July 31: READINESS TO HEAR FROM HEAVEN

I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. Revelation 10:1

From this verse to 11:14, the Holy Spirit leads John the Revelator into great detail regarding divine intervention on behalf of God’s faithful ones. This interlude is placed between the sixth and seventh trumpet, just as there was an interlude (chapter 7) between the sixth and seventh opening of the seals. Both sets of sevens lead up to the return of Christ, who wants His followers to be thoroughly prepared to step into eternity with Him at His coming (1 Corinthians 15:23).

The mighty angel from heaven described in our opening verse is very similar to descriptions of Jesus in other places. Although the most fundamental definition of the word angel in Scripture is messenger, Jesus is in no way a regular messenger. He is, in fact, the Creator of all angels, humans, and everything (Colossians 1:16). If the mighty angel mentioned above is not Jesus Himself, then he is an exalted angel directly from the presence of the Lord. A few similar verses we may look back upon are: Now the LORD descended in the cloud. (Exodus 34:5) … Son of Man coming in the clouds… (Mark 13:26) . . . hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven (Matthew 26:64). More references are listed below.*

And a rainbow was on his head… This rainbow on the angel’s head is a sign of [God’s] covenant with the earth and every living creature (Genesis 9:13-15). There is also a rainbow around the throne of God the Father (Revelation 4:3).

Peter, James, and John were eyewitnesses of the glorious transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain. The description his face was like the sun from our opening verse sounds like Matthew 17:2: His face shone like the sun…

The description his feet like pillars of fire takes us back to Exodus 13:21. Also, chapter 1 of Revelation states: His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace (v.15).

There can be no doubt that this messenger has a crucially important message for God’s people before the seventh trumpet is blown. Are you ready to hear it?

And [Jesus] said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Mark 4:9

*Exodus 16:10; 24:16; Leviticus 16:2; Numbers 11:25; 1 Kings 8:10; Psalm 97:2; Isaiah 19:1; Daniel 7:13; Luke 21:27; Acts 1:9; Revelation 14:14