How Should We Live Life in 2012?

An old year has passed. Happy New Year! As we have ushered out 2011 and begin 2012, we make our resolutions and reflect upon how quickly time passes, especially as we grow older. Personally, I am looking forward to the opportunities that God will present to us here at Southwest, and have full assurance that great things can happen! Thus, as we begin a new year, let us examine how we should live life in 2012.

First, let us remember yesterday as if it had never happened. Of course, this does not mean that we should not reflect upon past failures to learn from them and such like. However, so much undue stress today happens when people bring their problems forward into the present. God did not make us to be able to deal with the problems of yesterday that we bring into the present challenges of the current, present day. This is why God encourages us through Peter, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (1 Pet. 5:7). The apostle Paul understood this point quite well when he declared, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto things which are before” (Phil. 3:13). Jesus warned us, “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). Not only can clinging too tightly onto yesterday result in extra undue stress, but it can also lead to those who through pride “live in the past” and fail to grow. Therefore, let us remember yesterday as if it had never happened.

Second, let us live today as if it were our last day. Far too often, we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of our busy lives and fail to heed this important advice. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus discussed the worry of physical needs when he stated, “Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven…” (Matt. 6:30; Luke 12:28). However, if we took this seriously and lived our lives as if there would be no tomorrow, how much more faithful would we be? How much more loving would we be? How much more forgiving would we be? How much more prepared would we be? Because of the approaching persecution, this is why the Hebrew writer no less than three times states in his epistle, “Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts…” (3:7-8, 15; 4:7). The Hebrew writer wrote, “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God, but exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:12-13). If we lived today as if it were our last, it would be much easier for us to “seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1-2). If we lived today as if it were our last, it would be much easier to “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” as “strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (1 Pet. 2:11; cf. Heb. 11:13), because as Moses, it would be easier to choose “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Heb. 11:25). Think about how much more faithful we would be to the Lord and more opportunistic towards our family, friends and everyone with whom we encounter. Therefore, let us live today as if it were our last day.

Third, let us plan for tomorrow with the will of God in our mind. This is the absolute point James makes in James 4:13-17:

Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

As we make our plans for 2012, we should not ever make them without consideration for the will of God! If we are not careful, we can make future plans as if we are certain about the future, but such is not true! These people to whom James refers acted as if they knew what they were going to do, when they were going to do it, where they were going to go, how long they were staying and even how profitable their ventures would be. Yet, they did not say one thing about including God in their plans. While we know the end of this life is approaching, we do not know when such will take place (2 Pet. 3:10). Everyone who has ever faced any unseen adversity knows that we cannot anticipate when such will happen. In other words, the future is unclear! Let us be sure to understand that James is not condemning the act of making plans for the future at all. For example, the apostle Paul commended the Corinthians for their plans (2 Cor. 8:1-11; 9:1-7). Nevertheless, James is condemning the failure of including God and His will in our plans! Thus, the questions that ought to dominate our minds as we plan 2012 include, “What is the will of God in reference to this matter? What does God want me to do?” God is in control! At least, God ought to be in control of our lives!

Therefore, how should we live life in 2012? Let us remember yesterday as if it never happened, live today as if it were our last day to live, and plan for tomorrow with the will of God in our minds.

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Of New Oracles and New Earths

[The following is a portion of a new booklet produced by Focus Press exposing the error of New Age religion and the book A New Earth, written by Eckhart Tolle and recommended by Oprah Winfrey. We encourage you to arm yourself with knowledge regarding this dangerous belief system.]

Jim Jones, the charismatic leader of the People’s Temple, died along with his followers on November 18, 1978. While his body and the People’s Temple are gone, his name is now synonymous with mass murder/suicide and Flavor-aid (Kool-aid) laced with cyanide. On that fateful day, 913 people (including 276 children) living in Jonestown drank the deadly cocktail, giving a new definition to the term “cult followers.”

While most modern Americans would never consider themselves members of a cult, (much less drink the Kool-aid), a new charismatic movement has emerged, and the leaders of this new “awakening” are Oprah Winfrey and Eckhart Tolle. It is no secret that a simple nod from Oprah and her book club can instantly turn a novel into a bestseller. But this year that book club has transformed itself into a bully pulpit for New Age religion. In January 2008, Winfrey announced her 61st Oprah’s Book Club selection, A New Earth written by Tolle. However, this book is not like choices in the past—it’s not a novel or even memoir. In fact, Oprah called it her boldest choice yet. It deals with a new form of spirituality—it is a handbook for New Age religion.

