"The Mid-Tribulation Interval" Revelation 10, When The Lamb Stands, seriesby Sharon Clemens

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        The last installment of Prophecy Chat ended before the Third Woe and the Seventh Trumpet Judgment sounded. Our Lord places a significant interval here, at the mid-point of the Tribulation and before the last seven judgments, in order to introduce characters and additional information integral to God’s orchestration of the Tribulation. We know we are at the three and a half-year point in the Tribulation in human time because the segment is described in days, months and years [11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5].

THE MIGHTY ANGEL AND THE LITTLE SCROLL – Revelation 10:1-11

       Chapter ten announces the mid-point of the Tribulation with a dramatic event—the special delivery of The Little Scroll to the earth by special envoy. A great warrior angel of God called The Mighty Angel descends from heaven, clothed in full heavenly uniform--including "cloud" material. He appears as a member of God’s special forces; his sole mission is to deliver the message of the Scroll.

       We know the angel has been sent from the throne because he wears a helmet with the rainbow insignia of God the Father [Revelation 4:3-4] and his face shines from being in God’s presence, just as Moses’ face shone after receiving the Law on Mt. Sinai, Exodus 34:29. As believers, we reflect the spiritual glory of God through righteous acts and the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithful, gentleness and self-control. In this way, we “shine” for Christ who is our in-dwelling Savior, Jesus, the light of the world. But in the heavenly throne room, all will reflect the light of God, the light of the universe.

WHAT IS THE LITTLE SCROLL

* The angel holds what remains of the Seven-Sealed Scroll which opened the judgments of Revelation chapter 5. The Scroll is called the title deed of the earth and indicts man for sin by the judgments contained upon it. With half of the Tribulation now unsealed, it is a smaller, little scroll, but its remaining judgments are the most destructive—but also the most liberating. When the judgments are finished, the transgression is finished and Christ returns to take possession personally. * The angel’s mission is to establish Christ’s official and legal possession of the earth in a mid-tribulation ceremony. The ceremony is a preview of Christ’s physical return when He will take His throne from Satan by force. The ceremony is similar to the planting of a flag on newly discovered land. Just as Israel was given all land “where [he] set his foot” in Joshua 1:3, so the angel places one foot on the land and one foot on the sea to represent His possession.

To bring all attention to his purpose, he roars with a loud voice like a lion’s roar. Seven voices of thunder respond, but John is told not to reveal the meaning of their utterance. Our Lord always warns before judgment. Amos 3:7 promises that the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. Amos also mentions a lion’s roar, sure to get man’s attention, when the Lord is making such a revelation. Why then is John told not to write what the thunders speak?

* All truth is revealed in God’s time and it is obviously not time. The seven thunders may reveal information about the remaining Tribulation plan that would interfere with God’s purpose if revealed too soon. Prophecy is often a “mystery” revealed only after it cannot become a foregone conclusion. * Notice that the angel has feet and legs like fiery pillars, which represent the trampling out of judgment. This is appropriate because he announces that the remainder of judgment is soon coming. Verse 6: In a solemn oath, the angel announces that “there should be delay no longer.” * This warning is also an official eviction notice to Satan and his followers. Their time of earthly occupation is nearly complete. As Satan is evicted, our Lord moves in and brings with Him the CONSUMMATION of what separates God’s heaven from God’s earth—the mystery of God.

       It is speculated that what John was told not to reveal in verse 4 and the “mystery of God” are related. MacArthur: “In the NT, 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.” MacArthur believes the mystery in Revelation 10 is not yet fully revealed. It is possible that what the seven thunders spoke will fully reveal the mystery at the proper time to bring God glory. But the timing may have to wait until the actual Tribulation period. All creation is in the last stage before the liberation from the curse. [Romans 8:19-23]

EATING THE BOOK

*Revelation 10:8,9 After the presentation of the scroll, John is told to take it from the hand of the angel and “eat” it. The scroll is also representative of the Word of God and must be absorbed in order to be efficacious. In contemporary language, we say, “You are what you eat.” The Old Testament prophets Jeremiah [15:16] and Ezekiel [3:1-3] were also told to eat God’s word.        God’s Word is compared to food in several places:               BREAD, Matthew 4:4               MILK, 1 Peter 2:2               MEAT, 1 Corinthians 3:1-2               HONEY, Psalms 119:103 Just as food feeds the body, God’s Word should become as “necessary food” to a believer [Job 23:12].        * John was warned that the result of eating the scroll would be double-acting: it would be sweet on the tongue but sour on the stomach. Prophecy is bittersweet. It brings hope and deliverance for believers but judgment and destruction for the lost. But that is the nature of prophetic truth. John was reminded that it is not easy speaking truth, but he was called to be a prophet of truth and must fulfill his office. “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.” [Revelation 10:11]

EVERYONE LOVES A HERO!

       The Tribulation is known for its horrendous villains, Antichrist and his False Prophet. But God has His heroes—marvelous men of faith . We met the 144,000 men of the sealed Jewish remnant in chapter seven. In the next Prophecy Chat, meet God’s appointed prophets for the time of wrath. These awesome men of God are a force to be reckoned with!


In Him We Wait, Work, and Watch,
[Luke 12:35-59]
Sharon

[Prophecy Chat is a weekly commentary of current events in light of Bible prophecy. Sharon L. Clemens is an evangelical, premillennial, dispensational teacher of eschatology. She can be reached for comment or questions by e-mail at farmgrove@frontier.com]