Revelation 10

Posted on July 16, 2021 6:12 am by janjoybell@yahoo.com

The Little Book

After reading about the six trumpets with their devastation on the earth and mankind, God, in His mercy, has given us another interlude: Time to think, process, and return to the Big Picture. Let’s take a breath and relax for a moment; God is going to speak again.

Descending from heaven appeared an end-times angel, possibly Gabriel or Michael due to his description (Dan. 10) who’s roaring about a little book laying open in his hand. This colossal-sized, possible archangel, is standing erect with one leg on the land and the other on the sea picturing all of God’s creation. He had a message for John but before it’s heard God intervened speaking as Seven Thunders (Ps. 29) directing His Voice to John. What did He say?

Curiously, John is privileged to hear the Spirit-Voice but not allowed to write it down in contrast to his original assignment for this prophecy to His Church (Rev. 1:10). For now this Little Book is to be sealed shut. Why? Possibly the contents contain a certain mystery that’s not ready to be revealed … just yet. Is it too intimate? Too personal? Too private? We’re not told.

Earlier in Revelation the only one who could open the seals of judgment was the Lamb but now John must close and seal this exclusive Little Book. Sealing indicates a guarantee of security with someone who has a close, personal connection or familiarity, as we read in Song of Songs 4:9-15 and 8:6 … take a moment to enjoy some of these words from the Bride.

Place me like a seal over Your heart, like a seal on Your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame.
Song of Songs 8:6

This Little Book is for God’s eyes only and isn’t mentioned again due to it’s deeply intimate and private nature picturing this mystery of the intimacy between husband and wife or Christ and His Church:

He did this to present her to Himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault. This is a great mystery but an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one. Ephesians 5:27, 32

This end-times angel swore as a witness to His binding promise: ‘nor more delay’ of God’s plan for eternity. It’s a bitter-sweet plan; sweet to the believer, united with Christ forever, however, bitter to the rebellious, those remaining guilty for their sin. The digestion for John, taking and eating His words, contained both sweetness and bitterness effecting every people-group on earth. It can be a dark and dismal experience or a glorious and effervescent one depending on your standing with God.