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SERIES: THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST, WEEK 43

TITLE: THE BITTERSWEET BOOK JOHN EATS

TEXT: REVELATION 10:8-11

INTRODUCTION: (1) IN OUR CONVERSATIONS AND VOCABULARY WE USE WORDS LIKE AMBIVALENCE, BITTERSWEET, AND PHRASES LIKE SWEET AND SOUR, JOY AND BURDEN, AND EVEN BLESSINGS AND BURDENS.

* WHEN WE USE THOSE WORDS AND PHRASES WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE BOTH PLEASANT AND PAINFUL.

** THINGS THAT BRING JOY AND SADNESS, OPPOSITE EMOTIONS, TASTES AND EVEN DESIRES.

*** AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS SOMETIMES WE ARE DIVIDED, CONFLICTED ABOUT SOMETHING, TORN BETWEEN TWO EMOTIONS OR THOUGHTS.

**** FOR EXAMPLE IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM AS CHRISTIANS WE BELIEVE IN THE DOCTRINE OF HELL AND ETERNAL JUDGMENT.

(2) AND WE GLORY IN GOD’S HOLINESS AND JUSTICE AND CHARACTER THAT WHAT HE DOES IS RIGHT AND BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE WHO DIES WITHOUT CHRIST WILL GO THERE AND GOD’S JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED AND SATISFIED.

* YET WE ARE NOT HAPPY THAT PEOPLE GO TO HELL, WE DO NOT SAY WITH A SMILE PEOPLE GO TO HELL, IN FACT WE ARE GRIEVED OVER THE PROSPECT THAT MULTITUDES ARE GOING TO HELL AND ALREADY IN HELL.

** WE GET NO PLEASURE, NO JOY, NO HAPPINESS, IN THE PROSPECT THAT PEOPLE GO TO HELL, IN FACT OUR HEARTS SHOULD BE BURDENED AND BROKEN FOR PEOPLE GOING TO HELL.

*** YET, WE KNOW THAT GOD’S HOLY WRATH IS JUSTIFIED AND SATISFIED IN CREATING A PLACE LIKE THAT FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS AND THAT EVERYONE WHO IS IN HELL DESERVES THAT.

**** BUT WE ARE TORN, FOR WHEN WE UNDERSTAND GOD’S SOVEREIGN SAVING ELECTING GRACE, WE REALIZE THAT IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT SEPARATES US FROM THEM, NOT OUR WORTHINESS, OUR GOODNESS, OUR WORKS OR EVEN OUR CHOICE.

(3) FOR WITHOUT GOD’S DIVINE INTERVENTION OF GRACE, WE WOULD HAVE FREELY CHOSEN OUR SIN OVER CHRIST AND WOULD HAVE NEVER CHOSEN THE SAVIOR.

* AND SO WE SAY WHEN IT EVEN COMES TO HELL AND THE LIFESTYLE OF UNSAVED PEOPLE, “THERE, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, GO I.”

** THE ONLY THING THAT SEPARATES US FROM THEM IS SOVEREIGN GRACE!

*** SO WE GLORY IN GOD’S GRACE, WE GLORY THAT GOD IS VINDICATED IN HIS WRATH IN POURING OUT WRATH AND THAT HE IS LIFTED UP AS JUST AND PURE GIVING PEOPLE WHAT THEY DESERVE. GOD IS LIFTED UP AS THE RIGHTEOUS, JUST, PURE JUDGE.

**** WE BELIEVE THAT VENGEANCE IS THE LORD’S AND HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS ARE HIS WAYS, READ PSALM 145:17.

(4) BUT ALTHOUGH WE GLORY IN THAT, WE GROAN THAT LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS AND CO-WORKERS AND NEIGHBORS HAVE GONE AND WILL GO TO HELL WITHOUT CHRIST.

*LIKEWISE WE ARE GLAD THAT SIN AND REBELLION WILL BE PUT DOWN SOMEDAY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS WILL RULE AND THAT UNJUST GOVERNMENTS AND PEOPLES WHO ARE HOLDING THEIR FIST UP TO GOD OR ARE DENYING GOD WILL BE JUDGED.

