Revelation
We really need to take what we've learned and apply it to throughout, in so doing a small recap is necessary here-
(From Daniel and Revelation by Uriah Smith)
The sea is a symbol of "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." Revelation 17: 15.
A beast is the Bible symbol of a nation or power. It sometimes represents the civil power alone, and sometimes the ecclesiastical in connection with civil.
Whenever a beast is seen to come up out of the sea, it denotes that the power arises in a thickly populated territory.
If the winds are represented as blowing upon the sea, as in Daniel 7: 2, 3, political commotion, civil strife, and revolution are indicated.
*******
...
And I stood upon the sand of the sea,
and saw a beast rise up out of the sea,
having seven heads and ten horns,
and upon his horns ten crowns,
and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.
...
Another beast is seen by John as he stood on the sand of the sea- the sea shore. If the sea represents a lot of people, John is standing on the outskirts of this land watching. He sees a beast- a power rising up from the multitudes and this power had seven heads. Seven kingdoms, and with ten horns. Seven heads should have seven horns right, but this beast has seven heads with ten horns. Seven kingdoms with ten leaders, and ten crowns - ten victories for those ten leaders. Upon his heads... the beasts seven heads there is the name of blasphemy. A single name on all the heads- the name for all of them, blasphemy.
Dict. Def.
blasphemy (blàs´fe-mê) noun
plural blasphemies
1.a. A contemptuous or profane act, utterance, or writing concerning God or a sacred entity. b. The act of claiming for oneself the attributes and rights of God.
2.An irreverent or impious act, attitude, or utterance in regard to something considered inviolable or sacrosanct.
Excerpted from The American Heritage® Dictionary
This beast is clearly not Godly in any way shape or form other than perhaps anti-godly. This beast with its seven heads-all blasphemous. When you have label on something it's named. This beast is named.
...
And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard,
and his feet were as the feet of a bear,
and his mouth as the mouth of a lion
...
Interesting to note this is a non-descript beast meaning it's not just a lion, not just a bear, not just a leopard, it's a composite of them all. It looks like a leopard and yet the feet of this leopard looking beast are those of a bear, and the leopard looking beast's mouth was like that of a lion. Another interesting note- where else are these beasts mentioned?
Daniel--
{7:1} In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, [and] told the sum of the matters.
{7:2} Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea.
{7:3} And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
{7:4} The first [was] like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it.
{7:5} And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and [it had] three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh.
{7:6} After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
{7:7} After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it [was] diverse from all the beasts that [were] before it; and it had ten horns.
{7:8} I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn [were] eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.
A lion,
A bear,
A leopard,
A non-descript beast.
Backwards, single beast in Revelation 13 is described with attributes of these individual beasts in Daniel 7, only backwards. The leopard- like description first then the feet of the bear, and then a mouth of a lion. Very interesting!
The powers, the kingdoms, the rulers of the multitude of people are corrupt- blasphemous and yet we have many in leadership positions that claim to be God-fearing. They're liars! Blasphemous. Rulers that have nothing to do with the true church, God's people.
...
and the dragon gave him his power,
and his seat,
and great authority.
...
This composite beast is given power by whom? The dragon! The Devil! The devil gives this beast power and not only power but his SEAT and GREAT AUTHORITY.
We need to study this stuff closely, very closely to understand what is going on. The Revelation wasn't given to us for no reason. We are blessed if we read and keep it. With history our key, and God as our guide we can understand. By the mercy and grace of Jesus our lives are His and we need to believe in Him and His love for us. What we need to understand we will understand through the Holy Spirit's guidance.
Let's not cover our eyes and choose not to see just because we don't like what is being revealed.
In Jesus now and forever.
Amen.
9/23/10
Heb 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
The first covenant wasn't faultless- it left room for man to fall far short, to disobey. The second covenant would leave no room for man to fall short because the second covenant- the perfect covenant relied on the Son of God. Yes, man could still choose to NOT accept the second covenant, God does NOT force anyone to love Him. The second covenant could not fail, there would be NO need ever for another covenant because the second covenant was perfect.
The first covenant also had ordinances of DIVINE service and a WORLDLY sanctuary.
Heb 9:2
For there was a tabernacle made the first
wherein was the candlestick
and the table
and the shewbread
which is called the sanctuary.
