THE BEGINNING OF THE END
Revelation 10:1-11

Introduction:  This is another of those parenthetical passages. They appear from time to time in Revelation to turn our eyes from the awfulness of the judgment. They serve to focus our attention on the blessed Lamb of God. In the midst of His wrath, we desperately need to be reminded of His great power. There is one fundamental problem with the world today; they leave Jesus out of their calculations and plans. This world has cut Jesus from the picture and replaced Him with the United Nations and other faulty institutions of man and the result has been total chaos. When Jesus is restored as the focal point of mankind’s attention, then all things will make sense and fall into place.

  I.        THE APPEARANCE OF THE ANGEL (VV.1-4)

            A.        Who Is This?  (v.1) Jesus!  Why?

bulletFrom Heaven - Abode
bulletCloud - Glory - (Ill. Cloudy pillar!)
bulletRainbow - Mercy - (Ill. Rainbow after flood)
bulletSun - Deity, glory - (Ill. Mt. of Transfiguration, Ill. They wanted a sign Mtt.12:38.  He gave them signs - When He was born, He placed a star in the sky. When He died, He put the sun out!  Now He stands in His glory outshining the sun!
bulletLegs of fire - Judgment!  ( Ill. There will be no winking at sin!)  Ill. He walked here, lived here and died here.  He has watched this world persecute His saints, devastate His world, and turn a deaf ear to His calls.  But, He is coming back!  No meek, mister nice guy this time. He comes in wrath!

            B.         What Is He Doing? (v.1) 

bulletHolding - A book of prophecy.  Possibly OT prophets - Dan. 12:4 ( Ill. v.7-11)
bulletStanding - Claiming the sum total of earth for Himself. 

            C.        What Is He Saying?  (v.3)

bulletCrying as a lion - ( Ill. Nothing compares to the roar of a lion that stands in his own domain.) This roar is God’s final warning to His enemies that He is coming.
bulletSeven Thunders - (Voice of God) Psa. 29:3-9 Ill. John was told not to write! ( Ill. Daniel and Paul.)  What did the voice say?  Good Question!

 II.        THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE ANGEL (VV.5-7)

            A.        No More Delay 

Jesus pledges by His Father that there will be no more delays!

·        All the eternal plans and visions of God are about to be brought to pass!

·        We need to remember that the days of delay are in reality the days of opportunity.

            B.         Judgment Will Be Done 

·        When the waiting is over, all the sinners will be punished! 

·        How long Oh Lord?  Now, My child!

 

III.       THE APPROPRIATION OF THE BOOK (VV.8-11)
John could see the book, even know its contents.  But, until he took it personally, he was not bettered!

            A.        The Command To Eat

( Ill. The Word is food - Mt. 4:4; Psa. 119:103; Jer. 15:16 ; 1 Pet. 2:22)

·        The Word does us no good until we eat it and digest it. 

·        Until you learn to feed off the Book, you will be an undernourished Christian.

            B.  The Two-fold Effect (v.9-10) - Both sweet and bitter. ( Ill. Heb. 4:12)

·        There is a blessing and a burden to the Word: a sweetness and a sadness, a happiness and a heartache, etc.

·        The future, the little book is prophetic, is wonderful for the saint, but awful for the sinner!

            C.  With the Word Comes Responsibility

·        If we are going to speak for God, we must know His Word!

·        If we know His Word, then we must share it!

·        John was to speak concerning all of these things - Ill. Chaps. 11-22

·        John did his job well.  Can we say the same?

 

Conclusion:  We are presently living in the days of delay. Let us pray study and witness so that we may live and work for Jesus until He comes. Are you ready to meet God, my friend?