The End Times as God Reveals Them Pt 29 Sealed Words, Sovereign God & Salvation's Glory!!

Thanksgiving week is upon us and I suggest that you go into the archive to November 25 & 26, 2019, for three lessons on Thanksgiving. I believe that they will encourage all of us today as we face unprecedented challenges. 

John told to seal the words of the 7 thunders.

Revelation 10:4  And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. 

John told us that he heard the voices of the seven thunders and he prepared to write the words that he heard them say. However, a voice from heaven called out to John and told him not to write down those specific things. Rather, he was to seal those sayings up. The book of Revelation is about the unveiling of the End Times and especially, of our All Glorious Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, there are some future things that God has reserved and this is why John was not permitted to record them. 

Daniel and Paul had to seal up words that they heard.

Daniel also saw and heard events about the End Times that he was not permitted to share with anyone because these things unfold according to the timetable and plan of God (Daniel 12:4). 

2 Corinthians 12:1-4  It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2) I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3) And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 

The apostle Paul was also caught up to heaven as he was given visions and revelation of Christ. However, he heard unspeakable words which may relate to the voices of the seven thunders that John heard. Paul tells us that it was not lawful, or rather, that God forbid these words to be recorded and shared with others. Paul's experience is also similar to John and Daniel's in that he was not permitted to share some things that he heard. 

The Mighty Angel & the Mystery of God

Rev 10:5-7  And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6) And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: 7) But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. 

The mighty angel that John saw will stand with one foot on the sea and one foot on land. He will lift up his hand toward heaven and sware by the Lord God Almighty who is the One, True Eternal God and Creator of all. The word "sware" is a word that means to affirm or declare as a witness to God.

What did this angel swear? That time shall be no more. This is the idea that final and complete judgment will be coming without delay. There will be no more time granted to a wicked, sinful humanity. 

The Sovereign Creator God will Take Possession of All Things. 

Revelation 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. 

Revelation 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 

This is an affirmation that God is going to claim that which is rightfully His and His alone. The worship leaders in heaven declared that Jehovah was worthy to receive all honor, glory and power because He created everything for His pleasure. 

Later in the book of Revelation we see this thought communicated again. The hour of Jehovah's final judgment upon all sinners is here. It has arrived and a command goes forth to worship Him because He made all things. 

John tells us that when the voice of the 7th angel begins to sound, the mystery of God as recorded by the prophets, will be finished, completed and finalized. 

The mystery of God is not pointing to newly revealed truth. Rather, it is looking back at what God told to all His prophets and pointing to all the fulfillment that will happen when Jesus Christ comes with His saints to judge the world and establish His kingdom.

The Devil has temporary custody of the world governmental systems. 

Luke 4:5-7  And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6)  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7) If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 

Satan  has temporary authority over the earth and the governments of the world. Notice the text from Luke's gospel record of the temptation of Christ in the wilderness. The devil showed Christ all the kingdoms of the world and said he would give all the power and glory of those kingdoms to Christ if He bowed down to the devil. The devil has been granted temporary custody of these kingdoms and has the ability to give it to whomever he chooses. This is why nothing gets better even though all politicians promise that they are going to "fix" things and make it right. Spiritual wickedness in high places is influencing what transpires in governments. The devil is called the prince of the power of the air which implies his wicked rulership only applies to the earth. 

All people are held captive by the devil until they are born again. 

Ephesians 2:1-3  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2)  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 

Notice this text from Paul that tells us about the "prince of the power of the air." What did I do before I was born again? What do people do now who are not born again? They walk according to the course of this world. That is, whatever the world is doing is what I did and what lost people do. 

There is a strong immoral current that pushes all humanity to walk on the ungodly path of life. The devil works "in" the children of disobedience. That means the devil had his way in my heart and actions before I was born again and he does the same thing in the hearts and actions of all unregenerate people today. What does this kind of life look like? It is a life dedicated to satisfying all the evil lusts of the flesh. It is no wonder that things never get better here on earth. Rather, things get worse and worse. 

The mighty angel is going to announce that this age of a devilish domain is over, ended by the power of Christ. 

Embrace the Truth and Faithfully Preach it. 

Revelation 10:8-11  And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. 9) And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 10) And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. 11) And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. 

John heard a voice from heaven telling him to take the little book from the hand of the mighty angel. I cannot imagine which it would be like to be a mere mortal man and being told to walk up to a glorious and powerful angel of God. The angel told John to take the book and eat it. He said that it would taste like honey but it would become very bitter in his belly. Then, John was commissioned to prophesy before many people, nations and kings. 

The Word of God is compared with honey for the sweetness of God's truth for mankind  (Psalm 19:9-10 & Ezekiel 3:1-3). Yet, even as the Word of God is sweet and fills believers with hope, it will cause bitterness in unbelievers when the judgment it declares comes upon them. 

Jeremiah 15:16  Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. 

Jeremiah tells us of the sweet joy he had when he found the Word of God and feasted upon it. He read it, thought about it, meditated upon it and memorized it so God's truth would stay firmly in his mind. This brought Jeremiah much joy. He was called to be a faithful messenger for God telling people what God said. 

This seems to be the focus of what John's commission was: preach the precious Word of God faithfully and fully to all people that you encounter. Certainly, this can be a pattern for each of us to pursue. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

There are things that God has reserved for Himself. He may or may not reveal those hidden things at a later date. Our mission is not to waste time speculating on what God didn't tell us. Rather, we are to embrace and live by what He did reveal to us in His Word. 

Are you born again through repentant faith in Jesus Christ? If so, rejoice! That horrid power of Satan and lust for sin that held you in bondage and enslaved you to an immoral, ungodly, self destructive lifestyle, has been broken. Believers should never forget the power of salvation offered by Christ to all who will believe. 

We must follow the example of John by fully embracing the truth of God's Holy Word and seek to understand it, and live by it to the best of our ability. We must ask the Spirit of God to help us in this endeavor.

The world and all it's governments are broken and cannot be repaired. Only when Jesus Christ returns to set His kingdom in place will all things be made right. The devil's reign of ruin and fear will be over as heaven's glories spill over the earth. 

We must be faithful witnesses to God. We must live a life that honors Him. We must tell others about Jesus and pray that God will speak to hearts as we share His eternal Word. May our Lord Jesus Christ help us be faithful to the mission that He gave us.

Bob