** WE ARE HAPPY THAT GOD WILL VINDICATE HIMSELF AND JUDGE THE EARTH SOMEDAY IN THE TRIBULATION.

*** YET WE GET NO JOY IN THE RESULTS OF THE SEVEN SEALS, THE SEVEN TRUMPETS AND THE SEVEN BOWL JUDGMENTS WHICH WILL BRING CATACLYSMIC EVENTS WHEN BILLIONS OF PEOPLE WILL DIE.

(5) NOW IN THAT SENSE WE UNDERSTAND THE WORDS BITTERSWEET AND AMBIVALENCE.

* WE UNDERSTAND THE PHRASES SWEET AND SOUR, JOY AND BURDEN AND GLORY AND GROAN.

** AND THOSE CALLED OF GOD UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS. AND UNDERSTAND JOHN’S AMBIVALENCE THAT WE’LL SEE IN EATING A BOOK THAT TALKS ABOUT FUTURE JUDGMENTS THAT WILL BE SWEET IN HIS MOUTH AND BITTER IN HIS STOMACH.

*** FOR JOHN THERE IS SWEETNESS THAT CHRIST WILL RETURN, THAT SATAN WILL BE JUDGED, THAT CHRIST’S KINGDOM WILL COME AND THERE WILL BE A NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH.

**** BUT THERE WILL BE BITTERNESS, HOLY ACHE, A HOLY HEARTBURN OVER THE JUDGMENTS HE WILL WRITE ABOUT AND COMMUNICATE, THAT USHER IN THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST.

(6) IN LIGHT OF THAT, I’VE TITLED OUR STUDY OF REVELATION TODAY, “THE BITTERSWEET BOOK THAT JOHN EATS.”

* FOR JOHN IS COMMANDED IN OUR TEXT TODAY TO TAKE THE BOOK WHICH IS OPEN IN THE HAND OF A STRONG ANGEL AND EAT IT. A BOOK THAT CONTINUES TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE, THE 7TH TRUMPET AND THE 7 BOWL JUDGMENTS AND THE END.

** AND JOHN WILL BE OBEDIENT, BUT AS HE IS TOLD, IT WILL BE BITTERSWEET, SWEET IN HIS MOUTH AND BITTER IN HIS STOMACH.

*** AND TO HELP US UNDERSTAND THIS AND OUR TEXT TODAY, WE’LL LOOK AT 3 THINGS. NO. 1 THE COMMAND FROM HEAVEN FOR JOHN TO TAKE THE BOOK IN V. 8;

**** NO. 2 THE COMPLIANCE OF JOHN, HIS OBEDIENCE TO DO WHAT HE’S COMMANDED TO DO, VV. 9&10; AND NO. 3 THE COMMISSION THAT JOHN IS GIVEN TO PROPHESY, IN V. 11.

(7) AND WITH THOSE POINTS AS OUR MAP TODAY, LOOK AT V. 8 PLEASE WHERE WE’LL SEE OUR FIRST POINT, THE COMMAND. LOOK AT REVELATION 10:8 PLEASE.

I. THE COMMAND, (READ V. 8)

A. NOW IN THE BEGINNING OF V. 8, JOHN HEARS A VOICE FROM HEAVEN THAT HE HEARD EARLIER IN V. 4, PROBABLY CHRIST’S OR GOD THE FATHER’S.

* FOR IF YOU RECALL, IN V. 4, JOHN WAS ABOUT TO WRITE DOWN THE WORDS HE HEARD FROM THE 7 PEALS OF THUNDERS, AND IT SAYS IN THE REST OF V. 4, “AND I HEARD A VOICE FROM HEAVEN SAYING, SEAL UP THE THINGS WHICH THE SEVEN PEALS OF THUNDER HAVE SPOKEN AND DO NOT WRITE THEM.”

** NOW THIS VOICE FROM HEAVEN (AGAIN PROBABLY CHRIST’S OR GOD THE FATHER’S) FORBIDS JOHN TO WRITE DOWN WHAT HE HEARD FROM THE SEVEN PEALS OF THUNDER.

