More Interludes (Revelation 10)
In the same way that the seven seals was interrupted right before the final seal with a pair of visions, here after the sixth trumpet we get another interlude of two visions.
And, likely in the same way that the previous interludes served as a message for believers, the following two visions are a message to the church as well.
In the first of these visions (ch. 10) John sees a mighty angel with a scroll of revelation. This angel triggers seven peals of thunder, presumably revealing things as the seals, trumpets, and vials, but before John can write down what he has learned, he is forbidden to do so. John is then told to eat the scroll which, though sweet to taste, will upset his stomach.
There is a lot of mystery in this vision, even for something as mysterious and apocalyptic as the book of Revelation. However, we can learn a couple things here.
Firstly, even though God is pulling back the curtain a bit to encourage and help believers persist in the face of persecution, not everything is revealed. We cannot hope to know all of God’s plan. In fact, that is not the point of Revelation. Those who attempt to decode the prophecies and surreal imagery of this book are completely missing the point. We are being asked to take courage and trust that God is in control of history because He is God and He will bring His plans to fruition—not because we have been given a point-by-point description of what the plan will look like.
Secondly, our role as followers of Christ, His witnesses and messengers to the world, is not something to be taken lightly. Or pridefully. The message of the Gospel is one of good news. It is hopeful and sweet. But the more we understand of the Gospel the more we understand the nature of our rebellion and sin. It is a heart-breaking reality that we face living in this fallen world. Often, that means persecution for us as we deliver truths that the world does not want to hear. But the fact that we have seen here in Revelation so far—that people in sin usually will refuse to repent, even in the face of overwhelming signs from God—is an even more bitter pill to swallow.
And, likely in the same way that the previous interludes served as a message for believers, the following two visions are a message to the church as well.
In the first of these visions (ch. 10) John sees a mighty angel with a scroll of revelation. This angel triggers seven peals of thunder, presumably revealing things as the seals, trumpets, and vials, but before John can write down what he has learned, he is forbidden to do so. John is then told to eat the scroll which, though sweet to taste, will upset his stomach.
There is a lot of mystery in this vision, even for something as mysterious and apocalyptic as the book of Revelation. However, we can learn a couple things here.
Firstly, even though God is pulling back the curtain a bit to encourage and help believers persist in the face of persecution, not everything is revealed. We cannot hope to know all of God’s plan. In fact, that is not the point of Revelation. Those who attempt to decode the prophecies and surreal imagery of this book are completely missing the point. We are being asked to take courage and trust that God is in control of history because He is God and He will bring His plans to fruition—not because we have been given a point-by-point description of what the plan will look like.
Secondly, our role as followers of Christ, His witnesses and messengers to the world, is not something to be taken lightly. Or pridefully. The message of the Gospel is one of good news. It is hopeful and sweet. But the more we understand of the Gospel the more we understand the nature of our rebellion and sin. It is a heart-breaking reality that we face living in this fallen world. Often, that means persecution for us as we deliver truths that the world does not want to hear. But the fact that we have seen here in Revelation so far—that people in sin usually will refuse to repent, even in the face of overwhelming signs from God—is an even more bitter pill to swallow.
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