I’ve purchased of wide variety of books over the years.  While scanning my book cases recently, I noticed these two different books and the interesting contrast in titles.

Revelation 10

Here in chapter 10 we take a break from the unleashing of wrath between the sixth and seventh trumpet. We are reading about the progressive intensity of wrath upon the earth through 1) the breaking of seals, 2) the sound of trumpets, 3) the pouring of bowls of wrath. Chapter 10 is a parenthetical break from this progression. As a reader of Revelation, this is a welcome break from the emotionally distressing message of God’s wrath.

Meanwhile back on earth

In Revelation there are scenes in heaven and scenes on earth.  The scene in chapter 10 is the earth. The apostle John sees a mighty angel come down out of heaven with an open book in his hand. The angel placed his “right foot on the land and his left on the sea.” Whether this is real or a vision to John, I do not know. But the message seems clear that Jesus is sending his mighty angel to visualize to John that He owns the earth and sea and all of creation.  Satan has had certain authority in the world since the fall of man in Genesis 3, but Jesus is going to take it back and restore Eden. We are in the middle of Jesus purging the earth through the seals, trumpets and bowls of wrath but in the end, Eden will be restored, and Jesus will reign on the earth for a thousand years.

The Day of the Lord will come

The mighty angel then raises his right hand and swore by Him who lives forever and forever and has created all things. The summary of this oath is in verse six when the angel says, “there will be delay no longer.” This is very significant. As I said earlier, since the fall of Adam, Satan has had certain authority on earth. The nation of Israel languished throughout their existence in sin, idolatry and captivity to foreign armies. The prophets spoke of a Messiah that would restore Israel and in a sense, restore Eden. After Jesus’ resurrection, the apostles asked Jesus, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6. Jesus basically said no it’s not that time yet. He said it’s not for you to know but you will receive power to be My witnesses on earth. So, at His resurrection, rather than restoring the kingdom to Israel, Jesus initiated the age of the church. This is the time we are now in and the time to be witnesses of Jesus and spread His gospel to all nations. It is a period of Jesus withholding His full wrath and continuing to extend the invitation of grace and mercy. Peter spoke about this in 2 Peter 3:9, 10 when he said, “The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the Day of the Lord will come…”

This is it!

So, here in Revelation 10, the mighty angel is saying the Day of the Lord is here. There is no more delay. The time of withholding God’s full wrath upon the earth is over. The final and extreme purging of the earth through God’s bowls of wrath are here. It will eventually lead to the restoration of Jesus’ reign on earth and Eden restored. In this chapter, John stated that this reality is bitter and sweet. Sweet that Jesus is preparing the world for His reign and the restoration of His people. But bitter in that His wrath must be released in order for it to take place. This is an ominous reality from God’s Word. May we embrace the grace and mercy of Christ in this day of relative peace….compared to what is to come. Amen!