0907 THE LITTLE SCROLL

SEPTEMBER 7 = REVELATION 10

THE LITTLE SCROLL

This is a short chapter, but it is packed with things to reflect on. First, as with the seven seals, so with the seven trumpets, there is a pause after the sixth and before the seventh. Last time, there was silence for half an hour. This time, it is announced that there will be no more delay! Let’s dive in and see what the Lord would say.

“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.””

Why was John not to write down what the seven thunders said? After all the other things he was specifically told to write down, now John is in on something that he is NOT to tell. Makes me wonder what they said, to be sure.

Of course, they are seven because they are complete, representing every thunder everywhere, perhaps for all time. Which makes me wonder. Maybe we already know what the seven thunders have said, when heaven spoke to crowds of people in a loud thunderous voice.

You might say there was thunder at creation, when God spoke everything into existence. That thunder said, “Creator!”

There was, no doubt, thunder at the great flood, with Noah and the ark and the rainbow. That thunder said, “Judge!”

There was God’s thunderous voice at Mount Sinai in the wilderness, when Moses went up and received the Ten Commandments. That thunder said, “Holy!”

There was a multitude of the heavenly hosts at Jesus’ birth, praising God and announcing the coming. That thunder said, “Peace!”

There was a voice, which some thought was thunder, at Jesus’ baptism, when God the Father spoke. That thunder said, “Son!” 

God spoke again on the Mountain of Transfiguration, when he repeated the message to the disciples. It said, “Listen!”

There was the time shortly before his suffering when Jesus prayed, “Father, glorify your name,” and an answer came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” Some thought that was thunder that day, also. He said, “Glory!”

And then there was the sound of a mighty wind (like a tornado, which comes with thunder, right?) at the day of Pentecost. It was saying, “Salvation!”

What do those thunders say, collectively? The Creator is a Judge who is Holy and brings Peace through his Son! Listen to him glorify the Father and bring Salvation!

‭‭“There will be no more delay! 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.””

We’ve been waiting for this, and now it seems to have come: No more delay! When the final trumpet sounds, the mystery is solved and the prophecies are fulfilled. Judgment is at hand!

There is a short exchange between John and the mighty angel with the open scroll. Take note of these subtle details:

“Go, take the scroll . . ..” 

So I . . . asked him to give me the little scroll. 

He said to me, “Take it . . ..”

What’s the difference between taking something and asking someone to give it to you? Asking seems more polite, especially when dealing with a mighty angel. But John was told to take, not to ask. Sometimes God calls us to be bold. To speak up. To take spiritual authority. To claim something in the name of Jesus. But instead, you and I ask God, “If it be Thy will, would you…?” Yet he has told us to take it! Claim the spiritual authority! Start that difficult conversation! Make that phone call! Pursue that job! In Jesus’ name, be bold!

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.””

This is how it goes for us in life, too. The Spirit speaks to us, and his word is clear and life giving. At the same time, that very word convicts us of our sin, and leads to repentance and confession. And yet, there is something healing in the pain, seasons of refreshing that come from repentance, and peace in obeying. And so John is told to eat the words, and they are from God, so they are sweet. But they lead to a command to declare that word to others, some of whom are not receptive to the message. There is peace in obeying the command, but not always peace.

We must prophesy. We must declare, you and I. We are to tell the good and the bad news to many peoples, nations, languages and kings. Amen.