When we come to Revelation 10, we have an abrupt interruption. With the opening of the seventh seal the trumpets of judgment began to sound. Each of those trumpets portrays some providential act of judgment, by which God is warning men and women of judgment to come. In great mercy God warns his enemies of the certainty, suddenness, and finality of Divine judgment. Yet, we are told, they "repented not". That is astonishing! God warns, warns, and warns again. (9:20). He enforces his word of warning by acts of temporal, providential judgment. But the heart of man is so stubborn, so obstinately rebellious, so maliciously hardened against God, that neither the terror of God's law nor the acts of God's wrath will bring men to repentance. Judgment never brings repentance. "It is the goodness of God (that) leadeth thee to repentance" (Rom. 2:4). Repentance is a heart work, given to men by the grace of God and wrought in them by the Holy Spirit through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Zech. 12:10).
In Revelation 10 six trumpets have sounded, and the seventh, final trumpet is about to sound. Yet, the Lord's enemies repented not. Two woes have come to pass, and the third, final woe is about to come. Yet, the Lord's enemies repented not. And now, just before John sees the final, consummate judgment of God fall upon the earth, the Lord Jesus Christ appears, with one last word of warning. He stood upon the sea and upon the earth (and) lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth forever and ever, (He could swear by no greater, so he swear by himself), That there should be no more time." It is as though the Lord were saying, "No more delay! Prepare to meet thy God!"
Will you hear the Son of God speak? Judgment is coming. Soon you and I must stand before the awful bar of God's inflexible justice. Soon we must meet the holy God in judgment. His judgment is certain. It will come with great suddenness. And it will be in accordance with strict justice. When you meet God in that day, if you have not been reconciled to him by faith, if you have no Substitute where blood and righteousness alone can make you acceptable in God's sight, your immortal soul must be forever damned!
This world, which you so much love, will soon be destroyed, because it is defiled with sin. All that you have lived for, worked for, and sought in this world will vanish before your own eyes like a puff of smoke. But then, your immortal, sin-cursed soul will stand in helpless fear before God in judgment. And the Messenger of judgment in that terrible day will be Christ himself, whom you have despised and rejected John 5:22; Acts 17:31; II Cor. 5:10-11).
May God the Holy Spirit now speak through these lips of clay to your heart. As we look into this 10th chapter of Revelation, I want to show you this picture of Christ the Angel of Judgment.
Proposition:At the appointed time the end will come, the purpose of God will be accomplished, the elect of God will all be saved, and you who refuse to repent shall be crushed into hell.
Divisions:I am going to show you five things from these eleven verses of Holy Scripture.
1. The Angel Of Judgment Is Jesus Christ Himself – (vv. 1-3).
2. The Final Horrors Of God's Wrath Are Not Yet Revealed (v. 4).
3. The Purpose Of God In All Things Shall Be Accomplished (vv. 5-7).
4. The Word Of God Has A Message Both Of Sweetness And Bitterness (vv. 8-10).
5. Our Mission In This World Is Plain And Clear (v. 11).
The word "angel" simply means "messenger." And Christ, as the Mediator between God and men, is God's Messenger to men. He is the Angel of the Covenant and the Angel of God's presence. And he often appeared to men and women in the Old Testament as "The Angel of The Lord." Here he is represented as the angel of judgment, the Messenger of God who executes judgment upon men. Notice how John describes his appearance.
A. At The Time Of Great Need, The Lord Jesus Appeared For The comfort And Defense Of His People – (v. 1).After the fifth and sixth angels sounded their trumpets of woe, signaling the terrible devouring locusts of apostate religion and the terrors of military oppression, John says, "And I saw another mighty Angel come down from heaven." What relief! What joy! This Angel is the very same Christ John had seen walking upon the troubled sea, who said to his fearful disciples, "It is I; be not afraid."