If the recommendation from Oprah itself was not bad enough, Winfrey and Tolle have teamed up to form a “school” to teach (a.k.a. brainwash) millions of unsuspecting souls on how to shed “ego” and embrace consciousness to become “awakened”. Discussing this latest venture Winfrey proclaims, “Being able to share this material with you is a gift and a part of the fulfillment of my life’s purpose. It was an awakening for me that I want for you too.” (http://www2.oprah.com/obc_classic/webcast/stories/anewearth_stories_284_101.jhtml?promocode=HP12.)

Thus, on Monday nights individuals from all across the globe gathered to listen to Winfrey and Tolle in an exclusive online class that walked through his book. I should admit that I do not watch the Oprah television program and, prior to this new religious propaganda, had never been on her Web site or bought one of her recommended books. But after listening to individuals “wonder” about this new teaching and hearing of New Testament Christians who wanted to take this class, I decided to employ my research training and see what kind of Kool-aid Eckhart and Winfrey were offering the masses. I should warn you that having digested the book and spent some time on her Web site, the “enlightenment” that Winfrey and Tolle are offering up will indeed sicken your soul.

Trying to pin down Tolle’s true religious beliefs is like trying to nail jello to a tree. He is a master at using flowered language and symbolism, but never truly “lands the plane”. He combines his doctrine with just enough truth to confuse and entice those who are not happy in their current state. While there are many errors in this new teaching (e.g., embracing of evolution, no absolute truth, God being merely consciousness), the central tenet that Christians must be aware of is the reduction of Jesus Christ to simply a prophet.

Beliefs contradicting Christ’s teachings

Tolle does not wait long to inform readers of his own position regarding Jesus Christ. He observes: “The messengers—Buddha, Jesus, and others, no all of them known—were humanity’s early flowers. They were precursors, rare and precious beings” (p. 6). Jesus Christ a mere messenger? Nowhere in his book does Tolle address Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew 3:17; Mark 1:1; 2 Peter 1:17)—the Savior of all mankind. This should be a major red flag to anyone identifying themselves as Christian. It becomes apparent very early in Tolle’s writings that he has missed the entire scheme of redemption and the need for a Savior (John 3:16).

Rather than acknowledging the sacrifice Jesus made for man’s sins, Tolle belittles that gift and declares, “Suffering has a noble purpose: the evolution of consciousness and the burning up of the ego. The man on the cross is an archetypal image. He is every man and every woman” (p. 102, emp. added). Tolle then begins to use the teachings of Christ in a perverted fashion, taking Scripture completely out of context. He sprinkles the words of Christ amidst the teachings of Buddha and Zen masters, as if they were all on the same level—merely prophets who had attained this “awakening.” He even has the audacity to “correct” Jesus on several occasions. For instance, Tolle noted: “And when Jesus said, ‘Deny thyself,’ what he meant was: Negate (and thus undo) the illusion of self. If the self—ego—were truly who I am, it would be absurd to ‘deny’ it” (p. 78-79).

Tolle argues that Heaven is not a location but rather a state of mind. He states, “‘Blessed are the poor in spirit,’ Jesus said, ‘for theirs will be the kingdom of heaven.’ What does ‘poor in spirit’ mean? No inner baggage, no identifications. Not with things nor with any mental concepts that have a sense of self in them. And what is the ‘kingdom of heaven’? The simple but profound joy of Being that is there when you let go of identifications and so become ‘poor in spirit’” (p. 43).

Tolle drove this point home in an earlier chapter in which he shined a light on why the book was titled A New Earth: “It occurs in both the Old and the New Testament and speaks of the collapse of the existing world order and the arising of ‘a new heaven and a new earth.’ We need to understand here that heaven is not a location but refers to the inner realm of consciousness….‘A new heaven’ is the emergence of a transformed state of human consciousness, and ‘a new earth’ is its reflection in the physical realm”(p. 23, italics in orig., emp. added). Surely true Christians see the folly and foolishness in this teaching. Jesus Christ said, “Let not your hearts be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1-2). Just before his death, the first Christian martyr Stephen “gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55). Anyone with even an elementary knowledge of God’s Word recognizes that God resides in Heaven, and it is the place most desire for their eternal homes.

With the quick stroke of a pen, Tolle completely obliterates all of the parables of Jesus Christ and His teaching on the Kingdom of Heaven and the coming judgment. If Heaven is the emergence of consciousness, then why did Christ say, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven”?