*** AND WHAT THEY SAID WAS INTELLIGIBLE AND JOHN UNDERSTOOD WHAT THEY SAID BUT WAS FORBIDDEN TO WRITE IT DOWN AND NO REASON IS GIVEN FOR THIS COMMAND.

**** WELL, THIS SAME VOICE FROM HEAVEN NOW GIVES JOHN ANOTHER COMMAND, FOR THE VERB “GO” IS IN THE IMPERATIVE MOOD, TO GO AND TAKE THE BOOK WHICH IS OPEN IN THE HAND OF THE ANGEL WHO STANDS ON THE SEA AND THE LAND.

1. NOW THIS ANGEL IS THE STRONG ANGEL THAT WE TALKED ABOUT LAST WEEK IN OUR STUDY IN VV. 1-7.

* AND THIS UNIQUE STRONG MIGHTY POWERFUL ANGEL DESCENDS FROM HEAVEN WITH SPECTACULAR GLORIOUS ATTIRE AS A SERVANT OF GOD, A MESSENGER FROM GOD TO DO HIS BIDDINGS.

** AND AS HE DESCENDED, HE PLACED HIS RIGHT FOOT ON THE SEA AND HIS LEFT FOOT ON THE LAND WHICH SHOWS US HE’S MASSIVE IN SIZE, AND HIS ACTION OF PUTTING ONE FOOT ON THE LAND AND THE OTHER ON THE SEA SHOWS GOD’S OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND AND THE SEA.

*** THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S AND EVERYTHING IN IT.

**** AND THIS ACTION OF WHERE THIS STRONG ANGEL’S FEET ARE MUST BE SIGNIFICANT, FOR AS WE GO BACK TO V. 8, FOR THE THIRD TIME IN REVELATION CHAPTER 10, THIS DETAIL IS BROUGHT UP, “HIS FEET ARE ON THE LAND AND SEA.”

2. ULTIMATELY THE EARTH IS GOD’S FOOTSTOOL, HE OWNS IT AND HE IS IN CONTROL OF IT AND ONE OF GOD’S CREATIONS, THIS POWERFUL ANGEL SHOWS IT.

* BUT SOMETHING ELSE IS SIGNIFICANT IN V. 8. THIS ANGEL HAS AN OPEN BOOK IN HIS HAND WHICH JOHN IS TOLD TO TAKE.

** AND I COMMUNICATED TO YOU LAST WEEK THAT THIS LITTLE BOOK WAS NOT THE BOOK TALKED ABOUT IN REVELATION THAT ONLY THE LAMB COULD OPEN.

*** FOR THAT BOOK WAS SEALED, NOT OPEN AND IT HAD SEALS ON IT THAT MOST LIKELY REPRESENTED THE SEVEN SEALS THAT WOULD BE BROKEN IN REVELATION CHAPTER 6.

**** BUT THE BOOK IN THE HAND OF THE ANGEL IS A LITTLE BOOK THAT IS OPEN, IT’S CONTENTS ARE NOT HIDDEN AND A HUMAN BEING LIKE JOHN IS ACTUALLY TOLD TO TAKE IT.

3. NOW THE CONTENTS OF THIS BOOK APPEAR TO COMMUNICATE THE REMAINING JUDGMENTS, FOUND IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION THAT JOHN IS TOLD TO PROPHESY ABOUT IN V. 11.

* AND I’LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT AS WE MOVE ON IN OUR STUDY TODAY.

** BUT THE KEY THOUGHT IN V. 8 IS JOHN IS COMMANDED BY GOD THE SON OR GOD THE FATHER TO TAKE THIS LITTLE BOOK OUT OF THE STRONG ANGELS.

*** NOW FROM THAT COMMAND WE MOVE TO OUR 2’D POINT TODAY, THE COMPLIANCE, JOHN’S COMPLIANCE, JOHN’S OBEDIENCE TO THIS COMMAND, AND WE’LL START TO SEE THIS IN V. 9, LOOK AT V. 9 PLEASE.