1. The Lord appeared to John as a "mighty angel."
He is the mighty God, our Savior, the mighty Mediator, the mighty King. He is able to save, able to defend, and able to protect his own. It is as though the Lord is saying, "Multitudes shall perish, being consumed with strong religious delusion and destroyed by the machinery of war. But the ark of God is safe. The church of God is secure." Christ, the mighty Angel of the covenant is present with you. He is able to preserve you and keep you.
2. Then John says, He "came down from heaven."Though the Lord Jesus is in heaven, seated upon the throne of glory, he has not forsaken his church. His body has been taken from us, but not his heart. He is always with us. And as often as we need him, he comes to us in special grace, revealing his presence and power.
3. Yet, when he appeared, he was "clothed with a cloud."He hides himself from the world; and the world knows him not. The unbelieving cannot see the beauty of his person, the glory of his work, or dispensations of his providence. But the believer sees Christ everywhere and in all things.
4. Then John tells us that there was "a rainbow upon his head."We know the meaning of the rainbow. It represents the covenant of grace, all the blessings of the covenant, and the stability of the covenant (Gen. 9:15-16; Isa. 54:7-10). We see through the storm of persecution and the cloud of opposition. And we see the rainbow of God's covenant upon the head of Christ. And that bow, upon that head, gives our hearts peace (II Sam. 23:5).
5. Though the cloud of providence is dark and heavy, our Savior's "face was as it were the sun."This is the One John saw in the holy mountain of transfiguration, whose "face did shine as the sun!" He is the Sun of righteous arisen with salvation in his wings. What does this signify: "his face was as it were the sun?
a. It speaks of Christ's purity, both as God and man.
As God, he is the brightness of the Father's glory and the express image of his Person. As man, our Savior is holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners.
b. It also speaks of the light of grace and truth, which Christ gives to his people, for their direction, comfort and refreshment.
6. Then John tells us that "his feet (were) as pillars of fire."
That simply means that his ways of grace and providence, mercy and judgment, are pure and righteous altogether, And that his throne, his purpose, and his work are steady and unshaken. Though the world may seem to be in utter chaos, his feet are like pillars, immoveable.
Child of God, in the midst of darkness, trouble, oppression, and tribulation, Christ will come to you, make himself known to you, and sustain you. Trust him, and be at peace.
B. There Is Nothing So Comforting And Cheering To Believing Hearts As The Knowledge Of Our Savior's Sovereign Rule Of The Universe – (v. 2).
1. He has in his hand the book of God's decrees and purposes.
This little book now open, is the same book that before was sealed (5:1). None but Christ was worthy to open the book and accomplish the things written in it. But Christ is worthy. By virtue of his death and resurrection, God has turned the world over to Christ our Mediator, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
2. In order to accomplish the purpose of God in all things, Christ as our Mediator, has been given the rule of all things – (John 17:2).
Get the picture – The Lord Jesus Christ stands as sovereign Monarch over all things. His right foot is upon the sea. His left foot is on the earth. He holds the book of God's eternal purposes open in his hand. And he rules both earth and sea from his throne in heaven, according to that which was written in the book!
C. Suddenly, The Lord Jesus Cried With A Loud, Thunderous Voice – (v. 3).
The Lion of the tribe of Judah roared, and the roar was echoed by the seven thunders. We are not told what he spoke. But the context certainly implies that it was a word of terrible woe and judgment (See Psalm 29).
NOTE: The Lion of the tribe of Judah roars against his enemies. But he roars to signal his defense of his own! When he roars, let every rebel tremble! But when he roars, every believer may be perfectly calm.
II. The Final Horrors Of God's Wrath Are Not Yet Revealed – (v. 4).
John was about to write what he heard, but the Lord stopped him. Perhaps these things were too terrible to write. Perhaps they were so terrible that the mere words of men could not adequately express them. Whatever the reason, God expressly commanded John not to record the things he heard. The secret things belong to the Lord. We will not make any effort to pry into that which God has not revealed. But these things are certain.
A. Whatever it is that we must face in this world, God is faithful: He will preserve and keep his own.
B. No matter what horrors of judgment God brings upon men in this world, or in the world to come, he is righteous and just altogether – (Illus: Aids).