Heb 9:3
And after the second veil
the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all
Heb 9:4
Which had the golden censer
and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold
wherein was the golden pot that had manna
and Aaron's rod that budded
and the tables of the covenant
Heb 9:5
And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat of which we cannot now speak particularly.
Heb 9:6
Now when these things were thus ordained
the priests went ALWAYS into the first tabernacle
accomplishing the service of God.
Heb 9:7
But into the second went the high priest alone once every year,
NOT WITHOUT BLOOD
which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people
Heb 9:8
The HOLY GHOST THIS SIGNIFYING
that the WAY into the holiest of all was NOT YET MADE MANIFEST,
while as the first tabernacle was yet standing
The Holy Ghost signified, the Holy Ghost declaring. What exactly was the Holy Ghost declaring?
The PRIEST always went into the first tabernacle (the Holy Place)
The HIGH PRIEST ALONE NOT WITHOUT BLOOD went into the second tabernacle (the Most Holy Place) once a year
As long as the FIRST tabernacle was standing- as long as the Holy Place- the place where the common priest enter always was standing- FULL ACCESS to the MOST HOLY PLACE was not yet available.
What was found in the Most Holy Place?
Heb 9:4
Which had the golden censer
and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold
wherein was the golden pot that had manna
and Aaron's rod that budded
and the tables of the covenant
Heb 9:5
And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat of which we cannot now speak particularly.
The golden censor
The ark of the covenant
Inside the ark- manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant.
Lev 16:12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:
Lev 16:13 And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not
On the Day of Atonement - once a year a censor full of burning coals from the altar of incense outside the vail was taken INTO the Most Holy Place- inside the vail.
What do the burning coals - the incense- represent?
Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
Incensed offered with the prayers of all saints.
Psa 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Prayer set before God as incense.
Prayers continually going up to God. Prayers of the saints.
We know how important prayer is… we are to pray always…
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
Luk 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint
Col 1:3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you
Prayer is very important, prayer is acknowledging God as Creator, as Redeemer. To pray to God is to believe He is. To pray is believing in God's power, accepting that we have a God who LISTENS to us, who HEARS us when we speak to Him.
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
For we know not what we should pray for as we ought.
But the SPIRIT itself maketh intercession for us…with GROANINGS which cannot be uttered.
Prayer is vital. Is it no wonder it's represented INSIDE the Most Holy Place; a place that was not yet made manifest in the first covenant?
Our prayers, prayers on our behalf, communication with our Heavenly Father is very important, we cannot pray enough.
More on the inside of the Most Holy Place tomorrow…
By the grace and mercy of our most holy Lord and Savior may we ever pray before Him, may we always be in communication with our God, honoring our God always and forever, without end.
Amen.
9/23/11
Rev 10:1 And I saw another mighty angel come
down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his
face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire
BRILLIANT!
Rev 10:2 And he had in his hand a little book
open
Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words,
and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and
knowledge shall be increased.
Little book open.
(Book of Revelation)
Seal the book.
(Book of Daniel)
One book was
written LONG before the other.
Daniel was written long before Revelation. In Daniel we have a sealed
book, a book that would remain sealed until the time of the end when many would
be running to and fro and knowledge would increase. The book would be opened and
in Revelation we read of an open book. A MIGHTY angel has this little
open book in his hand.
Rev 10:2 ...and
he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth
One foot of the
might angel was put upon the sea the other on the earth.
If the sea
represents - multitudes, nations, tongues, people
Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which
thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations,
and tongues.
Then the earth it
stands to reason would represent a without multitudes.
Remember this-
Dan 7:3 And four great beasts came
up from the sea, diverse one from another.
We KNOW where
those four beasts came up don't we? The land of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece,
Rome.
We know where the
sea is… in a very populated area, hence we know where the earth is. A land that
was largely unpopulated and becoming newly populated, the United States. A vast
land founded hugely unpopulated except for the small population of Native
Americans. I say small because compared to the highly populated lands of Europe,
Middle East, and Asia America was practically empty.
This mighty angel
planted a foot on the sea and on the earth and the little open book rested upon
his hand. The time would come
when this open book would go to the people, the same time would see a great
increase in knowledge- biblical and secular.
'The Industrial
Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes
in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a
profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions of the times. It
began in the United Kingdom, then subsequently spread throughout Europe, North
America, and eventually the world.
The Industrial
Revolution marks a major turning point in human history; almost every aspect of
daily life was influenced in some way.'