Probably the biggest perversion of God’s Word is found on pages 70-71 in which Tolle tries to escape the reality of absolute truths. Tolle notes:

…but you won’t find absolute truth if you look for it where it cannot be found: in doctrines, ideologies, sets of rules, or stories. What do all these have in common? They are made up of thought. Thought can best point to the truth but it never is the truth…. All religions are equally false and equally true, depending on how you use them. You can use them in the service of ego, or you can use them in the service of the Truth. If you believe only your religion is the Truth, you are using it in the service of ego (p. 70-71).

He then goes on to claim that man is Truth. Tolle and Winfrey have bought into the notion that the only absolute truth is man himself. Tolle observes, “There is only one absolute Truth, and all other truths emanate from it…. The Truth is inseparable from who you are. Yes, you are the Truth. If you look for it elsewhere, you will be deceived every time” (p. 71, emp. added).

Tolle then attacks a most basic, sacred premise in God’s Word. Giving readers only a portion of the words of Jesus in John 14:6, Tolle claims: “The very Being that you are is Truth. Jesus tried to convey that when he said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” These words uttered by Jesus are one of the most powerful and direct pointers to the Truth, if understood correctly. If misrepresented, however, they become a great obstacle. Jesus speaks of the innermost I Am, the essence of identity of every man and woman, every life-form, in fact” (p. 71). What Tolle left out was the completion of Jesus’ thought– “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, emp. added). That bold (and truthful) claim made by the Son of God completely destroys Tolle’s understanding of Truth.

It should be no surprise that Oprah Winfrey has embraced Tolle’s definition of Truth, as she herself has admitted she believes there are multiple ways to God—multiple ways to get to Heaven. Consider the following discussion that took place on her highly rated talk show:

Oprah: One of the mistakes that human beings make is believing that there is only one way to live—and that we don’t accept that there are diverse ways of being in the world, that there millions of ways to be a human being.

Audience Member: Then how do you please God?

Oprah: And many ways, many paths to what you call God. And her path might be something else. And when she gets there she might call it the light, but her loving, and her kindness, and her generosity, if it brings her to the same point that it brings you it doesn’t matter if she called it God along the way or not. There couldn’t possibly be just one way.

Audience member: What about Jesus?

Oprah: What about Jesus?

Audience member: You bring Him up in this whole discussion and you say there isn’t only one way. There is one way and only one way and that is through Jesus.

Oprah: There couldn’t possibly be only one way for the millions of people in the world.

Winfrey may be a media mogul and a wealthy individual, but her voice and opinion has no authority in this discussion. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, plainly said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Christians need to fully understand Tolle’s teachings are dangerous and soul-threatening. He boldly proclaims, “It has been said ‘God is love’ but that is not absolutely correct. God is the One Life in and beyond the countless forms of life (p. 106, emp. added). Tolle obviously is not aware that an inspired writer made the declaration that God is love (1 John 4:16). All he is worried about is an inner feeling of joy. Tolle contends: “There are three words that convey the secret of the art of living, the secret of all success and happiness: One With Life. Being one with life is being one with Now. You then realize that you don’t live your life, but life lives you. Life is the dancer, and you are the dance” (p. 115, emp. added). His words soundeerily similar to Shirley MacLaine who years ago in her book, Dancing in the Light, said: “I am God, because all energy is plugged in to the same source. We are each aspects of that source. We are all part of God. We are individualized reflections of the God source. God is us and we are God” (p. 339).

Oprah continues to proclaim that she is a Christian—a follower of Christ—but it is obvious from her own voice and the voice of Eckhart Tolle that they have long ago abandoned the Son of God and His teachings. They believe they have discovered God—and He is a part of them. Tolle ends his book by noting: “A new species is arising on the planet. It is arising now, and you are it!” (p. 309). One wonders how many of these new species could be accurately described as followers—cult followers of New Age religion. Don’t be deceived. Jesus is still The  Way.

[For the complete evaluation of Oprah’s New Age religion and Eckhart Tolle’s book A New Earth, we invite you to order a copy of the pamphlet Of New Oracles and New Earths, coauthored by Brad Harrub, Ph.D. and Dewayne Bryant M.S. It is available for $2.50 online as a PDF download or by calling our office at 615.324.5870 to receive the PDF by email attachment.]

References:

Tolle, Eckhart (2005) A New Earth (London: Penguin).

MacLaine, Shirley (1991), Dancing in the Light (New York: Bantam).

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Heart of the Matter: Death

Heart of the Matter: Death

Having looked into the tearful eyes of parents whose children have abandoned the Faith, I have learned there are a million miles between our children “going through the motions” in reference to their spiritual lives versus our children possessing hearts that dictate their actions. In this column, I plan to share with you what I hope to instill in the hearts of my own children and those whom I love.