C. As the bliss and glory of heaven is far beyond anything that eye has seen, ear has heard, or mind has conceived, so the darkness and torments of the damned in hell is infinitely worse than any man has ever imagined it could be.
III. Thirdly, John shows us that – The Purpose Of God In All Things Shall Be Accomplished – (vv. 5-7).No matter how things may appear, no matter how chaotic and disorderly things may seem to be, everything in the universe is being accomplished exactly according to that which God has purposed. And the purpose of God is being accomplished exactly according to schedule – (Isa. 46:9-13).
A. The Lord Jesus Christ, Because He Could Sware By No Greater, Bound Himself With An Oath To His Own Name – (vv. 5-6).
As the Mediator, who is given the charge and responsibility of carrying out the eternal purposes of God, the Lord Jesus Christ solemnly swears to perform God's decree in all things. And he shall! "For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet" (I Cor. 15:25).
B. What Does The Lord Jesus Swear That He Will Do?I will be brief. But I pray that you will hear me well. Our Savior here declares two things:
1. There is an hour appointed when time shall be no more – (v. 6).Today God is patient and longsuffering with men. God is giving you space, time, and opportunity for repentance – (II Pet. 3:9; Rev. 7:3; II Pet. 3:14-15). Be wise. Today is the day of salvation. But judgment is coming. Hear his voice, and harden not your heart. Today, the hand of mercy holds back the final execution of Divine wrath. But at the hour appointed, Time shall be no more! The final execution of judgment shall delay no longer.
2. In that hour, when all things are brought to their final end, the mystery of God shall be accomplished (v. 7).
When the mystery of God is finished, time, the present measure of things, shall be no more. Time shall be swallowed up in eternity.
This is my prayer: Lord God, enable me to live in time in the immediate prospect of eternity, realizing that soon time shall be no more – (Mark 8:34-38).
IV. In verses 8-10, we see that The Word Of God Has A Message Both Of Sweetness And Bitterness.
We cherish the Word by which our Lord makes himself known. But this word is an awesome thing. It is a message of mercy, grace, and goodness to all who believe. But to those who believe not, it is a message of judgment, severity, and woe.
Learn three things from this picture:A. Those Who Speak In The Name Of God Must First Get A Message From God Themselves.
The preacher must take the Book, eat it, digest it in his own soul, and be affected by it.
B. It Is The Responsibility Of Every Preacher To Deliver God's Message, Whether Pleasing Or Unpleasing To Men.
God's messengers must not keep back any part of God's truth for any reason. Often, that which is most displeasing to the flesh is most needed and most profitable.
C. And It Is A Solemn, Terrible Responsibility To Preach In God's Name To Immortal Souls (II Cor. 2:15-16).
If I have spoken to you this hour in the name of God, by the power of God the Holy Spirit, you will never be the same again. This message will be to you either a message of mercy or a message of woe. It will either melt your heart or harden your heart. It will either be a Word of salvation or a word of damnation. It is sweetness in my mouth, for by it I hope some will be saved. But it is bitterness in my belly, for I fear that by what I have now spoken some of you, whom I dearly love, will be damned.
V. Lastly, I give you this word of exhortation – Our Mission In This World Is Plain And Clear – (v. 11).
It is our responsibility, as individual believers and as a local church, to declare those things which we have seen and heard and experienced to the generation in which we live.
A. We Must Faithfully Warn Men Of Judgment To Come (Ez. 33:7-11).
B. In The Time We Have We Must Proclaim To Perishing Men And Women The Way Of Life – (Luke 24:46-47).
1. Christ Himself Is The Angel Of Judgment.
2. The Final Horrors Of God's Wrath Are Not Yet Revealed.
3. The Purpose Of God In All Things Shall Be Accomplished.
4. The Word of God Has A Message Of Sweet Grace And Bitter Wrath.
5. While We Live In This World, We Must Preach The Gospel To Men.
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