Take it in

Bible passages: Revelation 9:20-10:11

The terrible judgments against the wickedness of the world have been described, following the six trumpet blasts of the angels.
The hope has been to bring unbelieving people to repentance.
‘God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain. Pain is God’s megaphone to rouse a deaf world’ (C.S.Lewis, The Problem of Pain)

How is it that even in the face of such calamity, most people will not turn to God?

(Read Revelation 9:20-21)

Are you able to suggest what ‘demons’ people could be worshipping in our society or how these sins may show themselves in our culture today?

Trumpet seven is still to come, which will spell the end, when there will be no time left for sinners to repent and be saved. Now is the gospel age (2 Corinthians 6:2)

What is the only hope for the world in these desperate times?

* Firstly, the hope is described in the person of a ‘mighty angel’. Only three angels are described as ‘mighty’ in Revelation

(5v2): the angel who asks: who is worthy to break the seals/hold the future.The first mighty angel’s role is to highlight the Lamb, around whom history revolves
(10v1): the angel who gives the gospel to the world upon which rests the entire hope of humanity
(18v21): the angel who is the agent of the final act of judgment

So who is the mighty angel, described in this chapter?

(Read Rev 10:1-7)

Some, like John Stott, suggest it is Christ himself:

’it is evident that he is no mere angel. True, he is throughout called an ‘angel’, but why should he not be the ‘angel of the Lord’, who appeared in those Old Testament theophanies which seem to have been pre-incarnate appearances of the Son of God?’

At the very least, the angel is highly similar to the person of Jesus as seen in Revelation. What of these signs, reminds you of Jesus?:

How was he robed, and how is this a symbol of the presence of God?
What was over his head and how was this a sign of the covenant mercy of God?
What is said of his face?(cf 1v16)
What is said of his roar(cf Revelation 5:5)
what is said of his voice(Psalm 29:3)?

Supposing this may be a vision of Jesus, what does this suggest about the importance of the message he comes to bring to John, and humanity?

* Secondly, the hope is described in ‘a little scroll, which lay open in his hand’. This is different from the scroll of the future, which was closed, and only Jesus was able to open. This little scroll is open, for all the world to read.

What is the scroll?

Surely (Romans 1:16-17) gives the answer? Contrast the vastness of the ‘mighty angel’ (v2), with the smallness of the scroll(v2).
The word of God can seem a small thing, but can have a huge effect/potential (e.g. mustard seed Matthew 13:31-32)
But only if we take it into our lives and hearts.

(Read Revelation 10:8-11)

What dramatic picture tells us the importance of taking it into our lives?

How can the gospel bring sweetness and bitterness into our lives? Notice, the imperative that is laid upon John (and us).
Why? (cf Amos 8:11) v6 ‘There will be no more delay’

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