There Shall Be Delay No Longer

Transcript

GR 1533
06/07/09
There Shall Be Delay No Longer
Revelation 10:1-6
Gil Rugh

Revelation 10 in your Bibles. We're moving along in our study of the book of Revelation and remember chapters 6 ff are built around a series of three sets of judgments—seven seals, seven trumpets, seven bowls. And they unfold throughout this seven-year period leading up to the return of Jesus Christ to earth to establish His earthly kingdom. In reality all of the judgments are contained within the seals because remember in Revelation 5 we have a scroll written within and without and it is sealed with seven seals. So really when you open the seventh seal you've come to the rest of the book of Revelation in the sense that out of the seventh seal come the seven trumpets. Out of the seventh trumpets come the seven bowls. So everything from chapter 6 on is contained within the sixth seal, but these judgments are sequential, they follow one another. That helps avoid some of the confusion that you'll read if you read various commentaries on Revelation where they say, now we're going back, now we're at this place much earlier. We are really moving along in the book of Revelation.

Chapter 9 contained the fifth and sixth trumpet judgments. Each time a trumpet sounded a judgment was poured out on the earth as God's wrath is being manifested against the unbelief of mankind. That fifth trumpet brought unbelievable pain in verses 5-6 of chapter 9. Judgment with these demonic scorpions that had the ability to inflict great pain but not bring about death. Verse 6 told us, in those days men will seek death and will not find it, they will long to die. The pain will be so overwhelmingly severe. That judgment would last five months. This gives us a little insight, these judgments of the seven seals, the seven trumpets, the seven bowls, we can read them rather quickly. It seems we move from one to another, but realize that each of these will take some time. That's why we see them spread over the seven-year tribulation. The sixth trumpet judgment was in verses 13 ff of chapter 9 and there it brought about death and the death involved a third of mankind. Verse 15, the four angels who had been prepared for the hour, day, month and year were released so that they would a third of mankind. And so each of these trumpet judgments, very severe. These last three are called woes because of the intensity and severity of the judgments.

Now we've had the sixth trumpet, we think we are ready for the seventh trumpet but we have a break. The seventh trumpet will not sound for a little bit of time. There is a break from chapter 10 verse 1 through chapter 11 verse 13 and the seventh trumpet will not sound until we get to chapter 11 verse 14. This is similar to the break between the sixth and seventh seal judgments. Back up to chapter 6 verse 12. He broke the sixth seal, there is a great earthquake, the judgment pours out. You are told what the response to this judgment is of the people on earth in verses 15-17. They cannot but acknowledge the hand of God in pouring out wrath on the earth. And then chapter 7 is a break and we have the sealing of the 144,000 and then down in verse 9 you have the great multitudes, indicating the martyrs that are going to die for their testimony for Christ from all peoples. A great multitude which no one could count from every nation, tribe, people tongue standing before the throne. They are in heaven. That's a separate group. I can't get over how many commentators want to say this is the same group as verse 4, the 144,000. Even though it says 144,000 from every tribe of the sons of Israel, then lists those tribes, in verse 9 he really tells us there are a multitude from all nations. And so it is really not a literal 144,000, it's not really 12,000 from each of the tribes of Israel. So you start doing that to the book of Revelation, where do you end up? You end up wherever you want to be rather than where the book tells you.

So this interlude tells you something is going to happen, unfolding, so you need to be prepared. Severity is going to increase. So the Jews are preserved, guaranteed, that remnant that will be key to being the nucleus of the kingdom. There will be many people from all nations saved during the days of the tribulation, but many of those will give their lives.

Then you come down to chapter 8, the Lamb broke the seventh seal. So you see you had a break recording events we needed to know that are going to be unfolding. It is not moving us along, it's telling us what is necessary to know for coming events. So the same thing now is happening with the trumpets. In chapter 9 you have the fifth and sixth trumpets, then in verses 20-21 you have the response of unbelievers on the earth to these judgments. And we're told the rest of mankind that were not killed did not repent. Verse 21, they did not repent. So similar response to the judgments that have occurred to this point.

