The End is Now Nigh, but still More Detail…
Intro: Well morning friends and visitors. My name is Matt Johnson and today we continue our study of Revelation 10 – (thinking about the end of the world and Jesus’ return). Last week – we saw the battle of Armageddon was beginning and things are getting messy…
Prayer: Well some years ago – MOVIES STARTED showing post credit scenes. You know we use to watch a movie and once the trailers began with the names of all those involved in making the movie – we’d all yawn and walk out of the cinema. Yawn. Yawn. But all those involved in the making of the movie – want their 2 seconds in the limelight. So, the movie makers had to COME UP WITH A WAY of keeping the audience in their seats until the very, very end.
So, this is where additional scenes started to be added after the credits. Sometimes humorous bloopers from the movie. Sometimes a teaser for the sequel. Believe it or not – it was THE MUPPET MOVIE in 1979 that was the first to introduce post credit scenes. But as all the youngsters will tell you – THE MARVEL UNIVERSE took post credit scenes to a whole new level. Marvel movies use the post credit scenes to explain how the whole superhero universe hangs together. To really understand how the different superheroes relate to each other you have to stay in your seat for these post credit scenes.
Now in some ways the book of Revelation has post credit scenes. As each movement of Revelation finishes – its like we get boring credits. We want to go home to bed. But we have to stay in our seat a little longer because we know the 7TH SEAL is about to be opened. Or we know the 7TH TRUMPET still hasn’t been sounded. It’s like – John is trying to keep us in our seats just a little bit longer. WHY does JOHN keep giving us DELAYS between the 6th and 7th seals; the 6th and 7th trumpets and even between the 7 bowls and Jesus’ actual return. There seems to be delay upon delay in terms of our gratification…
Christian scholars call these DELAYS in Revelation between the 6th and 7th seals, trumpets, bowls etc – “PARENTHESIS”. These “parenthesis” are little breaks in the story (where we all begin to yawn); but we can’t leave – because we know there’s still another seal, another trumpet, another important detail. As Jesus opens the seven seals on the scroll 1) the music is getting louder; 2) the horsemen are bringing chaos, 3) people are crying out for blood and 4) it sounds like the end of the world. So, you’re sitting on the edge of your seat. But then the credits start to roll. In Revelation 7 you hear about 144,00 Jews and a great multitude in heaven who played minor roles in the Jesus’ movie. BORING! But you know there are seven seals and so you stay in your seat – to see what happens when the seventh seal is opened.
But sadly, as the seventh seal is opened, you discover the seven seals has A SEQUEL called the seven trumpets. So you have to buy another ticket and watch the “the 7 Trumpets” to see how the story ends. Again, as each trumpet is blasted the music is getting louder, demons are falling from the sky, demons are coming up from the Abyss and the world is headed for Armageddon (and you’re thinking this has to be it). But frustratingly, again THE CREDITS START and you hear about some boring angel who helped with the soundtrack and a couple of faithful witnesses who everyone ignores. WHAT THE… Don’t sell me another sequel. Don’t make me sit through more credits. I want the 7th trumpet.
Today we need to think about the WHAT and the WHY of these “parenthesis” or little delays in the book of Revelation?
Point 1: An Angel comes with the Clouds of Heaven, not Jesus…
Show: Rev.10:1-3 (READ)
Explain: Well as we read this – its almost “Doh. Its just another mighty angel.” In 1 Thessalonians 4, the apostle Paul said; “the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet call of God…”. So, what we want to see coming down from heaven is the Lord Jesus. I mean in Revelation 9 we’ve heard about demons leading the world into Armageddon. So, “Come lord Jesus come”. And then someone says; “I see something; someone is coming on the clouds” and we’re all thinking this as to be it. This has to be Jesus… But “Doh, it’s just another mighty angel.”
THE PICTURE we see is definitely an angel. Nowhere in Scripture is Jesus called an angel. But this angel sounds a lot like Jesus. THE ANGEL is riding in the clouds. He is adorned in a rainbow (like God in Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4). THE ANGELS face shines like the sun and his legs are like bronze pillars. This is how Jesus was described in Revelation 1. The similarities between Jesus and this angel are so strong that many scholars suggest this is A) the angel of the Lord or perhaps B) a theophany of Jesus. But I think the very point is – it’s not Jesus. It’s the archangel making his mighty cry…
Now we know we are very close to the end of the story. When the 7th Trumpet is sounded we are told all the mysteries of God will be fulfilled. Straight after the 7th trumpet is sounded (in Revelation 11) – we hear that the time has come for judging the dead and rewarding Gods servants the prophets. So even though we’re only in Revelation 10 we are kind of seeing the end of the world again. As I explained a few weeks ago – there is both recapitulation and chronological progression in Revelation. But at this point there is a PAUSE between the 6th and 7th trumpets. As Armageddon begins to rage – we want the 7th trumpet straight away. Come Lord Jesus Come. BUT INSTEAD there is a delay in the story. There is not immediate gratification. We want Jesus. But we get an angel…
This happens a couple of times in Revelation and we have to ask why? Let me show you (Slide 4; Rev.18:1; 20:1) We keep seeing angels coming down from heaven (who have characteristics of Jesus – great illumination, holding the keys to death and Hades), but each time it’s not Jesus, just angels. There is delay in the thing we long to hear and see.
