“I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,
The seven trumpet judgments are part of the seventh seal judgment. We have studied six of the trumpet judgments.
This interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpet judgments parallels the interludes between the sixth and seventh seal and bowl judgments. Chapter seven introduced a parenthesis between the sixth and seventh seals (the 144,000 and the martyrs), so chapters 10 and 11:1-14 introduce two digressions between the sixth and seventh trumpets. This interlude consoles believers by announcing the millennial reign of Christ (Re 11:15). This interlude prepares us for the seventh trumpet.
In this parenthesis are two sets of forerunners to the Second Advent of Christ: 1) a powerful angel and 2) two witnesses. These two sets of forerunners (one angelic and two humans) are two sets of heralds of Christ’s kingdom. In the Bible, heralds always precede the king. John the Baptist was the herald to Jesus’ first coming.
10:1
I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud.
John introduces another angel different from the seven blowing the trumpets. Although the Greek indicates he is of the same kind as the angels who blow the seven trumpets, this angel has distinct characteristics.
Wearing a “cloud” may indicate that He announces the coming of Christ as a herald of the Second Coming.
And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.
The “rainbow” is a reminder that God keeps His Word (Genesis 9:12-17). God promised never to destroy the world by water again. He will never renege on His Word. He never goes back on a promise. God is not unstable, but He is always true to Himself.
This angel’s face reflects God’s glory, and his feet indicate he is come to execute God’s judgment.
10:2
He had a little book open in his hand.
The Lamb of God opened the seven-sealed scroll (Re 5:1), but the angel held a small scroll. This scroll held his impending mission: to announce that Jesus holds the title deed to the world. God is in the process of repossessing the world from Satan. When Jesus comes, He will bring His title deed to prove He is the rightful owner.
And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,
The angel had his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, indicating his right of authority over the earth. God will take back what is rightfully His (Psalm 2:6-8). This angel claims the world for Christ.
Principle:
God will regain the world to Himself.
Application:
At present, Christians live in the devil’s world, but we personally belong to the Lord Jesus. We are part of His plan. We orient to that plan by knowing prophecy. If we do this, we fulfill a purpose for which God placed us on earth.
Nothing riles the devil’s majesty more than to look at believers oriented to God’s prophetic plan for the world. These people gall him. They irritate him so much that he puts a tail on them – a fallen angel, a demon. These demons constantly gather information against believers. The devil brings this list before God and accuses believers of what they have done. He points out the terrible things believers have done. God then calls the believers’ defense attorney, the Lord Jesus, to defend them. Based on the blood of Christ, the Judge (the Father) throws the case out of court.
The devil is not primarily in the business of immorality. He is in the business of religion. He loves sweetness and pseudo-light. He wants people to focus on the so-called “divine spark” in every person produced through self and Satan. His desire is to set up a kingdom independent of God. He wants to make this a “perfect kingdom,” but his kingdom keeps failing because of people’s sinful capacity. Now, Satan’s doom is sealed with the coming of Christ.
Dr. Grant,
You say that the angel had authority over the earth in this post, but Hebrews 2:5 says that God has not made the world subject to angels. Is this an exception? Thanks!
Jakob, the two contexts are different. One is dealing with setting man as a theocratic king over the world (Heb) and the other is dealing with a specific situation in the world (Rev).
Dr. Grant,
I have heard someone say that this is Christ, based on the descriptions of him wrapped in a cloud, his face shining like the sun, and his legs like fire. What led you to conclude that he is obviously not Christ, but a messenger of Christ? Thanks!
Never mind. You don't have to reply if you do not want to. I just answered my question reading your comments in the section above the commentary of the verses.
Jakob, there is no explicit information to identify this person as anything but an angel.
Actually, I would like to hear how you were able to distinguish that the angel is different from Jesus, if you could. Thanks!
Your comment just popped up right after I hit "submit." My bad. Thank you for the information.
Jakob, there is no information anywhere that Jesus was an angel. He was true humanity and perfect deity.
Dr. Grant,
Was your time in Africa beneficial? I pray that it was! I agree with you completely that nowhere in the Bible is Jesus referred to as an angel. However, those who hold that this angel is Jesus say that because of the similarities to the "one like a son of man" in chapter 1. They also say that since no one but God is depicted in the Bible as riding on a cloud, this angel must be Jesus. Also, they correlate the rainbow from the Angel of the LORD in the latter verses of Ezekiel 1 with the rainbow here. Also, they claim that because the angel swears by God (v. 6), and nobody can swear by God but God Himself (is this really true?), that this angel must be Jesus. I disagree with their conclusion, but am having a hard time refuting their ideas, and really appreciate your knowledge and help with this. Thanks!
Jakob
Jakob, the ministry in Africa to African pastors was a blessing. I went to Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and left from South Africa.
Those who claim that Jesus is an angel use analogical and inferential logic. None of their so-called proof is adequate for serious exegesis.
Grant, maybe I can give you a chuckle.
I was reading through the commentary above and read that the devil was putting a tail on them. My mind instantly went to a literal tail (like a piece of the devil costume) being applied to these Christians. It baffled me a bit and I read on. Then what you meant, hit me. I laughed at myself, go ahead laugh.
Thanks again for this exposition the Lord inspired you to write.
Gregg,
Dear Grant,
Is this scripture talking about the seventh trumpet in Revelation?
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 King James Version (KJV)
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/1th.4.15-17.NLT
Christopher, Neither of these passages refer to the seventh trump. They both reference the Rapture. Note my studies on those passages.
At what point do you believe the Rapture takes place ?
Christopher, God nowhere gives an indication of the timing for the Rapture.
Christopher, you may want to study the distinction between the Rapture and the Second Coming. If so, go here: https://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/doctrine/rapture-vs-the-second-coming/
Thank you so much for your exposition on these verses of scripture. My question is: How many voices can we identify in the text from verse 1-3? Were there 8 voices, i.e. the voice of the mighty angel and the voices of the seven thunders OR 9, i.e. the voice of the mighty angel, the voices of the seven thunders and the voice that spoke from heaven?
I am trying to determine if the voice that spoke from heaven in verse 3, is the voice of the mighty angel in verse 1.
I am editing a book in which this appears and it is important for me to know specifically.
Thank you and God bless you.
Sumbo, just advance to verse 3 by clicking on Revelation 10:3-7 to the right of the study.