REVELATION
God Has His Witnesses
Revelation 10-11
Jerry A Collins
SCC
·
Are we supposed to know everything God has for us?
·
Why is the Word of God both sweet and bitter?
·
What kind of witness is God expecting during the
Tribulation?
In every generation and in every place God has His witnesses. This year we celebrate the 50th
anniversary of witnesses in Ecquador—witnesses who
were killed by the very ones they were trying to witness too. On the beaches of
that country their lives were taken but their testimony goes on. The recent
movie, the end of the spear, tells that story to us today. I have seen these
witnesses in the crowded cities of
1. ANGELS
ARE GOD’S POWERFUL SERVANTS 1-3
It all begins with another angel introduced to us
in vs 1. This angel is pictured dramatically robed in
a cloud, a rainbow above his head, face brilliant like the sun, feet sparkling
like pillars of fire with a little scroll opened in his hand. This is not
Christ and this is not the book of chapter 5. But this is a powerful angel with
a new little book. He stands in vs 2 with one foot on
the sea and one o the land. This may mean that the last plagues will affect
both the land and the sea. Here is a scene inspiring awe—he cried out in a loud
voice-one like the roaring of a lion. Startling! Then something like seven
peals or rumbles of thunder spoke and gave revelation from God vs 3. All of this emphasizes the significance of this
moment. This unusual event commands our attention and prepares us for a
dramatic outburst of God’s activity at this point.
2. TRIBULATION
JUDGMENTS WILL BRING END OF THIS AGE
·
Whatever it
was these thunderous voices spoke, John was about to record when he was heard a
voice from heaven tell him not to write it down vs 4.
It was something John heard and understood and wanted to write down but the
voice did not want the church to know what it was. Deuteronomy 29:29 tells us
that the secret things belong to God, but the things revealed are for us and
our children forever. So my goal is to know what the Bible knows but to not
know more than the Bible knows.
·
Then the
magnificent angel raises his rite hand and swears by God’s eternality and God
as creator that there will be no more delay vs 5-6. There
is no evolution. Again we are told that God is the creator. This has been
consistent from Genesis to Revelation. God is omnipotent and created
everything. When the 7th angel sounds his trumpet in
·
He says that
in the day of the bowl judgments the mystery—previously unknown revelation—of
God is finished. This is the mystery God gave to the prophets all thru history
about God’s judgments, will be finished with the 7th trumpet—by
means of the 7 bowls of judgment. This mystery of God that is finished is the
fulfillment of the times of the gentiles. When the last of the gentiles is brot into the fold, then
·
John is told
to eat this book with its message. It is sweet to the taste and bitter in the
belly. Bible is generally viewed as sweet when we understand it, then you
realize it contains bitter judgments when you do. This bitterness has to do
with prophesying about bitter judgments in vs 11.
This knowledge is sobering.
3. THERE
IS A
For the abomination of desolation to take place a
temple has to be present. The question asked in Mtt
24 was ‘when will this temple be destroyed?’ But abomination of desolation
means the temple is back. Here is s reference to it—measuring of it is for the
occupation of gentiles and the judgment of God. It is the temple that the
antichrist will desecrate. Ezekiel does similar measurement for millennial
temple in both cases to show their reality. This is 3rd temple the
4ith in 1000 reign the 1st Solomon’s 2nd herod’s. However he is told not to
measure the courtyard vs 2 because for period of 42
months gentiles will occupy it implying ill treatment of Jews and desecration of the
4. THERE
ARE 2 SPECIAL WITNESSES DURING THE TRIB
·
Their ministry 3-6 They will prophesy for 1260 days clothed in
sackcloth. The olive trees and lampstands reveal that
they will be empowered by the spirit to testify. Like OT prophets they will
perform miracles—fire will destroy those trying to harm them
vs 5. Like Elijah and Moses they will have power to
stop rain and turn water to blood. Their judgments will be in addition to all
other judgments and do so as often as desired.
·
Their death & res
7-14 The beast—Antichrist—finally
kills them. Their bodies lay in streets of
·
7th trumpet sounds
15-19 Here is
beginning of reign of Christ. Now not ruling yet. God’s plan in place but will
is not. 7th trumpet signals the beginning of reign—end of trib followed by 2nd coming, judgments, kingdom.
Nations are enraged because of Gods wrath (Rev 16). There is coming a time of
judgment and reward vs 18. Then heavenly temple
opened and ark appears. Will not find it until then. The whole scene sereal—flashes, peals, power.
1. There are and will always be
certain things we are not supposed to know. God reveals via His written Word
what we are to know. What has not been written is what we are not supposed to
know. So beware of false teachers with a word from God.
2. Today we are experiencing delay
vs 6 in God’s fulfillment of His promises given
throughout Ot & Nt prophets but this trib period is the end of that prophecy.
3. Word of God both bitter and
sweet. Its sweet telling us of God’s character and
bitter showing us holiness demands judgment of sinful world.
4. To be a witness for Lord means
standing before Lord of earth so that we represent Him to the earth and that
also is to be hated by those of earth—so our message narrow not popular.
5. We must keep in mind that we
live in a world ove whoch
God will rule not one He does rule over now. Gods
sovereign plan in place but not His will. Today things not out of gods control
but outside His direct rule. Satan will appear to be winning because he is
currently ruling. So don’t expect justice from govt
for instance or God directly blessing me when I have more or cursing me when I
have less.