A Revelation Invitation

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a 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. … 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. (Revelation 10:1-3a,5-7 ESV)

When my brother-in-law was in first grade, one of the older boys on the playground grabbed his hat and ran off with it. Without thinking he chased that bully down only to find himself on his back looking up at a clinched fist. As his six years of life flashed before his eyes, he saw the shirt collar tighten around the boy’s neck. Out of nowhere his brother, ten years his elder, picked that boy up by the back of his shirt and sent my future brother-in-law to the pickup. He still doesn’t know what threats his brother made, but that bully never bothered him again. Like my brother-in-law so many years ago, we don’t often see where help comes from. But be assured: God will rescue. In Revelation 10 this mighty angel announces the deliverance of God’s people—finally! No more delay!

If there even is such a thing as an ordinary angel, this angel was not that. God dispatched a mighty angel whom John described in terms that are usually reserved for God and his Son. He is wrapped in a cloud with legs like pillars of fire reminding us of the pillar of clouds by day and fire by night that delivered Israel from Egypt and led them through the wilderness on their march toward the promised land. The angel also had a rainbow over his head like the emerald rainbow surrounding the throne in Revelation 4. His face shined like the sun as did the face of Jesus in Revelation 1 and he spoke with the voice of a roaring lion reminding us of the lion of the tribe of Judah in Revelation 5. This portrait of the mighty angel shows that he is a surrogate for the Lord in all his glory, exercising the Lord’s authority and power. So when he plants one foot on the land and one on the sea, he affirms God’s sovereignty over all the earth including the mighty Roman Empire and every empire that has followed. When this angel speaks, he speaks for the God who created heaven and earth and all that is in them. God’s people have nothing to fear from the judgments about to be unleashed on Rome, its empire and its inhabitants. The day is coming when the Christians will never be harassed by Rome again.

Do you remember when the saints cried out, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” (Revelation 6:10 ESV)? God hadn’t forgotten that prayer. The time had finally come. God was finished with warnings. No more partial judgments. Mercifully, he had shown the people of the world signs of his displeasure with them. Graciously, he had given the people of the earth time to repent. However, God was now prepared to bring his full judgment to bear on his enemies. The Roman world was destined to suffer more calamities in addition to those they had already endured. He wouldn’t tolerate their wickedness any longer. His patience with Rome had run out. Destruction was a certainty. There would be no more delay because Rome was doomed.

God sympathizes with our circumstances. When we face trials and troubles, he appreciates our need for hope of rescue so that we might persevere. He understands our frailty and realizes the limits of our endurance. Yes, the difficulties of life may intensify. However, God is faithful to his promise to rescue us from our tormentors seen and unseen even if his timing is hidden from us. His judgment is a cleansing judgment. It comes in the form of destruction, but it is the destruction of evil and those who perpetuate it so that he can free his creation from the curse of sin. It was the destruction caused by the flood that actually saved Noah and the world. The receding flood waters brought forth new creation cleansed of evil. God’s rainbow promise remains to be fulfilled for his people today. Ultimately, God’s mighty angel with one foot on the land and one on the sea stands with us as the Lord rescues us through judgment. Then we will enjoy eternal peace and refuge in new creation.

Sovereign Lord, please assure me of your mighty power. Increase my faith in your ability to rescue me from my enemies. I am weak and vulnerable. There is no one but you to save me. Especially when circumstances seem out of control, please grant me the peace that only you give. Amen.