II. THE COMPLIANCE, (READ V. 9)

A. NOW I LOVE JOHN’S RESPONSE TO THE COMMAND THAT HE IS GIVEN FROM ABOVE, WHAT IS IT?

* INSTANT OBEDIENCE, IMMEDIATE COMPLIANCE. I WAS GIVEN A COMMAND TO GO TO THE ANGEL AND WHAT DO WE HAVE IN THE FIRST PART OF V. 9, “SO I WENT TO THE ANGEL.”

** AND BELOVED, JOHN IS AN EXAMPLE TO US WHEN WE HAVE A CLEAR COMMAND FROM GOD, FROM HIS WORD, AND THAT RESPONSE SHOULD BE INSTANT OBEDIENCE.

*** I MEAN A COMMAND FROM A HOLY GOD SHOULD NOT RESULT IN NEGOTIATIONS, RATIONALIZATIONS AND JUSTIFICATIONS NOT TO COMPLY.

**** THE ONLY PROPER RESPONSE IS INSTANT OBEDIENCE, SUBMISSION, COMPLIANCE, SURRENDER AND YIELDING TO THE ONE WHO KNOWS BEST AND WHO GIVES US DIRECTIVES FOR OUR OWN GOOD AND HIS GLORY.

1. IN OTHER WORDS, WHEN WE OBEY A COMMAND OF GOD WE ARE BLESSED, PROTECTED AND EXPERIENCE JOY.

* AND IT’S ALWAYS RIGHT TO OBEY AND IT’S ALWAYS BEST TO OBEY, AND IT ALWAYS GLORIFIES GOD WHEN WE OBEY AND WE ARE ALWAYS BETTER FOR IT.

** BROTHERS AND SISTERS, UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IS BAD FOR US AND WHAT IS PERMITTED AND GIVEN AS A MANDATE IS GOOD FOR US.

*** NOW LET ME TAKE THIS TRUTH TO WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD, TO HIT US WHERE WE LIVE.

**** WHEN HUSBANDS ARE TOLD TO LOVE THEIR WIVES, AND NOT BE BITTER AGAINST THEM IN COLOSSIANS 3:19 THAT IS NOT AN OPTION OR OPEN FOR NEGOTIATIONS, IT IS A MANDATE, AN IMPERATIVE.

2. WHEN WIVES ARE TOLD TO SUBMIT TO THEIR HUSBANDS IN EPHESIANS 5:22&23 THAT IS NOT OPTIONAL.

* WHEN CHILDREN ARE TOLD TO OBEY THEIR PARENTS IN EPHESIANS 6:1 THAT IS NOT A SUGGESTION.

** WHEN BELIEVERS ARE TOLD NOT TO FORSAKE ASSEMBLING TOGETHER IN HEBREWS 10:24&25 IT DOESN’T SAY, IF IT’S CONVENIENT AND YOU FEEL LIKE IT. (ASSEMBLY IS REQUIRED).

*** THE COMMAND TO FORGIVE IN COLOSSIANS 3:13 AND EPHESIANS 4:32 IS NOT GIVEN AS SOMETHING YOU DO WHEN IT’S NOT HARD. IT’S ALWAYS HARD, BUT RIGHT AND CERTAINLY WE MUST REMEMBER OUR GREAT FORGIVENESS OF AN UNPAYABLE DEBT.

**** DIVORCE IS NOT AN OPTION IF YOU’VE QUOTE FALLEN OUT OF LOVE AND ARE NO LONGER HAPPY, GOD HATES IT IN MALACHI 2:16 AND WE ARE TOLD WE ARE BOUND TO EACH ONE IN ROMANS 7:2&3 AS LONG AS WE LIVE, TILL DEATH DO US PART FOR WE ARE ONE.

3. AND YES IT’S HARD TO STAY TOGETHER AT TIMES AND TAKES SACRIFICE AND COMPROMISE AND SELFLESSNESS BUT IT’S ALWAYS BEST. GOD CALLS US TO BE HOLY AND HAPPINESS RESULTS FROM HOLINESS.