'The First
Industrial Revolution, which began in the 18th century, merged into the Second
Industrial Revolution around 1850, when technological and economic progress
gained momentum with the development of steam-powered ships, railways, and
later in the 19th century with the internal combustion engine and electrical
power generation. The period of time covered by the Industrial Revolution
varies with different historians. Eric Hobsbawm held that it 'broke out' in
Britain in the 1780s and was not fully felt until the 1830s or 1840s,[7] while
T. S. Ashton held that it occurred roughly between 1760 and 1830.[8]'
Pasted
from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution>
We've established
a bit of a time frame for this little book open appearing, haven't we? Late 1700's right on through …well, we
are still advancing aren't we? I don't think we've ever stopped not since it was
started. If fully felt in the
1830's -40's we can most assuredly understand the amazing Biblical advancement
in the understanding of prophecy- can't we?
For the moment -
back to Revelation.
With one foot on
the sea and another on the earth this mighty angel CRIED out with a loud voice-
as a LION ROARING!
Rev 10:3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a
lion roareth
You know what a
lion's roar sounds like, don't you? Surely you've heard one on television if
not in person. If you've never heard a lion's roar check it out on youtube
http://youtu.be/aUfDxRelPHg
Do a search for
lion's roaring and listen to them.
One video caption mentioned the lion's roar being heard throughout the
entire zoo they were in. There is
no doubt that the lion's roar is deep and ferocious, loud and worthy of great
notice. This mighty angel, this
brilliant, striking angel cried out in that manner- loud, strong,
commanding. What was his cry? It
doesn't say. In fact immediately after the cry seven thunders spoke.
Thunders spoke! An angel cries out like a lion and then thunders
speak!
Rev 10:3 ...and
when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
Rev 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered
their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto
me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
Amazing! Thunders
utter their voices and they are not to be heard! Thunder! So loud, so
commanding, we all have been known to jump a bit when we've been surprised by a
particularly loud clap of thunder haven't we? Just imagine what John must have
heard. He wanted to write it down but he was stopped. The utterances of the
seven thunders were stifled, they were sealed. Amazing too is the fact that
just as an open book appears the message of the seven thunders were sealed.
There are things we CANNOT know. We are way too arrogant if we believe we
should have all access to everything of God and that He should have nothing hid
from us. All that is necessary to our salvation is revealed to us and not
hidden, but God's ways are not our ways.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Rev 10:5 And the angel which I saw stand upon
the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
Rev 10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever
and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth,
and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein,
that there should be time no longer
Who did this
angel sware by?
Our Savior! Our
God! Our Creator! The Creator of
the heaven and all in them, the Creator of earth and all in them, the Creator of
the sea and all in them.
What did he
sware? That there should be time
no longer!
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the
seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be
finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
BUT before there
would be time no longer the voice of the SEVENTH angel would sound, the mystery
of God finished.
Rev 10:8 And the voice which I heard from heaven
spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the
hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
The voice from
heaven spoke to John again- the voice told John to TAKE the little book which
is open in the hand of angel standing upon the sea and earth.
The mighty, brilliant angel held a book which you KNOW has to be very
important, there's nothing about this angel that doesn't scream important.
Rev 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said
unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up;
and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
John didn't ask
for the little book. John commanded the mighty angel to GIVE him the little
book. John TOLD the angel to GIVE him the little book. But the mighty angel did
NOT give the book to John, did he? No, he did not. He told John to TAKE IT, just
as the other voice told John told john to TAKE the book. This book was willingly
taken as directed, as commanded. And the mighty angel added something else
after telling John to take the little book. He told John to eat the little
book. Eat the book and your stomach is going to ache, but oh will it taste
sweet!
How many times
have you eaten something that tasted wonderful only to have it cause you a
stomach ache afterwards? It's happened, yes? Now what if I baked you a treat and
told you it was going to taste great but afterwards it was going to upset your
stomach, what would you think? Seriously? Take a moment to consider such a
situation. Would you WANT to eat that sweet knowing what the end result would
be? I'm sure you'd have to really think about it, I know I would. Because who
likes having a bitter stomach? No one I know that's for sure. We avoid stomach
aches for the most part, don't we? We take lots of antacids and bloating/gas
relief products just to keep ourselves feeling comfortable, don't we? How many
people take heartburn medicine? It's so common, so incredibly common for people
to take medicine so they can continue to eat foods that would upset their
digestion without that medicine. They don't want an upset digestive system
because it's very unpleasant.
