Commentators disagree on the identity of this mighty angel. Some believe it to be the Lord Jesus Christ. Others (Steve Griffith) think it is Michael: "I base this on (1) Daniel 12:1, where the context is the Tribulation period; (2) Jude 1:9; and (3) Revelation 12:7-9, where it states that Michael and the Lord's angels prevail over Satan and the fallen angels. Thus, in Revelation 12:7-9 Michael is shown to be stronger than Satan; therefore, Michael could certainly be considered to be a "strong (or mighty) angel." Ken Boa believes it is not the Lord because of vv. 5-6 where the angel raises his hand to heaven to swear by Him (God) Who created all things. When one swears to another in the Bible it shows the lesser swearing to the greater and we never see Christ doing this in the Scriptures as there is co-equality in the God-head. Also Christ Himself created all things (1 Cor. 8:6; Heb. 1:1-3). Finally, Christ is never called an angel in the New Testament and unlike Christ, this angel comes to earth before the time of tribulation is over.
The point is that God is showing He is still in control (vv.2b -3 show God's authority over all creation) as John may have been confused after what the Lord showed him in chapters 8 and 9 where Satan and his demons seemingly are in control as they torture and kill millions. As I stated before, the Tribulation is God pouring out His wrath on unrepentant man as He uses evil man (the Antichrist and others) and even Satan and his demons to administer His wrath.
The little scroll – Again commentators differ on the contents of this little book. Some say it is the same as the scroll in chapters 4-6 (the scroll Christ opens to judge the world) but others disagree because it is a different Greek word; the scroll in chapters 4-6 is "biblion" and here it is "biblaridion." Also the scroll Jesus is breaking open is not fully open but this one is. Griffith and others think that it is the part of the Revelation that is subsequent to the sounding of the seventh trumpet (i.e., chapters 11:19-19:21). Gaebelein believes that the book "stands for the prophecies in the Old Testament relating especially to Israel during the time of the great Tribulation, what is yet to come upon the earth, culminating in the personal and glorious appearing of the Lord to begin His millennial reign."
"When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down." Some say the seven thunders were seven more judgments that were withheld by God ("in wrath He remembers mercy" – Habakkuk 3:2) but others think these are judgments to come that are "sealed up" and revealed only to John at this time. (See Rev. 22:10; Dan. 12:4, 9; Deut. 29:29)
"There will be no more delay! (KJV wrongly translates this to say: "there should be time no longer") But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets." The mystery of God has to do with prophecies given to Old Testament prophets, in this case, about the Day of the Lord when God will finally judge all evil. The mystery is that an All Powerful All Loving God has allowed evil to go on so long with no seeming judgment. {"The angel is stating that there will be no more delay in rectifying the wrong government of the earth. Sin has held sway long enough. God's secret dealings are over, and His public judgments begin. Heaven is silent no longer, and man's day is about to close. The seventh angel is the one who sounds the seventh trumpet which brings God's final judgments (the seven bowl or vial judgments) in rapid succession and ushers in the kingdom of "our Lord and His Christ."} (KJV Bible Commentary. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1994, S.2681)
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,
and he will reign for ever and ever." And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying:
"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
The nations were angry; and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your saints and those who reverence your name,
both small and great-
and for destroying those who destroy the earth." (Rev. 11:15-18)
"So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings." {"For the believer, it is sweet to read of God's determination to glorify His Son where He was once crucified. It is sweet to read of the triumph of God over Satan and all his hosts. It is sweet to read of the time when the wrongs of earth will all be made right. But there is bitterness also connected with the study of prophecy. There is the bitterness of self-judgment (conviction of sin as we read God's Word) which the prophetic Scriptures produce. There is the bitterness of viewing the judgments which must soon fall on apostate Judaism and Christendom. And there is the bitterness of contemplating the eternal doom of all who reject the Savior. John was told that he must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings. The remaining chapters of Revelation fulfill this mandate." MacDonald, William ; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary}
Jeremiah and Ezekiel were also told to "eat" God's Word (Ezek. 2:9-10; 3:1-4, 14; Jer. 15:16-19) and they found it both sweet and bitter. David said God's Word was sweeter than honey (Psalm 19:10; 119:103) and Jesus tells us that by faith we must feed on Him, the Bread of life, both for our salvation and on-going sustenance of the Christian life. (John 6:47-58) And we are to take what we eat (His Word) and make disciples of all nations even as John was commanded in verse 11. "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt. 28:18-20)
But as we speak of the cross as the only way a person can be right with God people will be offended because of self-righteousness. "Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, (a form of works salvation or self-righteousness) why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished." (Gal. 5:11) Thus sharing God's truth is also bitter in the sense of the rejection of man. But for all of us who know the truth of the cross we are responsible and accountable to share it. "Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God." (Acts 20:25-027)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND QUESTIONS FROM STEVE GRIFFITH'S COMMENTARY (1-6)
What did you learn from the Scriptures and the message today?
Do you feel you are battle ready? Why or why not?
What specific battle plan can you put into action using these 4 "spiritual strategies"?
Let's focus on #2) PRAY! And PROCLAIM! Versus argue and complain. Read and discuss ways to proclaim the gospel and hold out the word of life in your sphere of relationships. (See Eph. 6:19-20 and Phil. 2:14-16)
In the Ephesians passage where was Paul and yet what was his greatest concern?
In the Philippians passage, unpack it as it applies to our country today and how we are to respond with the truth. How can we hold out the word of life for each other? (See Malachi 3:16-18)
What is your main take away from today's message and table discussion and how can you apply this to your life this week?
1. Read Rev. 12:7-8. In view of the fact that the angel in Rev. 10:1 is described as being a "strong angel" and is entrusted with this special mission ("coming down out of heaven"), whom might the angel of Rev. 10:1 be?
2. Because this angel is described as being "clothed with a cloud" (v.1) do you think he is visible or invisible to mankind?
3. Because this trusted, high-ranking angel is pictured as placing "his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land" (v.2), what does this say about the authority of God and his designates over the earth at this point in the Tribulation period?
4. The fact that the little scroll is open (v.2) seems to indicate that God wants its contents to be revealed. Commentators usually ascribe one of four interpretations to the "little scroll": (1) the entire Word of God, the Bible; (2) those parts of the Bible which deal with the end-times; (3) the book of Revelation; or (4) the remaining contents of the book of Revelation from this point on. In my view, the context of Rev. 10:8-11 best supports the fourth view: the "little scroll" represents the remaining panorama of end-times events which God has yet to give John. If indeed this is the case, then why do you think the contents of the little scroll would be "sweet as honey" to John's mouth, but "bitter" to John's stomach? (Also read Ezek. 3:1-3; Psa. 119:103)
5. What, in your opinion, is "the mystery of God," which had been "announced to His servants the prophets" (Rev. 10:7)? Read Rev. 11:15-19 for a possible answer.
6. What do you think the statement "you must prophesy again to many peoples and nations and tongues and kings" means in this context?