So in chapter 10, now we will have a break that will go to chapter 11 verse 15. Verse 14 tells us, the second woe is past, the third woe is coming. Then the seventh angel sounded. So we move on, then we'll have further information revealed and then we'll be ready for the bowls as the result of the sounding of the seventh trumpet. Because you won't get the result of the seventh trumpet, the bowls being poured out, until you get chapter 16. So these middle chapters become key, and this might be a good time to just talk about where we are in this seven-year period. You can't tell definitively. There are two major possibilities of where we are in this seven-year period. One is back at the end of chapter 6. The seven-year period is broken into two equal 3½ -year segments. Some commentators believe that we hit the middle point of that seven years with the sixth seal and we're ready for the seventh seal. And that is because of the response of the men of the earth to these judgments and they realize, verse 17, the great day of their wrath has come. It's the wrath of God Almighty. And that would then explain in chapter 7 why the 144,000 are sealed and why we're going to see great martyrs, because during the last 3½ years of the tribulation there will be great persecution of Israel and there will be great persecution of all believers. So it's possible that would be where the mid-point of the tribulation is. These early seal judgments parallel the judgments in Matthew 24 which have a break in the middle and would be the beginning of birth pangs.

That's one possibility. The other possibility is we've come to the mid-point of the tribulation after the sixth trumpet, around the time of the sixth trumpet. The reason for that is this seems to be the flow of the book. The events clearly associated with the middle and subsequent events are recorded in chapters 10-13 and the timelines that are given here. We are told a number of times there are 3½ years to go. Look in chapter 11 verse 2, and we'll talk about the details when we get here, but it says leave out the court which is outside the temple, do not measure it for it has been given to the nations. They will tread underfoot the Holy City for forty-two months. He's telling us what is going to happen in the last half of the tribulation. I will grant authority to my two witnesses, they will prophesy for 1260 days, 3½ years. Over in chapter 12 verse 6, the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God so that there she would be nourished for 1260 days. Down in verse 14, two wings of a great eagle were given to the woman so that she could fly into the wilderness to a place where she was nourished for a time, times and a half time. Coming from the book of Daniel, that 3½ times, which is the same as the 1260 days or forty-two months. Down in chapter 13 verse 5, there was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. So it seems in light of that emphasis on preparing us for the last half of the tribulation in these repeated time notes, that really we may be at the middle of the tribulation between the sixth and seventh trumpets. Around that time we would be in the middle.

Again, it doesn't change the book of Revelation because we're just talking about the timing of these series of judgments through the book. But the flow of the book seems to me to tilt in favor of we are at the middle of the tribulation here after the sixth trumpet and in connection with the sounding of the seventh trumpet, which would mean that the seals and the trumpets really occur in the first half and the bowls occur in the last. But if they are spread a little differently, it won't change anything. But it is a possible timeline for you to have in mind.

As we come to chapter 10, it's a reinforcement of John's call to prophesy and tell yet further events for the nations of the earth. Look down in verse 11, they said to me, you must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings. So it's the role not only of the Apostle John, but as the prophet John who will prophesy of the events coming to many peoples and nations and tongues and kings. So that's to prepare the way for events that are yet to take place..

Let's look at verse 1, I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud. The rainbow was upon his head, his face was like the sun and his feet like pillars of fire. I saw another strong angel. Angels are the dominant personage in the book of Revelation. There are over seventy references to angels in the book of Revelation, obviously more than any of the other books. When it says another strong angel, the Greek word for another here means another of the same kind. They also have a word for another that means another of a different kind. So here you have another angel, another strong angel. So it would be another strong angel like the previous strong angel. So you have to go back to chapter 5 verse 2 for the last reference to a strong angel, I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals. That heavenly scene. Now in chapter 10 verse 1 John sees another strong angel like the one he had seen before. Not the same one, but another one like that.