Here John is told
to take a book- eat the book- it will taste wonderful but it's going to upset
his stomach.
Prophecy! The
little book is the prophecy book of Daniel which had been sealed and would be
unsealed at the time of the end. When people became enlightened to what the
prophecies were, when they connected history so completely, so wonderfully to
prophecy and saw the hand of God working undeniably in it all they were
thrilled! How sweet, how wondrous the amazing insights unfolding before their
eyes, their understanding was opened. Only… it didn't last. Why didn't it last?
Because that sweet book was going to cause a lot of stomach misery later on. The
disappointment was huge when the prophecies which so clearly seemed to point to
the end of the world in their day, did NOT come to pass! Did that mean all the
prophecies were wrong, that all the history proved prophecy was not what it
seemed to be? So many questions,
so much heartache, such incredible dismay was felt. The bitter belly was
awful!
Rev 10:10 And I took the little book out of the
angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon
as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Rev 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy
again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
John heard the
mighty angel tell him what would have to come to pass. Those who ate this
little book and received a bitter belly would have to PROPHESIZE AGAIN and not
in a small measure but in a huge one!
The time of the very end wasn't there yet, but it was on its way and
people needed to be warned. Those who newly discovered the wonderful truth in
these prophecies so long hidden needed to go and take the truth of them to the
entire world! Yes, it was a bitter disappointment to have to stay on earth
after having such great expectation of Jesus' second coming, but it was for a
purpose - God is long suffering towards us not willing that any of us should
perish.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his
promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not
willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
PRAISE
GOD!
More tomorrow by
His will and through His grace!
Amen.
Heb 9:1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
Heb 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
The first covenant wasn't faultless- it left room for man to fall far short, to disobey. The second covenant would leave no room for man to fall short because the second covenant- the perfect covenant relied on the Son of God. Yes, man could still choose to NOT accept the second covenant, God does NOT force anyone to love Him. The second covenant could not fail, there would be NO need ever for another covenant because the second covenant was perfect.
The first covenant also had ordinances of DIVINE service and a WORLDLY sanctuary.
Heb 9:2
For there was a tabernacle made the first
wherein was the candlestick
and the table
and the shewbread
which is called the sanctuary.
Heb 9:3
And after the second veil
the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all
Heb 9:4
Which had the golden censer
and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold
wherein was the golden pot that had manna
and Aaron's rod that budded
and the tables of the covenant
Heb 9:5
And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat of which we cannot now speak particularly.
Heb 9:6
Now when these things were thus ordained
the priests went ALWAYS into the first tabernacle
accomplishing the service of God.
Heb 9:7
But into the second went the high priest alone once every year,
NOT WITHOUT BLOOD
which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people
Heb 9:8
The HOLY GHOST THIS SIGNIFYING
that the WAY into the holiest of all was NOT YET MADE MANIFEST,
while as the first tabernacle was yet standing
The Holy Ghost signified, the Holy Ghost declaring. What exactly was the Holy Ghost declaring?
The PRIEST always went into the first tabernacle (the Holy Place)
The HIGH PRIEST ALONE NOT WITHOUT BLOOD went into the second tabernacle (the Most Holy Place) once a year
As long as the FIRST tabernacle was standing- as long as the Holy Place- the place where the common priest enter always was standing- FULL ACCESS to the MOST HOLY PLACE was not yet available.
What was found in the Most Holy Place?
Heb 9:4
Which had the golden censer
and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold
wherein was the golden pot that had manna
and Aaron's rod that budded
and the tables of the covenant
Heb 9:5
And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercyseat of which we cannot now speak particularly.
The golden censor
The ark of the covenant
Inside the ark- manna, Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant.
Lev 16:12 And he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the LORD, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the vail:
Lev 16:13 And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not
On the Day of Atonement - once a year a censor full of burning coals from the altar of incense outside the vail was taken INTO the Most Holy Place- inside the vail.
What do the burning coals - the incense- represent?
Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.
Incensed offered with the prayers of all saints.
Psa 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Prayer set before God as incense.
Prayers continually going up to God. Prayers of the saints.
