“Next I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was dressed in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head; his face was like the sun, his legs like columns of fire; and he had a little scroll lying open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and shouted in a voice as loud as the roar of a lion; and when he shouted, seven thunderclaps sounded with voices that spoke. When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say,“Seal up the things the seven thunders said, do not write them down!” (Revelation 10:1-4).
A mighty messenger comes down from heaven. The word ‘mighty’ in Hebrew is gibor and one of the titles given to the ‘child who is born’ in Isaiah 9:6 –– El Gibor. Gibor can also refer to an archangel like Gabriel or Michael who have great power. This ‘mighty angel’ may be Michael who guards the people of Isra’el (Daniel 9:21).
This messenger wears a cloud and enveloped in the glory of Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh. The presence of Adonai protected the Israelites with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 3:21). In the cloud over the messenger’s head is a rainbow. This is not a halo that has its roots in sun-god worship, but a ‘bow in the cloud’ like the ‘sign’ of the covenant given to Noach (Genesis 9:13). The glory of Adonai is present.
Though his legs appear to be on fire, the Hebrew regalim is actually feet. Other translations use ‘burnished bronze’ rather than ‘fire.’ His right foot stands on the sea and the left foot on the land symbolizing his authority over the entire earth.
The voice of the messenger sounds like the ‘roar of a lion,’ a direct reference to the Lion of Y’hudah (Hosea 11:10). The cloud, the fiery feet, the bow in the cloud, the authority over the earth and sea, and the voice of the lion reveal the identity of this messenger – Yeshua from the Tribe of Judah.
When the Messiah shouts, seven claps of thunder resound with voices that speak. As Yochanan is about to write down the words of the seven thunders, he is told to ‘seal’ the words and not write them down.
Yeshua holds an open, small scroll in his hands.
The prophet Ezekiel was given a scroll with writing on the front and back. He is told not to be afraid of the House of Isra’el for they will not listen to the words. No matter what happens to him, Ezekiel is to preach the Word of Elohim so the people will know there is a prophet in their midst (Ezekiel 2). Ezekiel is told to eat the scroll and fill his insides. The scroll tasted like honey (Ezekiel 3). Some scholars suggest the little scroll is the ‘deed’ of ownership for the earth. Others suggest it is the ‘deed’ to the Promised Land.
Some will argue that Yeshua is not an ‘angel,’ yet pre-incarnation he appeared as the ‘angel of Adonai.’ This is the same ‘angel’ who found Hagar in the desert and spoke with her, the same ‘angel’ who wrestled with Ya’akov and changed his name to Isra’el, the same ‘angel’ who Gid’eon saw and exclaimed that he had seen Elohim ‘face to face.’ The ‘angel of Adonai‘ fought against the enemies of Isra’el and stood before the Throne of Elohim with the Accuser. Yeshua is the Word of Adonai which means that every time the ‘angel of Adonai’ spoke, it was Yeshua.
“Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted his right hand toward heaven and swore by the One who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it: “There will be no more delay; on the contrary, in the days of the sound from the seventh angel when he sounds his shofar, the hidden plan of God will be brought to completion, the Good News as he proclaimed it to his servants the prophets” (Revelation 10:5-7).
The ‘messenger’ stands on the sea and land and lifts his right hand toward heaven swearing by yod-hey-vav-hey who created everything found in heaven, on earth, and in the seas. There will be no more delay for it is time to reveal the hidden plan of Adonai. When the seventh messenger sounds his shofar, the ‘good news’ as proclaimed to the prophets will be complete.
Jewish teachers utilize four different levels for interpreting Scripture. The first level is called pshat and means ‘surface.’ Pshat is the literal interpretation of the text. For example, was a specific day and time on which the Passover lamb was killed.
“Then came the day of matzah, on which the Passover lamb had to be killed” (Luke 22:7).
The remez is the second level and means ‘hint.’ This is the meaning ‘hinted’ at within the Scripture. It could be like a ‘shadow’ or ‘paradigm.’ For example, the Passover lamb was a shadow of the ‘lamb of God’ who redeem Isra’el on the Passover/Matzah ‘appointed time.’
“These are a shadow of things that are coming, but the body is of the Messiah” (Colossians 2:16-17).
The third level is called the drash and means ‘inquire.’ A drash ‘inquires’ about the purpose for the Scripture. From drash comes midrash which is a discussion about a Scripture that gives an ever deeper meaning. For example, one midrash discusses Hagar and Sarah representing two covenants: one of the slave woman and the other the free woman.
“Now, to make a midrash on these things: the two women are two covenants” (Galatians 4:24).
Finally, the last level is called the sod and means ‘secret’ or ‘mystery.’ The sod of Scripture is given through inspiration of the Spirit of Elohim. The ‘secret’ plan was given to the prophets; Sha’ul speaks of ‘mysteries’ –– all received through the Spirit of Elohim.
‘Look, I will tell you a secret [sod] — not all of us will die! But we will all be changed!” (1 Corinthians 15:51).
What happened at the cross was ‘good news.’ The removal of sin by the blood of Yeshua is called ‘justification’ or ‘The Way.’ The second step of ‘the good news’ is sanctification through the Spirit of Elohim that empowers us obey ‘The Truth’ and become set-apart for Yeshua. The extraordinary ‘good news’ is ‘The Life’ and attaining the resurrection from the dead and entering the Eternal Kingdom (Daniel 12:2, Isaiah 25:8, Isaiah 26:19, Ezekiel 37:13). Yet, several ‘mysterious’ secret plans have yet to come to pass even though they have been revealed. When the seventh shofar sounds:
“He has made known to us his secret plan, which by his own will he designed beforehand in connection with the Messiah and will put into effect when the time is ripe — his plan to place everything in heaven and on earth under the Messiah’s headship” (Ephesians 1:9-10).
“To them God wanted to make known how great among the Gentiles is the glorious richness of this secret. And the secret is this: the Messiah is united with you people! In that rests your hope of glory!” (Colossians 1:27).
“Now to God, who can strengthen you, according to my Good News, in harmony with the revelation of the secret truth which is the proclamation of Yeshua the Messiah, kept hidden in silence for ages and ages, but manifested now through prophetic writings …” (Romans 16:25-26).
“Next the voice which I had heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the scroll lying open in the hand of the angel standing on the sea and on the land!” So I went over to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll; and he said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it; and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; but after I had swallowed it, my stomach turned bitter. Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings” (Revelation 10:8-11).
Yochanan takes the little scroll and eats it. It tastes like honey in his mouth, but turns his stomach bitter. The scroll contains sweet promises, but to digest and receive them will bring bitterness.
Adonai’s plan is already in motion, and the nations wielding power will not relinquish that power. They will claim power over other nations and the people in those nations. The world will become more unsettled as ‘goat’ and ‘sheep’ nations decide whether they are with Isra’el or against.
An epidemic in 2020 affected the world’s governments, economics, and religious systems. Life became difficult; freedoms lost. Leaders who desire power and control will continue to create chaos. Those who want to ‘cull the herd’ will continue on the path of plagues, death, and destruction. The days will be tough to survive and many will not. The bitter struggles, however, will bring the return of King Yeshua. He will sit on his throne in Jerusalem –– the sweetness the Adonai’s plan completed.
Yochanan’s vision is an interlude. He has to prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.’ Many of the prophetic visions in Revelation are not linear, but build on one another. With each prophecy, Yochanan is given a deeper revelation to trumpets, bowls, and woes.
Revelation 11 – Two Witnesses
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