furnace.” But here the feet actually appear to be like flames. And of course this mighty angel has come to make a special and solemn announcement of final judgment. However, it should also be noted that pillars of fire may also be symbolic of the guidance and protection of the LORD.