We know how important prayer is… we are to pray always…
Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints
Luk 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint
Col 1:3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you
Prayer is very important, prayer is acknowledging God as Creator, as Redeemer. To pray to God is to believe He is. To pray is believing in God's power, accepting that we have a God who LISTENS to us, who HEARS us when we speak to Him.
Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
For we know not what we should pray for as we ought.
But the SPIRIT itself maketh intercession for us…with GROANINGS which cannot be uttered.
Prayer is vital. Is it no wonder it's represented INSIDE the Most Holy Place; a place that was not yet made manifest in the first covenant?
Our prayers, prayers on our behalf, communication with our Heavenly Father is very important, we cannot pray enough.
More on the inside of the Most Holy Place tomorrow…
By the grace and mercy of our most holy Lord and Savior may we ever pray before Him, may we always be in communication with our God, honoring our God always and forever, without end.
Amen.
9/23/11
Rev 10:1 And I saw another mighty angel come
down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his
face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire
BRILLIANT!
Rev 10:2 And he had in his hand a little book
open
Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words,
and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and
knowledge shall be increased.
Little book open.
(Book of Revelation)
Seal the book.
(Book of Daniel)
One book was
written LONG before the other.
Daniel was written long before Revelation. In Daniel we have a sealed
book, a book that would remain sealed until the time of the end when many would
be running to and fro and knowledge would increase. The book would be opened and
in Revelation we read of an open book. A MIGHTY angel has this little
open book in his hand.
Rev 10:2 ...and
he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth
One foot of the
might angel was put upon the sea the other on the earth.
If the sea
represents - multitudes, nations, tongues, people
Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which
thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations,
and tongues.
Then the earth it
stands to reason would represent a without multitudes.
Remember this-
Dan 7:3 And four great beasts came
up from the sea, diverse one from another.
We KNOW where
those four beasts came up don't we? The land of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece,
Rome.
We know where the
sea is… in a very populated area, hence we know where the earth is. A land that
was largely unpopulated and becoming newly populated, the United States. A vast
land founded hugely unpopulated except for the small population of Native
Americans. I say small because compared to the highly populated lands of Europe,
Middle East, and Asia America was practically empty.
This mighty angel
planted a foot on the sea and on the earth and the little open book rested upon
his hand. The time would come
when this open book would go to the people, the same time would see a great
increase in knowledge- biblical and secular.
'The Industrial
Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes
in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a
profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions of the times. It
began in the United Kingdom, then subsequently spread throughout Europe, North
America, and eventually the world.
The Industrial
Revolution marks a major turning point in human history; almost every aspect of
daily life was influenced in some way.'
'The First
Industrial Revolution, which began in the 18th century, merged into the Second
Industrial Revolution around 1850, when technological and economic progress
gained momentum with the development of steam-powered ships, railways, and
later in the 19th century with the internal combustion engine and electrical
power generation. The period of time covered by the Industrial Revolution
varies with different historians. Eric Hobsbawm held that it 'broke out' in
Britain in the 1780s and was not fully felt until the 1830s or 1840s,[7] while
T. S. Ashton held that it occurred roughly between 1760 and 1830.[8]'
Pasted
from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_Revolution>
We've established
a bit of a time frame for this little book open appearing, haven't we? Late 1700's right on through …well, we
are still advancing aren't we? I don't think we've ever stopped not since it was
started. If fully felt in the
1830's -40's we can most assuredly understand the amazing Biblical advancement
in the understanding of prophecy- can't we?
For the moment -
back to Revelation.
With one foot on
the sea and another on the earth this mighty angel CRIED out with a loud voice-
as a LION ROARING!
Rev 10:3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a
lion roareth
You know what a
lion's roar sounds like, don't you? Surely you've heard one on television if
not in person. If you've never heard a lion's roar check it out on youtube
http://youtu.be/aUfDxRelPHg
Do a search for
lion's roaring and listen to them.
One video caption mentioned the lion's roar being heard throughout the
entire zoo they were in. There is
no doubt that the lion's roar is deep and ferocious, loud and worthy of great
notice. This mighty angel, this
brilliant, striking angel cried out in that manner- loud, strong,
commanding. What was his cry? It
doesn't say. In fact immediately after the cry seven thunders spoke.
Thunders spoke! An angel cries out like a lion and then thunders
speak!
