OPENING THE BOOK OF REVELATION –PART 32 Listen to Audio

                                        October 14, 2009

 

10:8-11- following the mysterious element of the content of the seven

thunders in vs.4 is the meaning of the “little book” of vs.8.  John receives the book from the mighty angel (vs.2) who was holding it “open” in his right

hand.  Suggestions as to what this book is include:

1) Because it is “open”, it has been thought to be identical to the “seven-sealed

  scroll” held by the One on the throne in 5:1, since the seals of this book have

  been “opened” (6:1) as well.  The idea of the taste being “sweet”, then

  “bitter” is analogous to the judgments of God bringing both joy to the

  redeemed and misery to most of mankind.

2) Others suggest it is the whole of scripture, containing both joyful and

  bitter experiences.  References to Ezk.3:1-3 and Jere.15:16 are considered.

 The thought is that those who prophecy (vs.11) have joy at the digestion

 of divine revelation, but bitterness in seeing its judgments fulfilled.

  As an illustration, in Ezekiel 3:3, Ezekiel experiences the sweet and delicious

 nature of God’s revelation in his personal relationship with the Lord, but this

 changes to bitterness in vs.14 after he understands the resistance to God’s word    

 by his generation – vs.7 and 11.  The bitterness was not caused by the “book”

 but by the refusal of others to hear and obey it.  Note Rev. 9:20-21.

Another parallel might be that as John is exiled on Isle of Patmos for the

very act of preaching God’s word (1:9)—it gave him both a sweet taste (or

experience in receiving God’s vision of the future) followed by the consequence of exile on Patmos (bitterness).

 

10:11- this verse may be fulfilled in the sense of all those in church history

who read John’s writings here in the Book of REV.

 

11:1-2- John is instructed to “measure the Temple of God, the altar

and those who worship there”-as noted in an earlier study, this “temple”

is not the same as in heaven.  Rather it is in Jerusalem (see vs.8) on earth.  As such, some have suggested this Temple John is measuring here is the rebuilt Temple that the Antichrist pollutes- II Thess.2:4.  The “court” is not to be

measured as it is given to the Gentiles who “tread the holy city underfoot

for 42 months”.

  This act of measuring may be to express divine claim to ownership—that is,

The Temple [containing the Holy of Holies] in Jerusalem (that is desecrated) belongs to the Lord.  The mention of Gentiles in the outer court suggests one

of the themes of Daniel—divine allowance for Gentile dominance of the land

of Israel and the city of Jerusalem.  Note also Lk.21:24.  Questions are asked

as to the “42 months” or 3 ½ yr—is this the first or second half of the 7 yr

Great Tribulation?  The answer is that it is likely the second half as the first

half may be described in vs.3 = 1260 days (42 months of 30 days each); or there may be some overlap between the two segments.

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12:3-4- John is now told of the investment of “power” with 2 witnesses, who

prophesy 42 months.  They are described as “two olive trees and two lampstands standing before the God of the earth”.  The use of “olive trees” reminds us of Zech.4:3 and 14—usually understood to be Joshua, the

high priest and Zerubbabel, the governor.

  Others have suggested Moses & Elijah (Matt.11:10-14, Malachi 4:5) due to the similarities between their dramatic ministries and vs.5-6.  Still others, suggest Elijah (II Kings 2:11) and Enoch (Gen.5:24), since neither of these men died physically at the end of their ministries.  In the context, it is impossible to determine their exact identities—perhaps they are simply 2 Jewish men raised up during the Tribulation.

  Whoever they are, they are invested with extraordinary power in vs.5-6.  Both

Moses/Elijah had elements of power specified in vs.6.  Their prophecy provokes

the rage of the beast of 9:11.