* LASTLY, STUDYING OUR BIBLES IS NOT OPTIONAL, IT IS AN IMPERATIVE. WE TAKE THE TIME TO EAT EVERYDAY FREQUENTLY, WHY CAN’T WE STUDY EVERYDAY THE WORD OF GOD, THE MANUAL TO GLORIFY HIM AND ENJOY HIM FOREVER. READ II TIMOTHY 2:15, MATTHEW 4:4, JOB 23:12, JOSHUA 1:8.

** AND BELOVED, THE PROBLEM IS SOME OF US HAVE BOUGHT INTO THE MEISM, SELFISH, SELF-CENTERED, SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-LOVING, THERAPEUTIC HUMANISTIC PHILOSOPHY THAT GOD IS A GENIE IN A BOTTLE THAT WE RUB WHEN WE NEED HIM AND HE EXISTS TO MAKE US HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL.

*** SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE EMPHATIC ABOUT GOD’S COMMANDS THEY ARE HARSH OR INSENSITIVE OR UNLOVING OR UNKIND. PAUL SAID IN GALATIANS 4:16 (READ IT).

**** CHRISTIAN, GOD DOESN’T EXIST TO MAKE US HAPPY, WE EXIST TO GLORIFY HIM AND TO ENJOY HIM FOREVER. AND AS JOHN PIPER SAYS: “GOD IS MOST GLORIFIED IN US WHEN WE ARE MOST SATISFIED IN HIM.”

4. AND ALTHOUGH OBEDIENCE IS NOT ALWAYS EASY, IT’S BEST, IT’S RIGHT, IT’S GOOD AND THE ONLY PROPER RESPONSE TO A COMMAND.

* AND JOHN IN V. 9 GOES IMMEDIATELY TO THE ANGEL TO GET THE BOOK AND IN V. 19 HE TAKES THE BOOK AND DOES WHAT HE’S TOLD TO DO.

** JOHN IS OBEDIENT, HE COMPLIANT, HE’S SUBMISSIVE. AND AS WE GO BACK TO V. 9 HE GOES TO THE ANGEL TO GET THE BOOK AND TELLS HIM TO GIVE HIM THE BOOK.

*** AND AS HE DOES THAT THE ANGEL GIVES HIM ANOTHER COMMAND, JOHN, “TAKE AND EAT IT.” AND THE VERB “TAKE” IS IN THE IMPERATIVE MOOD.

**** NOW GET THIS, COMMANDS DO NOT ALWAYS MAKE SENSE TO US. TAKE AND EAT A LITTLE BOOK DOESN’T SOUND TO LOGICAL TO ME. WHO WANTS TO EAT A LITTLE BOOK.

5. AND THE VERB “EAT” LIT. MEANS TO CONSUME, TO EAT UP, TO DEVOUR.

* AND YOU MIGHT SAY RAY, THIS MUST BE FIGURATIVE AND SYMBOLIC. WELL, I DON’T THINK IT IS.

** FOR NOTICE WHAT THE ANGEL SAYS TO JOHN IN THE REST OF V. 9. IN YOUR STOMACH IT WILL BE BITTER AND IN YOUR MOUTH THIS BOOK WILL BE SWEET AS HONEY.

*** AND I REALIZE THAT I AM NOT A BRIGHT BULB, BUT EATING SOMETHING GOES INTO YOUR MOUTH AND STOMACH.

**** THE COMMAND HERE IS NOT EASY NOR IS IT QUOTE LOGICAL, IT WILL BE HARD TO SWALLOW, BUT IT IS THE THING THAT JOHN IS SUPPOSED TO DO WHICH WILL BE BEST.

**** SO WHAT DOES JOHN DO? DOES HE RATIONALIZE AND SAY, GIVE ME A REESE CUP AND I’LL EAT THAT OR IT WON’T BE EASY TO EAT OR THIS IS STUPID.

