The Little Scroll
A Bittersweet Message of Hope and Suffering – Revelation Chapter 10
I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of Days, and they brought him near before him. There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)*
Before the final trumpet blast there is a vision of a mighty angel with a little scroll. He stood on the land and sea raising his hand to the heavens as he swore by the creator of heaven, earth and sea that there will be no more delay. This is a promise, with an oath, that he is taking dominion of the heaven, earth and sea. The dominion of the dreadful beast who devours the earth is coming to an end. The day of redemption is near at hand.
The Son of Man coming on the Clouds out of Heaven
I saw another mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.
(Revelation 10:1)*1
This mighty angel is a vision of Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, coming on the clouds of heaven as prophesied by Daniel and by Christ himself. The Lord is sending messengers to gather his people (the bride of Christ) from the ends of the earth.
[30] and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. [31] He will send out his angels with a great trumpet, and they will gather together his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. (Matthew 24:30-31)*
The Roar of the Lion of Judah
[2] He had in his hand a little open scroll. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land. [3] He shouted with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he shouted, the seven thunders uttered their voices. (Revelation 10:2-3)*
This mighty angel shouts with a loud voice, like the roar of a lion, as he stands with one foot on the sea and one foot on the land. According to the Brave search engine, a lion’s roar can reach 114 decibels and be heard up to 5 miles away. Lions roar to communicate, to mark their territory, and to express themselves socially. This includes social bonding, mating, courtship, and warning the pride of a nearby threat2.
The Christ, the Lion of Judah, has just claimed dominion over the land and the sea as his territory. This is a warning to the dragon and his beast that the Son of Man has returned from heaven to claim his inheritance. This shout may also be a call of mating and courtship. The lion is calling to his bride to let her know that he has returned and it is time to gather for the wedding.
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.” (John 14:3)
The Mystery of God
[5] The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, [6] and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, [7] but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets. (Revelation 10:5-7)*
This is a glorious proclamation that the everlasting Kingdom of God is near at hand. There will be no more delay. In the days of the seventh trumpet, the mystery of God will be completed. What does this mean? What, exactly, is the mystery of God?
1. One Body United in Christ
A mystery in this context is something that has been hidden in the past, but now is being revealed. The Apostle Paul mentioned at least three mysteries in his letters to the churches. In the letter to the Ephesians, he declared the mystery of Gentiles (non-Jews) becoming united into one body with the Jews and becoming fellow heirs of the promise through the gospel.
[3] how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words, [4] by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; [5] which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; [6] that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News, (Ephesians 3:3-6)*
This is a mystery of unity and inclusion in Jesus Christ. All people, Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews), have access to the Father through faith in Christ. It does not matter what your social status is, or your gender, or what tribe/nation/people/language you come from. Anyone who has faith, as Abraham did, can become “children of Abraham” and joint heirs of the promised kingdom.
[6] Even as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness." [7] Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham. [8] The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you all the nations will be blessed." [9] So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham. [26] For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. [28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [29] If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise. (Galatians 3:6-9, 26, 28-29)*
For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace, to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed, not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. (Romans 4:16)*
This mystery is also revealed in Revelation chapter 7 where a great multitude of people from every nation, tribe, language and people, who come out of the great tribulation, are standing before the throne dressed in white robes and praising God. This is an assembly of people from every part of humanity into a unified body to praise and glorify God.
[9] After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. [10] They shouted with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (Revelation 7:9-10)*
2. The New Temple: God Dwells in His People
In the letter to the Colossians, Paul speaks of a mystery of the indwelling Christ. In the time of Moses, God told Israel to build a tabernacle so that He could dwell among His people and make them holy. His presence rested on the mercy seat above the golden ark in the Most Holy Place. Later on, King Solomon built a temple in Jerusalem where the ark of the covenant was placed and it became the place where people would come to meet with God. Now that Jesus has been raised from the dead and ascended to heaven, the dwelling of God is no longer in a temple made with hands. The Spirit of God dwells in His people.
[26] the mystery which has been hidden for ages and generations. But now it has been revealed to his saints, [27] to them God was pleased to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory; (Colossians 1:26-27)*
[18] For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. [19] So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, [20] being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; [21] in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; [22] in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:18-22)*
Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and that God's Spirit lives in you? (I Corinthians 3:16)*
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from God? You are not your own, (I Corinthians 6:19)*
The temple of God is the body of Christ, which is made up of people who believe in Jesus from every tribe, nation, and language on Earth. This was foretold by the prophet Joel when the Lord said that “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh”. This is something to remember when the temple is mentioned in the book of Revelation. The use of the word temple may not always be in reference to a man-made structure in Jerusalem.
Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2)*
3. Immortality and the First Resurrection
Finally, the greatest mystery of them all. The resurrection and immortality. The resurrection is mentioned in the final chapter of Daniel, but Paul elaborates on this in his letters to the Corinthians and the Thessalonians. Part of the wonder of the everlasting kingdom is that God’s servants will no longer be confined to mortal bodies. The dead will be raised and those who are alive and remain will be transformed. This will happen at the sounding of the last trumpet.
[49] As we have borne the image of those made of dust, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. [50] Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. [51] Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, [52] in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. [53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (I Corinthians 15:49-53)*
[13] But we do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. [15] For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left to the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. [16] For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God's trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, [17] then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. [18] Therefore comfort one another with these words. (I Thessalonians 4:13-18)*
This resurrection does not mean that people are translated to heaven. When the dead are raised at the first resurrection, the holy ones of the Most High will inherit the kingdoms of the earth. They will rule and reign with Christ for one thousand years on the earth. The reward for the faithful, like Daniel, is that they will be kings and priests and will reign with Christ over all the kingdoms on the earth.
[4] I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus, and for the word of God, and such as did not worship the beast nor his image, and did not receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived, and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. [5] The rest of the dead did not live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. [6] Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years. (Revelation 20:4-6)*
But go your way until the end. For you shall rest, and shall rise to receive your reward at the end of the days. (Daniel 12:13)*
When the mystery of God is finished, God’s people from every nation will be united into one body without divisions based upon race, gender, or social status. God will be with His people through the indwelling Holy Spirit and they will be built up into a holy temple. The saints who have died will be raised to life with immortal bodies and the holy ones who remain will be changed in an instant. Mystery Babylon the Great will be judged, the beast will be defeated and his dominion taken away. The kingdoms of the world will become the kingdoms of Christ and the saints will reign with him as priests of God for one thousand years.
The Mystery of the Bridegroom
Paul writes of another mystery, which is really a restatement of two previously mentioned mysteries. In Ephesians chapter 5, he speaks of husbands loving their wives and how a man leaves his father and mother to become one flesh with his wife. This relates to a mystery of Christ and the church.
[29] For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ also does the church; [30] because we are members of his body. [31] "For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh." [32] This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and of the church. (Ephesians 5:29-32)*
Jesus fulfills this symbolism by leaving his father in heaven, gathering his bride on the earth, and becoming united with them through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Will this mystical union be fully completed at the wedding supper of the Lamb in Revelation chapter 19? Is this what it means to finish the mystery of God?
The little scroll
In the vision, John is told to take the scroll from the angel and eat it. It is sweet in his mouth, but bitter in his stomach. He is then told that he must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.
[10] I took the little scroll out of the angel's hand, and ate it up. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. [11] They told me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings." (Revelation 10:10-11)*
The Lord is preparing to send two witnesses who will prophesy for 3.5 years. Just like the parable of the marriage feast, these are messengers with an invitation and the scroll represents the message. They will go into the highways, to the public spaces, to people of all walks of life and compel them to come because the Lord wants His house to be full.
The reason the scroll is sweet to the taste and bitter in the stomach is because the message is bittersweet, much like the prophesy of Joel. The scroll may have the same message as Joel (“Wake up you drunkards and weep”). It will contain a message of hope and happy endings. However, it will also contain bad news, that the land is under attack and being destroyed by a powerful enemy. The beast is waging war against God’s people and winning.
Revelation Chapter 11 states that these witnesses torment the beast and those who dwell on the earth. These witnesses are hated, probably because they prophesy about the evil deeds and expose the theft, murders, oppression and sexual immorality for all the world to see. Just like John eating the little scroll, the saints will savor the message of hope and deliverance, but when they learn about the evil things the beast has done, they will feel sick in their stomach.
"Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited weren't worthy. Go therefore to the intersections of the highways, and as many as you may find, invite to the marriage feast.' (Matthew 22:8-9)
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Biblical Reverences
*All Scripture quotations are from the New Heart English Bible unless specifically designated otherwise. The New Heart English Bible [NHEB] is in the public domain. https://nheb.net/
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