Now in Matthew 25 – Jesus told his disciples THE PARABLE about the ten virgins watching and waiting for Jesus’ return. In the parable – 5 virgins take extra oil for their lamps in case Jesus takes a long time. But the other 5 virgins simply take the oil in their lamps because they anticipate he will come quickly. But then Jesus takes such a long time the five virgins who didn’t take extra oil – find their lights are going out. Its like they running out of steam. THE POINT IS – Jesus is not going to return in the first watch of the night, but probably the last. So make sure you take enough oil and popcorn to get to the end of the credits…
Apply: I think the whole point of the PARENTHESIS or DELAYS in Revelation is to teach us – that Jesus’ return is always going to be a little bit longer than we anticipate. Even, when we’re dead certain; “Surely this has to be it”, the end we are longing for is delayed a little longer, a little longer and a little longer.
I think we need to remember Gods grace goes far further than we imagine. We know from 2 Peter 3 that God doesn’t want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to FAITH and REPENTANCE in Jesus. Not wanting anyone to go to hell – God keeps giving the world a little longer, a little longer to repent and believe in Jesus. So in this context THE CHURCH has 1) to watch, 2) wait patiently and 3) make sure we take enough oil in our lamps to get through to the end of the credits. THE DELAYS in Revelation seem to be teaching us to stay in our seats and wait patiently – just a little bit longer.
Point 2: The Archangel Swears – No More Delay (the Kingdom is at Hand)
Show: Rev.10:3-7 (READ)
Explain: Well this angels SHOUT is significant. The angel balances himself with one foot on the land and one foot on the sea – suggesting this shout has universal significance. Then the angel lets rip with a shout that is like THE ROAR OF A LION and the 7 thunders respond…
Now I am about 94% confident that this is the ARCHANGELS CRY that Paul writes about in 1 Thessalonians 4. Paul said that the Lord Jesus will come down from heaven with the archangels cry, the trumpet call of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. A) Well we have just had an archangels cry. B) We are about to hear the 7th trumpet and C) we are about to see two witnesses rise from the dead and ascend into heaven. Then D) we are told the kingdom of the world has now become the kingdom of our Lord and Christ.
What Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4 – appears to happen between the 6th and 7th trumpet. So if things are in order 1) the battle of Armageddon begins; 2) the archangel then shouts, 3) the 7th trumpet is sounded, 4) the mysteries of God are fulfilled; 5) the two faithful witnesses rise from the dead and go up to meet a voice calling them in the sky AND then 5) the 24 elders say; “Now its time to judge the living and the dead.” (Rev.11:18). Every element in 1 Thessalonians 4 is now present in Revelation 10-11. This is another reason I think the rapture happens after the battle of Armageddon and towards the end of the great tribulation.
Now there is a lot of debate as to why John is told not to record what the seven thunders say. THE GENERAL CONSENSUS of the church has been that the sealing of the seven thunders should lead us to humility in our interpretation of Revelation. Yes, we have A) the seven seals, B) the seven trumpets and C) the seven bowls. So we have some knowledge of the end of the world. But we don’t have THE CONTENT of the seven thunders – therefore we don’t know everything.
The sealing up of this content – suggests God has intentionally concealed some aspects of the end of the world from us. We know enough to understand the general lie of the land AND the main events. But we don’t know everything and so we should be careful about dividing and arguing about the MINUTIAE of detail in Revelation. Revelation itself tells us that we ONLY know in part and we still ONLY see in part until Jesus returns…
Apply: Now if you look again at verse 6 – you’ll see the angel solemnly swears there will be NO MORE DELAY. This is reminiscent of Deuteronomy 32. In the Song of Moses (which we looked at a few weeks ago) God himself lifts his right hand to heaven and solemnly swears to avenge the blood of his people. It is also reminiscent of Daniel 12 (which we looked at a few weeks ago). In the last chapter a man in fine linen lifts both hands to heaven and solemnly swears the great tribulation will be completed in time, times and half a time. THAT’S THREE AND A HALF…
Now next week, in Revelation 11 – we are going to be introduced to the time frame of 42 months, 1260 days and three and half years. For those not paying attention (and wondering where this time reference came from) – A) the angel raising his hand reminds us B) of the man in Daniel 12 who tells us that the great tribulation will be completed in time, times and half a time. So we are now MOVING INTO on what appears to be the second half of the seven years.
The archangel raising his hand and declaring there will be NO MORE DELAY also harks back to Ezekiel 12. As I’ve shown you there are lots of parallels between Revelation 4-11 and Ezekiel 1-12. So as John Ralph read today – God declared in Ezekiel 12 “no more delay.” Everyone was scoffing at Ezekiel saying all his prophesies about judgment come to nothing. God doesn’t actually do anything. So in Ezekiel 12 – God says “no more delay. What I have promised I will now do.” The archangel kind of says the same thing. There is no more delay.