Now some have identified this strong angel as Christ in chapter 10, but I think we must identify him as a literal angel and not Christ as an angel. The strong angel in chapter 5 verse 2 is clearly not Christ as the context of chapter 5 makes clear because Christ is going to appear in that context. This is another angel like that one. So that would rule out Christ being called an angel. And I don't think anywhere in the book of Revelation Christ is called an angel. In fact I don't think after the incarnation Christ is ever called an angel. He's the angel of the Lord, the messenger of Jehovah in the Old Testament, but not after the incarnation. That doesn't mean He was of the nature of an angel, but He had that role as the messenger of Jehovah, that unique divine personage in the Old Testament. But Christ is not called an angel in the book of Revelation nor I don't believe anywhere else in the New Testament.

This angel, though, is of spectacular appearance. We'll see in many ways he has a similar appearance to how Christ has been described. He's clothed with a cloud. That portrays his glory as a heavenly messenger. The clouds are associated with the glory of heaven and the heavenly messenger here being the angel. He comes from the presence of God. He has a rainbow upon his head. It, too, is a display of his glory and a reminder that he comes from the very throne room of God the Father. Back up to chapter 4 verse 2, when John was caught up to heaven here. Immediately I was in the Spirit and behold a throne was standing in heaven and One sitting on the throne. And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance, and there was a rainbow around the throne. Remember that was the throne of God the Father in heaven. And here this one comes from the throne of God. And remember what a rainbow is, it's a reminder of God's mercy in the context of God's judgment.

You have to come back to Genesis 9. The flood of Noah has occurred and then after Noah and his family come out of the ark, chapter 9, God establishes a covenant with Noah. Verse 9, now behold I Myself, do establish My covenant with you and your descendants after you, with every creature that is with you, the birds, the cattle, every beast of the field with you, all that comes out of the ark, even every beast of the earth. I establish My covenant with you and all flesh shall never again be cut off by the water of the flood. Neither shall there again be a flood to destroy the earth. God says this is the sign of the covenant which I am making between Me and you and every living generation that is with you, for all successive generations. I set My bow in the cloud, it shall be for a sign of a covenant between Me and the earth. And it shall come about when I bring a cloud over the earth that the bow will be seen in the cloud and I will remember My covenant which is between you and Me and every living creature. Never again shall the water become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the cloud I will look upon it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth. God said to Noah, this is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth. That covenant in force still today.

So when you see the rainbow around the throne of God in heaven, that is a reminder of God's mercy and never again will He wipe out the earth. There will be mercy, there is mercy. Here is this angel coming with the rainbow around his head. What is he? He is coming as a messenger from God but a reminder there is mercy. Even in the midst of these horrific judgments, the last judgment bringing about the death of a third of the people on the earth, and that is followed as we saw in a previous judgment in the fourth seal where a quarter of the earth dies. But a reminder in this, there is mercy and John will be given a message to prophesy of yet coming things.

Back in Revelation 10. His face was like the sun. This is why some people think this might be Christ. When you come back to Revelation 1:16, this description of Christ as John sees Him, His face was like the sun shining in its strength. So there is that similarity, but you understand the angels serve in the presence of God—God the Father, God the Son, God the Spirit. And so we can expect there is glory associated with them. Over in Revelation 18:1, after these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority. And the earth was illumined with his glory. The glory of this angel illumined the earth. You see they come from the presence of God. I think of Gabriel's comment to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, when he told Zacharias that his wife was going to conceive and bear a son. Zacharias couldn't believe it, they had had a barren relationship. What does Gabriel say when Zacharias doubts it? I am Gabriel who stands in the presence of God. I mean, how can you doubt it? Not because Gabriel is so wonderful, but you understand I stand in the presence of God. And since you haven't believed what I told you, you're not going to be able to speak a word until the child is born.