6. WELL, WHAT JOHN DOES IS GIVEN TO US IN V. 10. LOOK AT V. 10 PLEASE.

B. READ V. 10. NOW JOHN IMMEDIATELY TAKES THE BOOK OUT THE ANGELS HAND AND EATS IT, JOHN IS OBEDIENT IN HIS ACTION.

* FOR WHAT JOHN DID HERE IS SIMILAR TO WHAT EZEKIEL WAS COMMANDED TO DO IN EZEKIEL 2:8-3:4 AS EZEKIEL WAS GIVEN A COMMISSION FROM GOD.

** AND IT SAYS IN THAT TEXT:

EZEKIEL 2:8 – NOW YOU, SON OF MAN, LISTEN TO WHAT I AM SPEAKING TO YOU; DO NOT BE REBELLIOUS LIKE THAT REBELLIOUS HOUSE. OPEN YOUR MOUTH AND EAT WHAT I AM GIVING YOU.

V. 9 – THEN I LOOKED, AND BEHOLD, A HAND WAS EXTENDED TO ME; AND LO, A SCROLL WAS IN IT.

V. 10 – WHEN HE SPREAD IT OUT BEFORE ME, IT WAS WRITTEN ON THE FRONT AND BACK, AND WRITTEN ON IT WERE LAMENTATIONS, MOURNING AND WOE.

3:1 – THEN HE SAID TO ME, “SON OF MAN, EAT WHAT YOU FIND; EAT THIS SCROLL, AND GO, SPEAK TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL.”

V. 2 – SO I OPENED MY MOUTH, AND HE FED ME THIS SCROLL.

V. 3 – HE SAID TO ME, “SON OF MAN, FEED YOUR STOMACH AND FILL YOUR BODY WITH THIS SCROLL WHICH I AM GIVING YOU.” THEN I ATE IT, AND IT WAS SWEET AS HONEY IN MY MOUTH.

V. 4 – THEN HE SAID TO ME, “SON OF MAN, GO TO THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND SPEAK WITH MY WORDS TO THEM.”

*** NOW EZEKIEL LIKE JOHN WILL EAT A SCROLL WITH A MESSAGE FROM GOD TO ISRAEL WHICH WAS SWEET IN HIS MOUTH, BUT THE MESSAGE WOULD BE A MESSAGE OF JUDGMENT.

1. LIKEWISE, WE ARE REMINDED OF JEREMIAH THE PROPHET WHEN HE ATE THE WORD OF GOD, WHEN HE TOOK THE WORDS OF GOD INTO HIS LIFE, PROBABLY A LITTLE MORE SYMBOLIC IN THAT TEXT.

* BUT REGARDLESS JEREMIAH SAID IN JEREMIAH 15:16 – YOUR WORDS WERE FOUND AND I ATE THEM, AND YOUR WORDS BECAME FOR ME A JOY AND THE DELIGHT OF MY HEART; FOR I HAVE BEEN CALLED BY YOUR NAME, O LORD GOD OF HOSTS.

** NOW MY POINT IS WE SEE SOME SIMILARITIES WITH WHAT JOHN WILL DO HERE WITH WHAT EZEKIEL AND JEREMIAH DID.

*** AND WITH JOHN, WHAT THE ANGEL SAID WOULD HAPPEN CAME TO PASS FOR AS SOON AS JOHN ATE THE BOOK IT WAS SWEET AS HONEY, BUT IN HIS STOMACH IT WAS BITTER, HIS STOMACH WAS MADE BITTER, SOUR, UPSET, THERE WAS SOME HOLY HEARTBURN THAT FOLLOWED.

**** NOW REMEMBER IT APPEARS THAT LITTLE BOOK CONTAINS THE JUDGMENT THAT WILL FOLLOW FROM HERE ON OUT IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION, GOD’S REVELATION FROM THIS POINT ON IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

2. FOR IF YOU REMEMBER FROM LAST WEEK GOING BACK TO REVELATION 10:7, THE MYSTERY PREVIOUSLY HIDDEN MAKES REFERENCE TO ALL THE DETAILS REVEALED FROM THIS POINT ON TO THE END OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

** AND THIS MYSTERY WAS COMMUNICATED BY THE O.T. PROPHETS AND SOME N.T. PROPHECIES WITHOUT ALL THE DETAILS, BUT BEGINNING WITH THE 7TH TRUMPET JUDGMENT WHICH ROLLS OUT THE SEVEN BOWLS TO THE FINAL JUDGMENTS IN REVELATION, GOD’S PLAN WILL BE FULFILLED AND THE END WILL COME.

