The Little Book

THE LITTLE BOOK

Revelation 10 through 14 describes events that will occur at the midpoint to the end of the 70^th year of Daniel.  There are three declarations of the 3 ½ year time period (Revelation 11:2-3; 12:6; 12:14; and 13:5). It is my opinion that at the beginning of this midpoint period, the Antichrist will begin to make his world conquest by promising to protect the Jews and assist in their rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. However, 3 ½ years after confirming the covenant, he will break his agreement, invade the temple, declare himself as ‘god’ and begin to persecute and kill those who will not worship his image or statue.

 

THE MIGHTY ANGEL

(Revelation 10:1-2 KJV)

And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

The Greek word translated as “another” means one of the same kind, therefore this is another powerful high ranking angel and not Jesus Christ, although some of his attributes are similar to those of Jesus: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength 1:16; And his feet like unto fine brass 1:15; the Lion of the tribe of Judah  5:5 

God is often identified with clouds. God led Israel by a cloud (Ex. 16:10); dark clouds covered Sinai when the Law was given (Ex. 19:9); “He maketh the clouds His chariot” (Ps. 104:3); A cloud received Jesus when He ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9); and, when Jesus returns, it will be with clouds (Rev. 1:7).

The rainbow is the sign given to Noah proclaiming that God would not send another flood and would protect His people.  The angel’s feet as pillars of fire indicate his power and authority to possibly execute the final wrath of God which is also the Day of the Lord.

The right foot on the sea and the left foot on the earth may demonstrate (or symbolize) that Jesus is the sovereign ruler of the earth and all creation.

 

THE SEVEN THUNDERS

(Revelation 10:3-4 KJV)

And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

The seven thunders make an announcement and John can apparently understand their  message, but when he is about to write, the angel tells him not to write what he has heard but to seal up the message.  It could be that God revealed more prophecy information to John than he was allowed to record. The identity of the thunders and the message are not known or indicated.

 

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE COMING 7^TH TRUMPET

(Revelation 10:5-7 KJV)

And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

This section of scriptures is the prelude to the 7 bowls of the final wrath of God which proceeds at chapter 16.  However, the book of Revelation inserts several intervening sections of material prior to the continuation of the wrath.

The angel lifts up his hand toward God and proclaims a sworn statement:  “the mystery of God will be finished, as declared to the Old Testament prophets, at the voice of the seventh angel.”  The mystery of hidden truth will now be revealed, the kingdom of God will very soon be an actuality.

 

THE LITTLE BOOK

(Revelation 10:8-11 KJV)

And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

John is told to take the open book from the hand of the angel.  When he receives it he is told to eat the book which will be bitter to his stomach but sweet as honey in his mouth.

The meaning seems to be that while there is initial gladness and elation in the message, it quickly turns to bitterness when the extent of the corrective actions required to turn humanity from its wickedness becomes apparent.

John’s physical reactions demonstrate what every believer’s proper response to God’s judgment should be—sweet anticipation of God’s glory and our victory, and at the same time, the bitterness of seeing God’s wrath poured out on those who reject His Son.

(MacArthur, John (2001-04-09). Revelation (MacArthur Bible Studies)

The contents of the book are basically unknown at this point, but it apparently empowers John to again prophesy before many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings or leaders.  That prophecy may be the final bowls wrath, the destruction of Babylon the Great, the annihilation of the beast and his armies, and the imprisonment of Satan which will be revealed within the next few chapters of the Revelation.

Ezekiel was also told to eat a scroll and then to preach the words of God to the people of Israel.  It was sweet in his mouth but no mention of a stomach reaction.  John is instructed to perform a similar act.

And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.

(Ezekiel 3:3 KJV

 

MEASURING THE TEMPLE

(Revelation 11:1-2 KJV)

And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

John was given a hollow cane that was straight and commonly used as a measuring rod in the Middle East of the first century.  Measuring the temple areas of the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place denoted its ownership by God.  A temple will be built anew at some point during the 70^th week.  The altar and its worshippers may suggest the bronze altar in the courtyard, because only the priests were allowed inside the Holy Place.

Gentiles (nations, non-Israelites) were forbidden entrance to the inner court.  The court of the Gentiles was separated from the inner court in the historical temple.  This area was not to be measured.

Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

Thayer Greek Definitions:  “tread under foot:”  to trample, crush with the feet;  to tread under foot, trample on, i.e. to treat with insult and contempt: to desecrate the holy city by devastation and outrage

The temple area and the city of Jerusalem will be inundated with non-Israelite people for 42 months or 2 ½ years, which would be the second half of the 70^th week or the Times of Jacob’s Trouble. 

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.  (Luke 21:24 KJV)

At or near the mid-point of the 70^th week, the beast (antichrist) will have an image of himself constructed and placed in or near the temple area.  Upon penalty of death, the beast (AC) will require everyone to worship the image (of the beast).  Jesus warned all Judeans to flee when this event occurs.

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:   (Matthew 24:15-16 KJV)

It may be the time of the image that Jerusalem is engulfed with Gentiles:  they may be the troops of the AC; they may be imported to worship the image; they may consider themselves Israelites when they are not; or they may be visitors attempting to be a part of the action.