So you see the angel had a sense of their awesome position—I stand in the presence of God. So it's not amazing. Remember when Moses was on the mountain, Exodus 34, and he came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments, the ten words on the tablets. And in verse 29, it came about when Moses was coming down from Mt. Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses' hand as he was coming down the mountain, that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he was speaking with Him. Here just communicating with God on Mt. Sinai for these forty days and forty nights and he comes down with his face shining, glory. This is what it is like for these angels who permanently serve in the presence of the glory of God in heaven. Not surprising that this angel has a face that would shine like the sun.

Back in Revelation 10. His feet were like pillars of fire. Again that's similar to the description of Christ in Revelation 1:15 where His feet were like burnished bronze. Here the feet of this angel are like pillars of fire and that anticipates the judgment that is to come upon the earth. It is an awesome time here. We are about to have the seventh trumpet sound and this will result of the pouring out of the seven bowls which are more severe than anything the world has experienced to this point. As bad as the seven seals and the seven trumpets are, the seven bowls are the worst of all. And you see the wrath of God poured out in His judgment. So this angel comes with this awesome picture or presentation.

Verse 2, he had in his hand a little book which was opened. So he has a book or a scroll, it's open. This contains the commission to John evidently in verse 11 that we've already looked at. And we'll see more of this book as we get further along in the chapter, so we'll leave it until then. But it is open in his hand and this is some angel. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. Now this is important because it is stressed three times in the chapter—verse 2, he placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land; verse 5, then the angel whom I say standing on the sea and on the land; verse 8, then the voice which I heard from heaven I heard again speaking with me saying, go take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land. So here this awesome angel standing, one foot planted on the sea and the other foot planted on the land.

The judgments up to this time have afflicted portions of the earth. Look back in chapter 8 verse 7, under the first trumpet, a third of the earth was burned up. Under the second trumpet, verse 9, a third of the creatures in the sea that had life died. Verse 10, the third trumpet, a third of the rivers and the springs of water become bitter and poisonous. Verse 12, a third, a third. So this partial judgments, if you will, in chapter 9 verse 18 we saw a third of mankind die. Now the whole earth is about to experience the impact of the judgments of God. To this point there has been a restraint. We've had portions of the earth, a quarter of the earth die, a third of the earth die, a third of the earth burned up, these things. But now this angel has one foot planted on the sea, the other planted on the earth. These coming judgments are going to be of a magnitude and extent that haven't been experienced in the previous judgments. The whole world is about to experience the judgment of God and His wrath.

Back in Revelation 10:3, this angel cried out with a loud voice as when a lion roars. And when he cried out the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. He cries out with a loud voice. This angelic being is of awesome majesty. I don't think we can conceive in our minds, even with the descriptions we have had in chapter 4-5 of the throne room of heaven, what the majesty and glory of heaven will be like. Even these angelic beings who are created beings, but they are created and serve in the presence of God Himself. The majesty and glory of them. It will be impressive, to say the least. And here now he cries out with a loud voice and that loud voice is like a voice when a lion roars. Comparing the voice to a roaring lion. And God's voice is compared to a lion in the Old Testament.

Come back to Hosea 11:10, they will walk after the Lord. He will roar like a lion, indeed He will roar and His sons will come trembling from the east. That picture of God's voice, the roar of a lion, its majesty, its power, its authority is what is conveyed. Go to Amos 3:8. One of the commentaries on Amos takes its title from this, The Lion Has Roared. A lion has roared, who will not fear. The Lord God has spoken, who can but prophesy. God's voice likened to the lion. Now this angel is not God, but he comes as God's representative, comes as God's mouthpiece, if you will. And he speaks with God' authority. And that picture.

Go back to Jeremiah 25. There are other verses in the prophets that would speak of identifying God in that way. Verse 29, for behold I am beginning to work calamity in this city which is called by My name and shall you be completely free from punishment. You will not be free from punishment for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth declares the Lord of hosts. Therefore you shall prophesy against them all these words and you shall say to them, the Lord will roar from on high and utter His voice from His holy habitation. He will rule mightily against His foe, He will shout like those who tread the grapes. So that picture and verse 31, the Lord has a controversy with the nations, He is entering into judgment with all flesh. It's that picture of the awesome authority of God as His voice roars, anticipating coming judgment and the awesomeness of that judgment.

So the angel, back in Revelation 10, is not God but he speaks with the authority of God. He comes with the glory of God because he comes from the presence of God. He comes with the majestic authority of God because his words are not the words of the angel, they are the words of the living God given to be communicated to John. When he speaks with a loud voice as when a lion roars, verse 3, when he had cried out the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. Now the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. What's the identification of this? Most probably this seems to be the voice of God the Father speaking from His throne. And the thunder again pictures the awesomeness of His voice, His power. You know in a real thunderstorm where the thunder seems low to the ground and the widows of the house can vibrate and you can feel it, the power of it. It is awesome. It is somewhat frightening because it intimidates the coming storm. And so here you have the seven peals of thunder.

You remember in John 12, we are near the end of Christ's earthly ministry. With chapter 15 we begin the Last Supper, the last night of Christ with His disciples. And in John 12:27, Christ speaking, now My soul has become troubled. But what shall I say? Father, save Me from this hour? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came out of heaven, I have both glorified and I will glorify it again. God the Father responds audibly so others can hear. And what do the people think? The crowd of people who stood by heard it saying, it had thundered. Others said it was the voice of an angel. This awesome, powerful voice from heaven—thunder. Some said, I think an angel spoke. You see that power of God.

We won't go back to the Old Testament, but I Samuel 7:10, Job 26:14, Psalm 18:13. God's voice like thunder. In Revelation thunder is associated with judgment. And that's what we have. We think of thunder in the context of the storm.

So back in Revelation 10, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. Now God speaking. Go back to Psalm 29. This may be the background for seven peals of thunder. We have all these allusions and references drawn from the Old Testament without being direct quotes in the book of Revelation. Some have counted their estimation over 500 allusions and references to the Old Testament. Since they are not direct quotes sometimes it is difficult to put a finger on it precisely. But in Psalm 29:3-9 you have the voice of the Lord mentioned seven times. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters, and you'll note in the context, the God of glory thunders. Verse 4, secondly, the voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars. Verse 7, the voice of the Lord hews out flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness. The voice of the Lord make the deer to calve. It's in this context where the voice of the Lord is compared to thunder. It is powerful, it is majestic. And since the voice of the Lord is mentioned seven times here, some would see a possible background for the seven peals of thunder. Drawing from that, Psalm 29, where seven times we have the voice of the Lord compared to thunder and the power and the majesty of that voice.

At any rate back in Revelation 10 you have the seven peals of thunder. So when the seven peals of thunder had spoken. They speak audibly. This is not like we think of thunder with the sense of majesty and awe and power that it brings. But this was audible and understandable to John. So he is about to write down what the voices of the seven peals of thunder said. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, seal up the things which the seven peals have spoken. Do not write them. Interesting. Here is information given to John, revelation given to John but it is for John alone. God intended for John to have this revelation but this revelation is not to be passed on. So it is sealed up, it won't be included in the prophecy you're given in the word. But it is a privilege John has and an insight and an understanding of coming events that God gave to John. But we have no way of knowing what it is. And a reminder here that God has more that could be unfolded, but for His purposes He has not made it known.

This is unique because in the book of Revelation, go back to chapter 1 verse 19. John is instructed, write the things which you have seen, the things which are and the things which take place after these things. So the normal pattern is that this is a revelation and you are to write it down. Come over to chapter 22 verse 10, and He said to me, do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. So the book of Revelation is to be an open book for us as His people, for the church to know and understand. But here is revelation given to John and it is just for John. And it must have been awesome and one cannot but wonder what is there. But we have our hands full with what is recorded. But here is insight and material given to John for his benefit, but no one else received that.

The same thing happened to Paul. Come back to II Corinthians 12. The Apostle Paul talking about revelation given to him. The chapter begins, boasting is necessary though it is not profitable. But I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago, whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know. God knows. Paul is talking about himself, he is the man. Something happened to him fourteen years ago and it happened to him and it's like John. Paul doesn't know whether he was bodily taken to heaven to experience and see these things, or it happened in a vision. He said, I don't know whether I was in the body or out of the body. Or whether God took me there in a vision or He actually took me there bodily, I don't know. Such a man was caught up to the third heaven. We have the atmospheric heaven, the stellar heaven, the third heaven being Paradise, the presence of God. I know such a man. Whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know. He says that twice. It was real, and it may have been I was there bodily. God knows. I was caught up to Paradise, the third heaven is Paradise. Remember Jesus told the thief on the cross, today you will be with Me in Paradise. Where is Paradise? The third heaven, it's the dwelling place of God. I heard inexpressible words which man is not permitted to speak. You see here he was caught up to the third heaven, he heard things. God had chosen to make known to Paul, but there are things that I am not permitted to speak.

Then he goes on to say, I can only boast about my weakness. And there was weakness brought to Paul, a messenger of Satan to buffet him so that he wouldn't get carried away with a big head because of the revelations given to him. Now there are the revelations that were recorded. You understand Paul had revelations given to him that were not recorded, he was not permitted to speak. But they were given to him and gave him an understanding that would serve God's purposes in using him as a vehicle to give other revelations. But they are not passed on. Remember Deuteronomy 29:29, the secret things belong to God, the revealed things belong to us. Certain things were revealed just to Paul, just to John, and are not passed on.

Go back to Revelation 10. We are reminded here there are important things, significant things that have not been revealed. And we can't fill in every gap, so to speak. There are things here we don't know about that God has chosen not to reveal. So our concentration is on the revealed things, to know them. So John was commanded not to write them.

Verse 5, then the angel. So now we come back. We sort of had a break from that angel. He cried out with a loud voice as when a lion roars, verse 3. Then we had this information about the seven peals of thunder, their voice. Now we're back to the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land. He lifted up his right hand to heaven. He is going to take a solemn oath, he's going to swear by Him who lives forever and ever. So here you have this awesome angel standing and of such size that he can stand with one foot on the land and one foot on the sea. And his hand raised to heaven and he takes an oath. He swore, verse 6, by Him who lives forever and ever. It's an expression used in the book of Revelation to emphasize God's eternality. He is the eternal God.

Back in chapter 1 verse 18, Christ speaks, do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the living One. I was dead, behold I am alive forevermore. Same idea. Chapter 4 verse 9, and the One on the throne, God the Father, when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever. Verse 10, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne and will worship Him who lives forever. Chapter 15 verse 7, then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. So the angel swears by the eternal God. That's how serious this matter is. I mean, it's not just God's word, but God confirms it with an oath, if you will. And this angel swears by the eternal God.

The background for this, come back to Daniel 12. Daniel was told to seal up his book in verse 4, as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end time. When we come to the book of Revelation, it's an unsealed book and things now fit together. We have progressive revelation and with the book of Revelation and additional revelation things now are understandable that could not be understood even by Daniel. Come down to verse 6, the one said to the man dressed in linen and was above the waters of the river, how long will it be until the end of these wonders? I heard the man dressed in linen who was above the waters of the river. He raised his right hand and his left toward heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever. So here another awesome angel, taking an oath, he swears by the eternal God. That would be the background for what is going on here.

Come back to Revelation 10. He swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, the earth and the things in it, the sea and the things in it that there will be delay no longer. This eternal God is the creator of all things. He has total power, total authority over it all because He brought it all into existence. Over all the earth, over all the sea, everything on the earth, everything in the sea as a result of His creative work. So this angel stands and takes an oath before the eternal God. He's standing on the earth and sea and this is an oath on the eternal God who created everything, everything on the earth, everything in the sea. So He is the One who has authority over it all, so this is sure and guaranteed. He is about to fulfill the purpose He established from eternity.

We are coming to the end. That's the statement at the end of verse 6. There will be delay no longer. The background for that, you can see it is marked out as a quote. Very similar to the quote in verse 6. You go back to Exodus 20:11, in six days God created. There is relentless attack because we have become scientific and even the evangelical church has become accepting of things like theistic evolution and so on. But the scripture is clear from beginning to end that God created the earth. That's the way it happened and we understand that, Hebrews 11:3, by faith we understand because we believe what God said in the opening chapters of Genesis. Here He is about to bring to completion His work.

There will be delay no longer. We've now come to the last phase of God's judgment and completing of His program. Turn back to Revelation 6:9, and when He broke the fifth seal I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, because of the testimony which they had maintained. And they cried out with a loud voice, saying, how long oh Lord, holy and true will you refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth. You come to chapter 10 verse 6, there will be delay no longer. God is about to avenge Himself and His servants on an unbelieving and rebellious world.

The seventh trumpet will bring forth the seven bowls and the finality of God's judgment moving us to the kingdom and subsequent events.

Now come back to Daniel 12. I want you to note the context here is very much like what we have in the book of Revelation. You'll note verse 7, the man dressed in linen, this angelic being, who was above the waters of the river. He raised his right hand and his left toward heaven and he swore, he takes an oath, by Him who lives forever and ever. Same thing as we see this mighty angel doing in Revelation 10. That it would be for a time, times and a half time. Time, times, dual, two times and a half time. Three and a half times, which in comparison as we've seen in passages we already read in Revelation, 1260 days, forty-two months, 3½ years. Time, two times and a half time. The time, one year; two times, two years; and a half. Referring to a 3½ year period. So there will be delay no longer. I take it that would indicate where we are in the tribulation because in light of Daniel 12:7 the same instance unfolded we have 3½ years to go and that's the last phase of God's program in bringing to completion what He had promised back in Daniel 9:24. Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people, your holy city to accomplish six things. To finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place. And so we've come to the last 3½ -year period of that 490-year period of time. And remember in that 490-year period of time there has been a break between the first 483 years and the last 7, which is extended about 2000 years. So now you can see we come to the last 3½ years, we really come to the end. There will be delay no longer.

So I take it putting that together would indicate with Daniel 12 and the other references in this and as we move through the rest of Revelation 10 and then chapters 11-13 we're going to be dealing with events that take place in the middle of the tribulation and then overview what is going to happen in the last 3½ years.

Just a couple of things to summarize what we have said. 1. The angels who share in the presence of God, share in the glory of God. This is a reminder to me that someday we will be gathered in the presence of God in heaven. Now what does God promise? We will be glorified, we will have glorified bodies, bodies of glory prepared for the presence of the God of glory. How do you even begin to put your arms such a concept? But the angels who serve in the presence of God are reminders that someday we, too, will serve in His presence for eternity. 2. Reminder in Revelation 10 as well as we move toward the final phase of God's judgment that God is sovereign over all creation. This angel as God's representative comes and plants his foot on the earth and on the sea. God is sovereign over all. We look around the world today and we see men running here and there and devising plans here, devising plans there. But we know that God is sovereign over all. He created it all, He's moving it all on His timetable. Remember we saw in chapter 9 on the sixth trumpet that the four angels who had prepared at the River Euphrates for the hour, the day, the month, the year. Everything is on schedule. We don't look at the world and say, what's going to happen? What are we going to do? God has everything under control, everything is on schedule. It looks confused, it looks chaotic, the tribulation will be the worst chaos and so on. Everything is under sovereign God's control. 3. In chapter 10 verse 3 we're reminded that judgment will come forth on all of God's rebellious creation. There is no escaping it and then there will be more judgment after that. We have a Great White Throne that will take place at the end of chapter 20, which is the final judgment of the wicked. But here the wrath poured out on the earth is yet to come. 4. A reminder in verse 4 that not everything that God is going to do has been revealed, but everything we need to know and God intends us to know has been revealed in the book. A reminder here the book of Revelation is a book to be understood. Remember blessings were promised to those who read and obey it. The things that God does not intend us to know He has not revealed to us. The things that He has revealed to us are not sealed and they are intended for us to know and obey. 5. And in verse 6, the character of God is foundational to everything that He does. He is the eternal God, He is the One who has brought all things into existence. And without some appreciation of that we cannot understand and comprehend anything with true knowledge that has taken place in the world. He is the eternal God. Understand that? Why do we wring our hands? Why do we fret? Why do we worry? Why do we fear? You understand He is the eternal God. He will swear it is His purposes that will be accomplished. In the chaos of the world during this time you understand God's purposes are being carried out. There will be believers here, believers being martyred in terrible ways, the Jews experiencing awful persecution. It will be easy for people to say, where is God? He is enthroned in heaven, carrying out His purposes on earth.

And that's true for us today. Is our country coming apart at the seams? I mean, how easy it is to fall into a discussion about what's going with the government, what's going on with the decisions. You know what? Everything is under control, relax. I know, but ............... How can they be so foolish? Everything is under control. Our President is making the decisions that suit the purposes of God. The leaders of the nations are making decisions even in their rebellion against God that are exactly accomplishing His purposes. So I can go to bed tonight and say, everything is under control. I just might as well have a good night's sleep. He is the eternal God, He has created it all, He is sovereign over all. He will do His purposes. The purposes of God will be accomplished in His time. There will be delay no longer. What has taken so long? Who would have thought Daniel 9, we're 500 years before Christ. 490 years are determined for your people, we're 2500 years along. I think someone somewhere has gotten confused. Nope. God hadn't made known that there was going to be a break between 483rd year and the last 7, between the 69th week and the 70th week. Everything is under control, and when it comes time then we will be ready for the final 3½ years. There will be no delay, everything will be done.

II Peter 3:9, the Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Days of grace, the days of opportunity. What's it about? Every day with the turmoil and confusion of the world doesn't change anything because the opportunity God has provided for today is for us to present the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ so that men, women and young people have opportunity to repent of their sins and believe in the Savior. The turmoil and confusion just remind us we need to be about the work of our Lord. The night comes when no man can work, as Jesus said. Now is the opportunity. We need to see them from God's perspective like Christ told His followers, the fields are white to harvest. We need workers in the field. We don't need people frustrated or worried about whether the Supreme Court appointee is going to be right, whether the President will make the right decision, whether the Congress will do this, whether ......... What are we about? The field is white to harvest, we need to get out there with the message. We know where it is going. The world is going to ultimate doom and they need to hear the message of light and life and that's why God has delayed, humanly speaking, not delayed in His plan. And we are His servants. Can you imagine what a privilege we have?

Let's pray together. Thank you, Lord, for your Word. Thank you that we are privileged to serve you in these days. Lord, the uncertainty that the world experiences, the fears, the confusion, the turmoil. Lord, we know that you are in charge. We have peace, our heavenly Father is enthroned in heaven. You are working all things according to your purposes. We as those who serve you must be about the work you have called us to. We are not caught up in the turmoil and confusion of the world. We realize that you are a God of mercy and patience. You are giving men, women and young people the opportunity to repent, to turn from their sin and place their faith in the Savior. And Father we are privileged to be instruments to bring that message of life to those lost and without hope in the world. May we seize the opportunity of these days even in the week before us. We pray in Christ's name, amen.