As we saw in the last vision, there is an interlude between the sixth and seventh seals. The scene opens with a great angel, providing us another look at the Lord Himself. Notice how the angel is described: The angel’s appearance is described in language we have already seen in Revelation. He has “a rainbow above his head” (see Rev. 4:3). His face shines “like the sun” and his legs are glowing “like fiery pillars” (see Rev. 1:15-16). He is “robed in a cloud” just as God is described so often in the Old Testament. His voice is “like the roar of a lion” the very animal John compares Jesus to in Rev. 5:5. Amos also refers to the voice of God as like a lion’s roar in Amos 3:8. When he speaks, John uses the image of the “seven thunders” another common Old Testament image; God’s voice is often likened to thunder. This angel represents the Lord, no doubt about that.
The message that John is allowed to tell us has to do with the “little scroll” that John is told to eat. It is sweet in the mouth but turns his stomach “sour” because the little scroll contains a message that is revealed when the seventh trumpet sounds; the bittersweet message of the final judgment and the consummation of God’s people.
There is a very interesting parallel between Revelation 10 and Daniel 12:1-7. It looks something like this:
| Daniel 12 | Revelation 10 |
| The angel is located above the water of a river (v. 6) | The angel straddles the land and the sea (v. 2) |
| The angel predicts the culmination of history from the “labor pains” through to the final judgment and the consummation of God’s people. (12:1-3) | The angel holds the little scroll containing the prophecies of the end. (10:2, 8-11) |
| The angel commands Daniel to seal the prophecy and hold it until the time of the end. (v. 4) | The scroll is not sealed, but open. The angel commands John to “eat it” so that he may reveal its contents to others. (10:2, 8-11) |
| When asked how long it will be before these things take place, the angel raises his hand toward heaven and swears by the God who “lives forever” that the fulfillment would be delayed, that it would happen in the future, after a time, times and half a time. (12:6-7) | The angel raises his hand toward heaven and swears by “him who lives for ever and ever” that there will be no more delay. In the days when the seventh seal is about to be opened, the mystery of God will be accomplished. (10:5-7) |
In Daniel’s time, the “labor pains” leading to the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment and the consummation of the church had not yet begun; these events were in Daniel’s future. By contrast, in John’s time, these events had already begun, even the resurrection of the dead, as Jesus, the firstborn of many brothers had already arisen from the dead. Thus, by John’s day, the “labor pains” leading up to the final events were in the present. For John… and for us… we are living in the “labor pains” (tribulation) the sounding of the first six trumpets. Yes, these are the days when the angel is “about to” sound the seventh trumpet and usher in the final events; it could happen today as a matter of fact.
As for the seventh trumpet, we will see what will happen when we get back together tomorrow. In the meantime, I’ve scheduled a little photo essay for 2 pm Eastern time for your amusement (at no extra charge) J
Life Project Blog 
Great! Awesome and very insightful. Praise God for this wonderful thing we have to study and get to know His awesome plan and found out how great He is. Thanks Don!
Makes perfect sense!!
We that live in the Untied States might think this cant be the tribulation, really, this is it?
Go talk to more than half the world who is in major up roar with death, disease, famine and so on.
God save us!
Very ture… thank you!