Prologue - Revelation 1:1-3 (Part 2)

The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to him to show his bond-servants the things that must happen soon. He made it known when he sent it by his angel to his bond-servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, to as many things as he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud and blessed are the ones who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things written in it, for the time is near. [Τranslation by David Mills]

In addition to calling his document a revelation, John also calls it a prophecy. Prophecy is a word from God spoken by a man whom God had chosen. Hence, we often read of the "word of the Lord" coming to a prophet (1 Sam. 15:10; 1 Kings 21:17; Isa. 38:4; Jer. 1:1-2, etc.). By calling Revelation a prophecy, John is emphasizing that its words are from God.

Although Biblical prophecy is more concerned with speaking the words of God than with revealing the future, there is usually a connection between God's words and the future. Prophets often warn of God's impending judgment on those who disobey and promise future blessings for those who repent and obey. Consequently, the shape of the future depends on whether those who hear ignore his words or keep them in faithful obedience. By calling Revelation a prophecy, John reminds them that they should hear God's warnings and admonitions and that they should keep his commands. To keep means "to persist in obedience" or "to continue to obey orders or commandments."[5] Those who hear and keep the words of John's prophecy will experience God's blessing and favor in the future.

Footnotes

[5] BDAG, s.v. τηρέω; Louw and Nida, #36.19.

Good News, Bad News

Reflections on Revelation 10:1-11

The seventh trumpet is not blown immediately after the sixth trumpet.  Instead, John sees a mighty angel coming down from heaven.  He is wrapped in a cloud (cf. Daniel 7:13), a rainbow is over his head (cf. Revelation 4:3), and his face shines like the sun (cf. Revelation 1:16) suggesting his close relationship with the Faithful and Holy One sitting on the throne and with his Son.  Unlike the seven thunders which are hidden or sealed, the angel's message is not sealed, but is open in his hand. 

The mighty angel raising his right hand to heaven and, swearing by him who lives forever and ever, declares that there would be no more delay but that the mystery of God previously announced to the prophets would be fulfilled when the seventh trumpet is sounded.  Two allusions to the Old Testament suggest that the mystery of God refers to vindicating his servants and bringing an end to their suffering.  In Deuteronomy 32:40-41, God lifts his hand to heaven and swears that he will take vengeance on his adversaries who oppress and corrupt his people.  Then in Daniel 12:7, a heavenly messenger raises his hands to heaven and swears that the suffering of the holy people would cease at the end of a time, times, and half a time.  Daniel did not understand, and the words were sealed (their meaning hidden), but now the angel reveals when the suffering of God's people would end:  it would end at the sounding of the seventh and final trumpet (Beale, 1999, pp. 537 ff.).

Immediately after this, a voice from heaven instructs John to take the scroll in the angel's hand.  The angel gives him the book and tells him to eat it.  He also tells John the book will become bitter in his stomach, but it will be sweet as honey in his mouth.  The message of God's judgment on behalf of the oppressed saints was sweet as honey in John's mouth, but upon reflection the message becomes bitter in his stomach. Judgment is a message of mercy to the oppressed, but it is necessarily also a message of condemnation to the oppressing nations.   This side of the message is bitter not only because the judgment is horrific, but also because the nations refuse to heed the warning. 

The Purpose of a Prophecy

Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.
-- Rev 1:3 NIV

Earlier, John called his book a revelation (apocalypse), but now he also calls it a prophecy. John, like the prophets Samuel, Elijah, and Jeremiah, warns God's people of God's impending judgment on their unfaithfulness and calls them to repentance so that they might find God's mercy and forgiveness. Therefore, we who study John's message should look more at ourselves than "signs of the times." How are we being seduced or intimidated by the ungodly culture around us? Why do we who call ourselves Christians practice divorce at the same rate as non-Christians? Why do we enjoy the same lust-laced entertainment and music as non-Christians? Why do we use the Lord's name as frivolously in conversation as non-Christians? Why are we caught up in the same materialism as the culture around us? Unless we repent, knowing the signs of the times will profit us nothing. Blessed are they who hear and take heed.