GETTING THE MESSAGE/Strength in the battle against evil

Revelation 10 is an interlude between the 6th and 7th trumpet judgments. It serves to give the saints perspective and strength in their battle against the evil spirits depicted in chapter 9. Paul offers something similar in Ephesians chapter 6 where he says, “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the cosmic powers over this present darkness.”

Paul pointed us towards confidence in Christ, and here we are given a vision of a mighty angel that represents the truths and attributes of Christ (Revelation 10:1-4). The angel comes down from heaven to earth wrapped in a cloud and with a rainbow over his head. In Revelation 1, we saw that Christ will return in the clouds and every eye will see him. The cloud points to the glory that attends his coming.

 The rainbow was a sign of God’s covenant with men after the flood not to destroy the earth by flood again, “even though the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Genesis 8:21). God stood in no need of our friendship and no loss could come to him from our hatred and enmity, but it pleased him to restore fallen man to fellowship with God. 

The rainbow is a lecture on God’s patience. The rainbow appearing symbolically with Christ answers the reason for God’s patience: he would lay the iniquities of sinners upon Christ. In light of the evil that provoked the judgment of the flood and the evil we saw in Chapter 9, the rainbow also testifies to how great a salvation there is in Christ. Viewing the rainbow shows how amazing grace really is. It also declares that God’s patience extends only to the day Christ returns.  

The next thing we see in this vision is that “his face was like the sun.” The Lord’s face shining like the sun points to his light and favor. When Stephen stood in front of a hostile crowd, his face was glowing like that of an angel. The Lord’s favor was with him. The affections Stephen had for Christ overcame all his fears. He became like Christ in his spirit.

Psalm 34 says, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.” David, who wrote that psalm, would have fears again. But in his hour of need, he sought the Lord, and the favor of the Lord was infused in his soul. The Lord’s people can stand in the evil day because Christ is with them.

Not only was the angel’s face like the sun, but “his legs were like pillars of fire.” This phrase points us to the presence of the Lord with Israel, guiding and protecting them in the wilderness as a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. The pillars of the Lord indicate the strength of his kingdom. The kingdom of darkness will crumble, but those who walk with Christ are on solid ground. He “will guard the feet of his faithful ones” (1st Samuel 2).

In verse 2 we read, “He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land.” Placing your foot on something indicates your sovereignty over that thing. Later in Revelation, we will see one beast coming from the sea and one from the earth-fearsome creatures, but under the sovereignty of Christ the Lord.

Christ has absolute authority over the greatest and least creatures, over those that are most beneficial and those that are most dreadful. He will win the day. Paul assures beleaguered Christians, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”

In verse 3, he “called out with a loud voice like a lion roaring. When he called out the seven thunders sounded.” In Amos 3:8 we read, “The lion roars and who will not fear? The Lord God speaks and who can but prophesy?”  The seven thunders portend judgment, final judgment.  The Lord is angry and full of wrath against evil. The vision is a final warning against unbelief.

Christ is the Lamb of God, who is meek and gentle with those who take refuge in him. He will surely uphold them, though they must walk through the valley of the shadow of death in this world. The Lamb, though, will also come in judgment for those who despise him and reject his grace.  Seek to know the power of his grace, not the ire of his justice.