She lived to be over one hundred, and to this day I can still remember the smell of her perfume, lotion, and the stale smell of tobacco when she kissed my cheek. We called her Granny Morgan, and she was my great-grandmother. She was one of those unforgettable characters who loved life and loved to tell stories. She was also the first person who gave me my first-hand experience with death. I was only seven years old when she died—but those memories linger still.

Anyone who has had the pleasure of walking this Earth for more than a couple of decades has experienced the pain of death. It is the one thing we can all count on. Death is not prejudiced or biased; it affects the rich and poor, black and white, religious and non-believers. Oftentimes death causes so much emotional strain that it can stress our relationship with God. We question why He would allow someone close to us to die.

Here’s what I intend on teaching my children about death.

Death is part of the circle of life. In Ecclesiastes, we read that there is a time to be born and a time to die (3:2). Death was brought into the world by the sin of Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:17), and has continued ever since (1 Corinthians 15:21). Having spent several years working in a hospital, I have probably witnessed hundreds of people slipping into eternity. It’s a very odd thing to talk to someone and then realize in the next minute they are gone. Just think, every year that passes holds the anniversary day of your death. It’s one of the few things in the world that money, influence, or fame cannot change—it is inevitable.

But I want to make sure you always keep a proper perspective of death. For you see, death is not something to be scared of or try to avoid. In fact, for those who have obeyed God, death is the beginning of a reward (2 Timothy 4:7-8). In the medical profession, death is often viewed as a failure, but the truth is that for Christians, death is victory. Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi and declared, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Never forget that this loss is ultimately a “gain.” During your lifetime, you will have the opportunity to attend the funerals of individuals who are Christians and those who are not. One of the things I hope you recognize is the difference in the atmosphere—at Christian funerals there is almost a joy in the air, as everyone knows where that person will spend eternity. However, the death of a non-Christian is usually a very solemn and often gut-wrenching occasion. I cannot think of anything worse that having to preach the funeral of someone who is not a Christian—because at that point they no longer have the ability to obey God. Their eternal destiny has already been determined.

You have heard me say many times that if ever I am on a plane that crashes, I would be happy and at peace—because I know I’m “going home” to receive my crown of life (Revelation 2:10). Never forget that as faithful Christians we can know where we will spend eternity (1 John 5:13). My only sadness will be leaving you and your mother, temporarily, while you continue to reside here on the Earth. But that’s not “the end.”

While death does mean we are separated, we can feel a great deal of comfort during our time of loss. It is my prayer that as you mature you will give a lot more thought to the topic of “eternity” rather than death. Study what the Bible has to say about eternal life—and what is required (e.g., Matthew 18:8; Matthew 19:29; Matthew 25:46) It’s hard to even fathom that amount of time. But I look forward to spending it with you and those we love. Never, ever forget your #1 and #2 goals in life. See you there…

Love, Dad

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What Are You Talking About

So, what are the last words you say when you are leaving others? I find myself often ending a phone conversation with family members by saying, “Goodbye, I love you.” Those words are not just meaningless words, but are intended to remind those who are so precious to me that I cherish them.

Thinking about this led me to wonder what parting words were used by the writers of the epistles. I actually was amazed when I took time to look into this matter. Some of them ended their letters by sending greetings or expressing expectations to see others soon, but there is one phrase used consistently by Paul in his writings. Before reading more about the answer to this question, what phrase or phrases did Paul use as he ended his letters?

Paul’s parting words in his epistles. To the Corinthians, he said, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus” and “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ . . . be with you all” (1 Cor. 16:23-24; 2 Cor. 13:14). As he finished his letter to the churches of Galatia, he said, “Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit” (Gal. 6:18). He had preached in Ephesus for three years and ended the epistle to them by saying, “Grace be with all of those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity” (Eph. 6:24). To the Colossians, he said, “Grace be with you” (Col. 4:18). The apostle to the Gentiles ended both letters to the Thessalonians with “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” (1 Thess. 5:28; 2 Thess. 3:18). He used the same words in the three epistles to younger preachers, “Grace be with you” (1 Tim. 6:21; 2 Tim. 4:22; Tit. 3:15). He finished that very personal letter to Philemon by saying, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” The same idea is found in the last verse of Hebrews, “Grace be with you all.”

Paul’s emphasis on grace. Should there be any wonder as to why Paul magnified grace in his letters? He constantly had to deal with Judaizing teachers who tried to bind the law on Gentiles. Even more overwhelming was Paul’s realization that he, the chief of sinners, had received grace from God. The remembrance of His grace is the prime motivation for spiritual maturity (2 Pet. 1:8-9). He never wanted those around him to lose sight of the grace of God.