*** NOW AS JOHN EATS THE PROPHECIES OF THE REST OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION WITH IT’S JUDGMENTS AND FINAL THINGS TO COME, THESE JUDGMENTS AND THE FACT OF CHRIST’S GLORIOUS KINGDOM AND A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH, ARE SWEET AS HONEY TO JOHN’S MOUTH.

**** AND I HAVE A SWEET TOOTH, I LIKE SWEET THINGS, I LOVE CANDY AND CAKE, AND EVEN SOME PIES, AND ICE CREAM…I THINK I’VE SAID ENOUGH.

3. BUT MY POINT IS SWEET THINGS, LIKE HONEY IN THAT DAY TASTE GOOD. AND THE BOOK IS SWEET BECAUSE JOHN, LIKE ALL BELIEVERS WANT THE LORD TO EXERCISE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT AND TAKE BACK THE EARTH THAT IS RIGHTFULLY HIS FROM THE GOD OF THIS WORLD SATAN.

* AND WE WANT GOD TO BE EXALTED, GLORIFIED AND HONORED.

** BUT AS THE LITTLE BOOK GOES TO JOHN’S STOMACH IT IS BITTER. FOR THE REALIZATION OF THE TERRIBLE DOOM AWAITING UNBELIEVERS TURNS THAT INITIAL SWEET TASTE INTO BITTERNESS.

**** WE THAT HAVE RECEIVED MERCY RATHER THAN WHAT WE DESERVE MOURN OVER THE JUDGMENT OF THE UNGODLY WHICH WE DESERVE.

**** SO THE BOOK IS SWEET AND SOUR, BITTERSWEET, A JOY AND BURDEN. BUT JOHN WAS COMPLIANT AND DID WHAT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DO, WHICH LEADS US TO OUR LAST POINT TODAY, THE COMMISSION. LOOK AT V. 11 PLEASE.

III. THE COMMISSION, (READ V. 11)

A. NOW I BEGIN WITH A QUESTION AS WE BEGIN V. 11, WHO OR FROM WHOM DID JOHN RECEIVE THE COMMISSION OF V. 11?

* THE KJV SAYS: “AND HE SAID TO ME”, THE ESV SAYS: “AND I WAS TOLD”, THE NAS SAYS: “AND THEY (PLURAL) SAID TO ME”, THE NIV SAYS: “THEN I WAS TOLD” AND THE NKJV SAYS: “AND HE SAID TO ME.”

** NOW IS THIS ONE PERSON OR IS THIS PLURAL, MORE THAN ONE PERSON?

*** WELL, I’M NOT SURE, BUT THERE ARE TWO ANSWERS. ONE IS THIS COMMISSION COMES FROM THEY SAID TO ME SPEAKING OF THE VOICE FROM HEAVEN, THE LORD AND THE STRONG ANGEL AND THAT’S POSSIBLE.

**** AND THE OTHER INTERPRETATION IS A LITTLE MORE TECHNICAL RENDERING THIS BEGINNING PHRASE AS A GENERAL PLURAL AND TRANSLATING AS A PASSIVE, IT WAS SAID TO ME, THAT THIS MESSAGE CAME FROM HEAVEN AND WAS REPEATED BY THE ANGEL.

1. REGARDLESS JOHN RECEIVES A COMMISSION THAT ORIGINATES FROM ABOVE, A MANDATE FROM HEAVEN, ORDERED FROM THE LORD, TO PROPHESY, TO PROCLAIM AND FORETELL WHAT IS REVEALED TO HIM IN THE REST OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION.