Now if you look again at verse 7 you’ll see it says; (READ). Now the mystery of God being accomplished is probably referring to all Gods promises finally being realised. 1) The salvation of Israel in Romans 11 is called a mystery. 2) Christians receiving their resurrection bodies in 1 Corinthians 15 is called a mystery. 3) Jesus and the church becoming one flesh in Ephesians 5 – is called a mystery. 4) The downfall of the harlot on the beast in Revelation 17 is called a mystery. But as the seventh trumpet is sounded all Gods promises that we still struggle to grasp and put the pieces together will suddenly become a reality. At the seventh trumpet we will suddenly know who was right – the Pre-Tribbers, the Mid-Tribbers or the Post-Tribbers. We’ll suddenly know whether the great tribulation was a literal seven years or whether the 7 years was simply symbolic. But at this point we are still waiting for the seventh trumpet and ironically even as the archangel says there is no more delay, there is still a kind of delay…
SHOW: Slide 7. Now two weeks ago I showed you this visual representation of Revelation. THE CIRCLE in the middle kind of represents what Daniel and Jesus call THE GREAT TRIBULATION. This is a period of unparalleled distress in the world. So on the left (you’ll see) A) the story of the 7 seals brings us up to and just into the great tribulation. B) The 7 trumpets, the story of the antichrist and the 7 bowls – then seem to see us swirling around in this period of great distress – before we come out the other side (and Jesus come to our rescue). This is the best way I could draw it in two dimensions. But I think the circle of the great tribulation is more like a whirlpool – like when you watch water go down a plug hole. The world is gurgling down the plug-hole. What we are witnessing is how bad the world can actually get – if we reject Jesus (and make all ourselves kings and queens). This is what happens if we reject the true King and make ourselves into Kings and queens?
Point 3: The Archangel Delivers a Final Sweet & Sour Message
Show: Rev.10:8-11 (Slide 7-8)
Explain: Well, the irony is, that even as the angel says “NO MORE DELAY”, John is told he has to prophesy again. There is still more to the story between the 6th and 7th trumpets. So John is given an OPEN SCROLL. The fact that this is an open scroll – suggests that this is not really new information. This is something that God has already revealed probably at Jesus first coming. Further, the fact that the content of this message is both SWEET and SOUR makes many people believe this is the gospel message itself. The message of Jesus is sweet for those who repent and believe, but it is sour and bitter for those who reject Jesus.
(GOSPEL) The good news of Jesus is that even though you have sinned against God and done all sorts of evil things in your life – you can still be saved. Yes, do not deny it. If you are a human being – you have broken most of Gods commands and you deserve Gods punishment. But when Jesus died on the cross he was taking the punishment for your sins. On the cross – Jesus literally did the time for your crimes. He did this because he still loves you. SO HERE’S THE SWEET PART of the gospel. If you believe Jesus died for you and you start repenting of your sin – God will forgive you and take you to heaven. This is a sweet deal. IF TODAY you truly accept Jesus as your Saviour and Lord – God will forgive you and you will get to go to heaven, even if you struggle with sin the rest of your life. BUT HERE’S THE SOUR PART. Reject Jesus and what he did for you and all Gods anger at your sin – falls upon you. That’s hell. That’s the sour part. Repent and believe in Jesus – you live. Reject Jesus and you die…
Now when the archangel cries (and we find ourselves between the 6th and 7th trumpet) the time for decision is getting SHORT. But its still not too late. So even between the 6th and 7th trumpets – it appears that John is still being told to prophesy the sweet and sour message of the gospel.
So John begins to prophesy. Next week we will see two faithful witnesses prophesying. And the idea is we too must continue to prophesy the gospel until the very end. Later, in Revelation 19:10 – Jesus will tell us the spirit of prophesy is the testimony about himself. (Rev.19:10). BUT THE FACT that John is told to prophesy again about peoples, nations, languages and “KINGS” is probably significant.
Apply: As we’ve seen this kind of PHRASE has been common in Revelation. But this is the first TIME we’ve seen “KINGS” included in the list. Who is the true King of the world? Who is the Ruler of the Kings and Queens of the earth? (PAUSE). That’s righ Jesus. But because of sin we all like to pretend we are the King or the Queen of ourselves. SATAN also plays this game and sometimes THE INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH plays as well. Interestingly, as we enter into THE SECOND HALF of the great tribulation (the 42 months, the 1260 days, the time, times and half a time) AND the SECOND HALF OF REVELATION we’re going to meet an antichrist who is pretending to be King of all the earth and a harlot who is pretending she is Queen of all the earth.
What we are going to see is that those who pretend to be their own KINGS and QUEENS are going to persecute those who show respect for the true King (Jesus) and the true Queen (the church). But in the end – the true King Jesus will return for his Queen (his faithful bride) and he punishes all pretend kings and queens; including the antichrist and the harlot. Those who pretend to be kings and queens when they’re not are all going to the same place… So while there is no more delay – we still need to hold on a little longer. While there is no more delay “non-Christians” still have a little longer to choose sweet or sour? The Ruler of the Kings of the earth is coming in judgment of all pretend kings and queens. So what are you going to do? Surrender the throne or reap the whirlwind?
