WORD TODAY: Angel on Land & Sea

 

Angel On Land & Sea REVELATION 10.1 I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 10.2 He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land. 10.3 He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. 10.5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, 10.6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, 10.7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound his trumpet, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets. -WEB Bible. The Book of Revelation has been mostly linear up to this point, describing the events of the Tribulation one after another. And, the story is nearly finished: the triumphant return of Jesus Christ is imminent. However, Revelation switches gears from here on, and departs from the linear timeline. There are side stories to tell, and strange characters to introduce. We need to realize that the Tribulation is not just for mankind. Ever since Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, God has mentioned judgment on the fallen angels as well. Revelation will describe some of these wicked principalities, and how they meet with their destruction. The Bible tells us in EPHESIANS 6:12, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." -NAS IMAGE CREDIT: Image of the Mighty Angel on Land and Sea is by Benjamin West, circa 1797. This vision in Revelation 10 describes a massive Angel. The impressive size suggests incredible strength and power. The beasts that will be described later are puny when compared with this Angel who introduces John to a series of demonic beings and monsters. Who can be afraid while such a guardian stands by your side? The end of the Tribulation is complex: God's vengeance is sudden, violent, complete and far-ranging. The impacts are on a massive, global scale. We understand (with astonishment) how incredibly patient God has been, holding back his power and vengeance until this brief but utterly devastating moment. The evil characters that will be described in the remaining chapters of Revelation are destroyed in rapid succession! However, it requires one-third of the book of Revelation to explain it all.