ECHO Student Ministries

Revelation 10:1-11:14

Revelation 10:1-11:14 offers a brief break in God's judgments upon the earth. In Revelation 9 we saw the fifth and sixth trumpet judgments poured out and one-third of all mankind was put to death by the works of the four fallen angels as well as their 200 million evil horsemen (9:13-19). Instead of repenting in response to God's wrath, mankind continued in blatant sin and evidenced their disregard for God's law (9:20-21). At the beginning of Revelation 10 John writes about an angel who descends from heaven with the scroll (title deed of the earth) which was revealed in Revelation 5:1. The angel cries with a loud voice and "seven thunders uttered their voices" (10:3). As John was about to write concerning the seven thunders, a voice tells him to "seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered" (10:4). God obviously wanted this event to be concealed until His time.

The same angel who brought the scroll from heaven raises up his hand (10:5) and swears by God "that there should be delay no longer" (10:6). The event the angel is referring to had long been referred to as the mystery of God spoken of by the prophets (10:7). This mystery is the destruction of sinners and the establishment of Jesus' kingdom on earth. The angel was simply announcing that this time was almost here. The same voice which had told John not to write about the seven thunders (10:4) speaks to him again instructing him to take the book (scroll) from the angel and eat it (10:8-9). When John ate it he wrote that the scroll "was as sweet as honey in my mouth...but when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter" (10:10). This signifies that God's final victory would be glorious (sweet), but His judgment upon the rebellious would be bitter. The voice then commands John to "prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings" (10:11). In short, John was instructed to preach these judgments to men as a warning to all those who would reject Jesus Christ as Savior.

John is then "given a reed like a measuring rod" and commanded to measure the "temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there" (11:1). This action is said to illustrate God's ownership of the temple; however, John is told not to include in his measurements the court of the Gentiles. The exclusion of this court symbolizes God's judgment upon the unbelieving Gentiles who will oppress God's people for three and a half years, which is the last half of the seven year tribulation period (11:2). Specifically, this oppression will come from the forces of the Antichrist. During this time, God will give power to His two witnesses who will prophesy and preach repentance and salvation to those on the earth. They will be given special protection from anyone who would try to harm them (11:5) and also special power to control nature to bring judgment on mankind (11:6). When their ministry is completed, "the beast [Antichrist]that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city [Jerusalem]" (11:7-8). When this happens, all the people of the earth will rejoice and leave their bodies in the streets for three and a half days to show their hatred for these two witnesses (11:9-10). After three and a half days, God will miraculously resurrect these two witnesses and great fear will fall on all inhabitants of the earth (11:11). A loud voice from heaven will call these witnesses to ascend into heaven (11:12) and a great earthquake accompanies this event. A tenth of Jerusalem will fall as a result of this earthquake and 7,000 people will be killed (11:13). In response to this miracle, many people "gave glory to the God of heaven" (11:13).

Dear God, continue to call people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. May You spare many of the judgments to come.