Rev 10:3 ...and
when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
Rev 10:4 And when the seven thunders had uttered
their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto
me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
Amazing! Thunders
utter their voices and they are not to be heard! Thunder! So loud, so
commanding, we all have been known to jump a bit when we've been surprised by a
particularly loud clap of thunder haven't we? Just imagine what John must have
heard. He wanted to write it down but he was stopped. The utterances of the
seven thunders were stifled, they were sealed. Amazing too is the fact that
just as an open book appears the message of the seven thunders were sealed.
There are things we CANNOT know. We are way too arrogant if we believe we
should have all access to everything of God and that He should have nothing hid
from us. All that is necessary to our salvation is revealed to us and not
hidden, but God's ways are not our ways.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the
earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Rev 10:5 And the angel which I saw stand upon
the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
Rev 10:6 And sware by him that liveth for ever
and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth,
and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein,
that there should be time no longer
Who did this
angel sware by?
Our Savior! Our
God! Our Creator! The Creator of
the heaven and all in them, the Creator of earth and all in them, the Creator of
the sea and all in them.
What did he
sware? That there should be time
no longer!
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the
seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be
finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
BUT before there
would be time no longer the voice of the SEVENTH angel would sound, the mystery
of God finished.
Rev 10:8 And the voice which I heard from heaven
spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the
hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
The voice from
heaven spoke to John again- the voice told John to TAKE the little book which
is open in the hand of angel standing upon the sea and earth.
The mighty, brilliant angel held a book which you KNOW has to be very
important, there's nothing about this angel that doesn't scream important.
Rev 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said
unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up;
and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
John didn't ask
for the little book. John commanded the mighty angel to GIVE him the little
book. John TOLD the angel to GIVE him the little book. But the mighty angel did
NOT give the book to John, did he? No, he did not. He told John to TAKE IT, just
as the other voice told John told john to TAKE the book. This book was willingly
taken as directed, as commanded. And the mighty angel added something else
after telling John to take the little book. He told John to eat the little
book. Eat the book and your stomach is going to ache, but oh will it taste
sweet!
How many times
have you eaten something that tasted wonderful only to have it cause you a
stomach ache afterwards? It's happened, yes? Now what if I baked you a treat and
told you it was going to taste great but afterwards it was going to upset your
stomach, what would you think? Seriously? Take a moment to consider such a
situation. Would you WANT to eat that sweet knowing what the end result would
be? I'm sure you'd have to really think about it, I know I would. Because who
likes having a bitter stomach? No one I know that's for sure. We avoid stomach
aches for the most part, don't we? We take lots of antacids and bloating/gas
relief products just to keep ourselves feeling comfortable, don't we? How many
people take heartburn medicine? It's so common, so incredibly common for people
to take medicine so they can continue to eat foods that would upset their
digestion without that medicine. They don't want an upset digestive system
because it's very unpleasant.
Here John is told
to take a book- eat the book- it will taste wonderful but it's going to upset
his stomach.
Prophecy! The
little book is the prophecy book of Daniel which had been sealed and would be
unsealed at the time of the end. When people became enlightened to what the
prophecies were, when they connected history so completely, so wonderfully to
prophecy and saw the hand of God working undeniably in it all they were
thrilled! How sweet, how wondrous the amazing insights unfolding before their
eyes, their understanding was opened. Only… it didn't last. Why didn't it last?
Because that sweet book was going to cause a lot of stomach misery later on. The
disappointment was huge when the prophecies which so clearly seemed to point to
the end of the world in their day, did NOT come to pass! Did that mean all the
prophecies were wrong, that all the history proved prophecy was not what it
seemed to be? So many questions,
so much heartache, such incredible dismay was felt. The bitter belly was
awful!
Rev 10:10 And I took the little book out of the
angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon
as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Rev 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy
again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
John heard the
mighty angel tell him what would have to come to pass. Those who ate this
little book and received a bitter belly would have to PROPHESIZE AGAIN and not
in a small measure but in a huge one!
The time of the very end wasn't there yet, but it was on its way and
people needed to be warned. Those who newly discovered the wonderful truth in
these prophecies so long hidden needed to go and take the truth of them to the
entire world! Yes, it was a bitter disappointment to have to stay on earth
after having such great expectation of Jesus' second coming, but it was for a
purpose - God is long suffering towards us not willing that any of us should
perish.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his
promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not
willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
PRAISE
GOD!
More tomorrow by
His will and through His grace!
Amen.