Chapter 10 is about a little book that is opened up. John sees what he refers to as a strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire; and he had in his hand a little book which was open. I know that Daniel, in the last chapter of his book, in Chapter 12, verse 4, wrote this that he was instucted to do;
"But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time;
many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase."
So we know that Daniel was told to seal up a book until the end of time. Daniel goes on to write in verse 5, that he saw two others standing on each side of the river. In verse 6, one of them said to a man dress in linen, who was above the river;
"How long will it be until the end of these wonders."
In verse 7, Daniel writes;
"And I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, as
he raised his right hand and his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives
forever that it would be for a time, times and half a time ( 3 1/2 years ); as soon as
they finish shattering the power of the holy people all these events will be completed."
Daniel did not write what these events were, although he wrote much about the end times. So what is left out and why would it be concealed until the end times?
One thing to note, is that the Daniel wrote about the two on each bank of the river. In Revelations Chapter 11, we are going to find out who these two are. Also, when Daniel writes about the one above the river, it is also what John saw as we continue in Chapter 10.
Daniel wrote in his 12th Chapter, verses 8 and 9,;
(8)"As for me, I heard but could not understand; so I said, 'My Lord, what will be the
outcome of these events?'(9) And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for these words are
concealed and sealed up until the end time.' "
What we do know is that a lot of what Daniel saw is written by John in Revelation. We also know that alot of what Daniel could not reveal, has been revealed by John in Revelation. These are the things that John will now reveal, when this little book is opened.
So John sees this strong angel place his right foot on the sea and his left on the land, and he cried out with a loud voice, like a lions roar. When he did, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. When John goes to write down what they had spoken, he was instucted to not write it down. Here we go again. I wonder if what the seven thunders uttered was the same thing that Daniel was to conseal. Whatever it might be, it will be revealed in the end time.
John writes in verses 5 and 6 a vision similar to what Daniel saw;
(5)"And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand
to heaven, (6) and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the
things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there shall be delay no longer.'
In verse 7 John writes;
"but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the
mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets."
The seventh angel is the angel who is about to sound the 7th trumpet, and when he does, the mystery of God is finished. This is the mystery of the first Resurrection that will take place at the sounding of the 7th trumpet. It will also bring forth the wrath of God. The seventh trumpet is the last trumpet. Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians in Chapter 15, verses 51 and 52;
(51) "Behold, I tell you a mystery; we shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be
changed, (52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the
trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed."
Paul also wrote in his 1st letter to the Thessalonians in Chapter 4, verses 15 - 17;
(15) " For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, shall not
procede those who have fallen asleep. (16) For the Lord Himself will decend from
heaven with a shout,with the voice of the arcangel, and with the trumpet of God ;
and the dead in Christ shall rise first. (17) Then we who are alive and remaining
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and
thus we shall always be with the Lord."
In completing Chapter 10, John is asked to take the little book. He is told by the angel to eat it, and that it would make his stomach bitter, but taste sweet as honey in his mouth. When John ate the book, it was as the angel said. I always try to figure out what this might mean. This is obviosly bitter sweet. It might be that it is describing the reality of the last trumpet sound. Sweet, because one of the most amazing events in all creation will take place when the New Creations are resurrected and receive their glorified transformed bodies, that will be higher than the angels. Bitter, because of the fate that will befall those who would not receive the truth of the gospel as to be saved, rescued, redeemed or how ever you want to put it.
For that reason, I think is why John is told in the last verse 11;
"You MUST prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and
tongues and kings."
This is why it is important to proclaim the the gospel in clarity and truth and insight. This way people who may not come to believe by just hearing the gospel, might with the help of seeing, receive the free gift of eternal life.
Jesus peace to you all.
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