# 51 2021 Dev. Revelation 10:8. God’s Word! Read all of chapter ten first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Revelation 10:8 “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel…”
Intro. This vision that John sees is put into the words of men so that those who believe will understand by the power of the Holy Spirit. What is being described here is from eternity to eternity. God, who is outside of time, operates in the eternal present, represents to us what is about to happen in time, as long as time lasts.
In Rev.10 we have another interlude, this comes right after the Ch.9 evaluation of the judgments of the 5th and 6th trumpet. These judgments / tribulations / plagues, cover all of history, including the plague we are in now. The evaluation is: no impact on the actions of men, no repentance but an increase of wrong doing. Many people are seeing that today. Also, read Ezek. 2- 3:3 to put Rev.10 into a clearer light.
Vs. 1-4 “Than I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven” he has a rainbow above him, there is a rainbow around the throne of God and speaks of the faithfulness, compassion and grace of God to His people as we see it in the time of Noah and what we celebrate at this time of the year. He is described much like Christ in Ch.1 but he is a different being. He is huge, he stands on the land and the sea, his authority covers all of God’s creation. “He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand.” It is open, not like the scroll in Ch.5 but open, as if it has been already revealed. He roared like a lion and “the voices of the seven thunders spoke.” John wanted to write it down but he is prevented from writing it.
Vs.5-7 The powerful angel “raised his right hand to heaven. And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever,” the creator of of all things including the universe. ‘There will be no more delay! The mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.’” The mystery of God has moved throughout the Old Test. time and is revealed in the New Test. Paul speaks of the mystery of God: Rom. 16: 25-27, Eph. 3:1-6 and Col. 1:26,27 Quoted here (26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.) Since the fall, God’s intention is to reconcile all creation to himself. But only those who believe and have faith will be reconciled to God. Praise Him!
V.8 The voice said to John: “Go, take the scroll…” John obeys and moves to the angel to ask him for the Word of God. The Word of God is what makes a follower of Jesus, that is our standard, our guide, and our mandate, the true unadulterated Word of God. Not defiled by the pressure of the world, the world does not interpret the Word but rebels against that standard and wants to make it according to its own image.
Vs.9-11 “So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, ‘take it and eat it.” He wanted John, and us, who love the Word, to do more than read, but to become one with it, to devour it daily, that it may be an integral part of our daily living. John ate the scroll it was “as sweet as honey.” The Gospel is sweet, it revives the soul, it sets us free from sin, it heals us spiritually, it brings our lives back to God. “but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.” John is told to “prophesy again about many people, nations, languages and kings.” That is the church’s mandate and the mandate of all who follow Jesus. What about that sour stomach? That is the persecution that comes from speaking and living God’s truth. That has been going on since Cain and Abel and will continue until the end of time. But God is good, he saves His people and brings us into His presence and says: “well done, good and faithful servant, come and share your master’s happiness!” Praise the Lord!
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Heavenhigh 