John 18:1-18, Revelation 10, Job 34:1-20, Jonah 1-4

Revelation 10:

There is now another interlude, this time between the sixth and seventh trumpets. The purpose of this interlude is to communicate first that there will now be no more delay, second to reaffirm God’s commission of John as a prophet, and third to communicate the purpose of the church to bear witness to Christ even in the midst of these troubles.

Some have thought that the mighty angel who comes down from heaven is another way of describing Christ; on the other hand, many have thought it unlikely that John would describe Christ as an angel, and there is another “voice from heaven” that speaks which is the voice of Christ and God himself. The angel bestrides land and sea to indicate the global nature of his message. The seven thunders speak from heaven, and yet John is not allowed to relay what they said. None know for sure why this is; perhaps it is to indicate that even this prophecy cannot fathom the full depth of all that God is and does.

The angel then communicates that there will now be no more delay, for the mystery of God is accomplished. This mystery of God is not a fresh hidden mystery but rather what is plainly declared in Revelation 11 verses 15 to 18. As verse 15 of chapter 11 puts it:

“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”

After this, John is commanded to eat the little scroll. Eating it turned his stomach sour, but in his mouth it was sweet as honey. This recalls the experience of the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:9-3:3) and testifies to the combination of pain and joy at these awesome words of God that John is given to speak. The little scroll is presumably the rest of the book of Revelation, for as verse 11 says, “you must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”

The end is coming. Therefore, church of God: get ready. And those who have not yet repented and turned to Christ, do so now!