* JOHN IS TOLD TO CARRY OUT THE FINAL WARNINGS FROM GOD TO MEN AND THESE WARNINGS WILL CONSTITUTE THE REMAINDER OF THE BOOK.

** JOHN IS TO WRITE OUT THE REST OF THE PROPHECIES GOD IS GOING TO GIVE HIM.

*** AND WE KNOW THAT FROM THE ADVERB “AGAIN” FOUND IN V. 11.

**** FOR THE WORD AGAIN INDICATES, IT COMMUNICATES JOHN WAS BEING COMMISSIONED A SECOND TIME, THE FIRST COMMISSIONING FOUND IN REVELATION 1:19.

2. FOR REVELATION 1:19 SAYS: THEREFORE WRITE THE THINGS WHICH YOU HAVE SEEN, AND THE THINGS WHICH ARE, AND THE THINGS WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER THESE THINGS.

* SO JOHN’S COMMISSION IS TO WRITE OUT WHAT HE SEES AND HEARS AND WHAT IS GIVEN TO HIM.

** AND THAT COMMISSION IS GIVEN AGAIN HERE IN V. 11 TO WRITE OUT THE REST OF THE PROPHECIES GIVEN TO HIM.

*** JOHN WAS TO BE FAITHFUL TO HIS DUTY TO RECORD ALL THE TRUTHS THAT WOULD BE MORE DEVASTATING THAN WHAT HAD ALREADY BEEN REVEALED.

**** AND GET THIS, THE PROPHECIES JOHN WOULD RECEIVE WOULD RELATE TO EVERYONE SUMMED UP IN THE 4 PEOPLE GROUPS: PEOPLES, NATIONS, TONGUES AND KINGS.

3. SO JOHN IS TO WARN ALL, ALL NATIONS, ALL PEOPLES, SO THE PROPHECY OF THE BOOK OF REVELATION OF THINGS TO COME, OF THE PROPHETIC FUTURE.

IN WRAP UP: (1) REVELATION CHAPTER 11 PRESENTS A PARENTHESIS – AN INTERLUDE OF HOPE TINGED WITH BITTERNESS THAT REMINDS ALL OF US THAT KNOW CHRIST BY GRACE OF OUR EVANGELISTIC RESPONSIBILITIES TO WARN THOSE AROUND US, OUR WORLD OF THIS FUTURE TIME OF JUDGMENT AND WRATH.

* WE MUST WARN PEOPLE TO FLEE FROM THE WRATH TO COME BOTH ON THIS EARTH AND IN HELL FOREVER.

** OUR FUTURE IS FILLED WITH HOPE, THE LOST’S WITH DESTRUCTION AND JUDGMENT.

*** BUT ALSO IN APPLICATION TODAY OF OUR TEXT, OH HOW WE NEED TO EAT GOD’S WORD, GOD’S REVELATION, AND CHEW IT, BY READING IT, STUDYING IT, MEMORIZING IT, MEDITATING UPON IT AND LISTENING TO IT.

**** IT TRULY WILL BE SWEET TO OUR MOUTHS, READ PSALM 19:7-11 AND PSALM 119:103-105.

(2) AND BELOVED THIS IS A REPETITIOUS REMINDER, WE MUST TAKE THE WORD OF GOD AND CONSUME IT, DEVOUR IT AND HAVE THAT INTAKE DAILY. IT MUST BE PRIORITY.

* MAY IT BE OUR SATISFACTION, MAY IT BE A DELIGHT, MAY IT BE SWEET LIKE HONEY, LIKE CANDY IN OUR MOUTHS, AND MAY WE DIGEST IT AS WE CHEW IT OVER TO KNOW GOD AND TO MAKE HIM KNOWN.

** I CLOSE WITH JEREMIAH 15:16 – YOUR WORDS WERE FOUND AND I ATE THEM, AND YOUR WORDS BECAME FOR ME A JOY AND THE DELIGHT OF MY HEART; FOR I HAVE BEEN CALLED BY YOUR NAME, O LORD GOD OF HOSTS.

*** MAY THIS BE OUR PRAYER AND PASSION AS FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST.