The Mystery of God Revealed In Symbols

As we move deeper into John's Revelation it is increasingly difficult to believe that he writes in symbolical language. He seems to be writing a prophecy about certain actual, physical events that are  about to happen. And yet, as we move to the seventh angel and the sounding of the seventh trumpet everything appears to be more symbolical than ever. The series of seven trumpets parallels the series of seven seals (Rev. 6:1-8:1). In that series the first six seals deal with the unbelieving enemies of Christ and His church. Ultimately we read that the great ones of the earth will face the wrath of the Lamb. Then as the seventh seal is opened the promised salvation for the great multitude appears. They who come out of the great tribulation will never hunger nor thirst anymore and the Lamb will guide them to springs of living water (Rev. 7:9-17).

So it is in the series of seven trumpets. The first six speak about destruction and death coming upon the enemies of God. The earth is burned up, mountains are thrown into the sea, creatures and ships are destroyed, the waters become bitter wormwood, stars turn dark and all sorts of horrible beasts come pouring out of the abyss, bringing destruction and death. But now we come to the seventh angel who is about to sound the seventh trumpet as the mystery of God is fulfilled. Here is a mystery to be fulfilled, a mystery announced previously by the prophets, a revelation of God's mercy for all of his children.

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a

Remember God's Rainbow

cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down." And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets. - Rev 10:1-7 ESV

John gazes upon this magnificent angel-messenger whose face is lit by the ancient rainbow-sign of God's grace and mercy as revealed after the great flood (Gen. 9:13-17). John is forbidden by the voice from heaven to write down what the seven thunders have said, but nevertheless something wonderful will be fulfilled when the seventh angel sounds the seventh trumpet. It is the mystery announced earlier to God's people through his servants, the prophets. And what is it? John discovers this as he obeys and eats the little scroll handed to him by this mighty angel. It is sweet as honey and bitter to his stomach.

And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. And I was told, "You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings." - Rev 10:10-11 ESV  

 This is a mystery to be revealed for many peoples, nations, languages and rulers. It is a message from the eternal Creator of heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in it. It is a message both sweet and bitter. But sweet for whom and bitter for whom? And when will the fullness of this message be revealed? Only when the final seventh trumpet is sounded.

So we turn to chapter 11 of The Revelation and struggle to resist the temptation again to make the mystery a literal rather than a symbolical prophecy. We will struggle against the temptation to think that we can find the literal meaning of the temple of God, 2 olive trees, 2 lamp-stands,  42 months, 1,260 days, 3 ½ days, 24 elders and 7,000 people killed. But if we resist such the symbols will open a rich message of salvation, grace and mercy indeed. So on to Rev. 11 in the next post.