The emphasis of your words. What words, not just the parting ones, do people hear you mentioning most often? Do they ever hear a spiritual emphasis, or is it always on secular matters? One could not be around Paul without hearing about grace. What do those around you hear from you?

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The Little Book and the Unutterable Thunders (Revelation 10)

 The Little Book and the Unutterable Thunders (Revelation 10)

Between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals there was a pause to reveal four significant visions which would give assurances to the oppressed saints.  In the first of these two visions the servants of God were sealed before the winds of God’s retribution were let loose upon the earth.  In the second vision we saw a multitude of the victorious saints who had faithfully endured the tribulation and were standing before the throne, praising god and rejoicing in their victory.  By these two visions, the Christians still living are assured that they will not be forgotten and will join their victorious brothers and sisters around the throne if they remain faithful to the end.  

After this first pause we see the opening of the seventh seal which has been going on now since the first trumpet announcement beginning in chapter 8.  The first four trumpets announced God’s use of various natural disasters to punish the Roman Empire in an effort to bring them to repentance.  Horrific natural disasters often remind people of just how helpless they really are and sometimes causes them to seek answers in places they may not have formerly looked.  It is a pretty humbling experience when one beholds the death of countless thousands of people and the destruction wrought by these disasters and wonders why it has to be.  And this humble attitude of heart is precisely the one anyone should have when approaching God on His throne.  These natural disasters were God’s way of telling His enemies that He is the one in charge and He is the one they should be seeking.

Then the fifth and sixth trumpets sounded and the enemies of righteousness faced woes that were a lot more direct and specific.  Disease from their decadent lifestyle and then direct attacks from their worldly enemies.  In the face of earthquakes, famine, weather, plagues and incessant attacks from one’s enemies, it should be easy to conclude that something is amiss.  History records that some of the Romans did indeed seek answers to their problems.  But they sought them in the wrong places.  They thought their pagan gods were angry with them for tolerating the Christians and set out to destroy them all the more.  They failed to recognize that no matter what they did, the Christians were still there.  No matter how hard they tried to stamp Christianity out, it persevered.  They tried to appease their false lifeless gods of wood and stone by persecuting and trying to destroy the children of the one true and living God.  The God they should have been seeking all along.

Now we are approaching the seventh and final announcement which is God’s final and complete judgment against the enemies of the Christians.  When this judgment has been concluded, it will be finished and those who live in the Roman Empire and are the enemies of righteousness will have no more opportunity to repent.  we will see in this interlude between the 6th and 7th announcement that there comes a time when God no longer warns the unrighteous.  He has said all he is going to say, has given all the warnings He’s going to give and has given them up to their vile lifestyles and going to let them suffer the consequences of their choices.  We see this attitude in God on a personal level directed at individuals in Romans 1:18-32 but now it is seen on a much larger scale as the entire Roman Empire is given over to suffer the consequences of their unrighteousness. 

In this interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets, we will see four main things in John’s vision.

  1. The unutterable thunders, Revelation 10:1-7
  2. The little book, Revelation 10:8-11
  3. The measuring of the Temple, Revelation 11:1-2
  4. The two witnesses, Revelation 11:3-13

Revelation 10:1
And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, arrayed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire
This word cloud or clouds occurs in the New Testament twenty seven times in the KJV.  In all but a few usages, it is used in some relation to deity or of a divine appearance, often in judgment. Being arrayed in a cloud means this messenger is coming on a divine mission relating to judgment.  This angel shares some of the attributes given to Jesus with his face as the sun and feet as pillars of fire.  This angel being thus described is indicative of strength and the importance of his mission.  Clouds and fire are symbols of judgment and the sun is the symbol of light which represents righteousness.  This angel is of a similar rank as the angel seen earlier in Revelation 5:2 where we read of the strong angel asking who was worthy to open the book and loose the seven seals.  Inspiration does not tell us whether this is the same angel seen earlier or by what name he is identified.  All we know is that he is strong enough to make the declaration that is forthcoming. 

The rainbow is symbolic of God’s everlasting covenant taken from the rainbow seen in the clouds after the great flood.  The bearer of this message from heaven is wearing God’s covenant with mankind upon his head, meaning that it is at the head or forefront of all messengers from the throne.  What is getting ready to come when the seventh trumpet sounds is terrible indeed but the righteous see that God’s covenant is there in a prominent place where it can be seen by all. 

Revelation 10:2
and he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left upon the earth
In this part of the vision, the strong angel was holding a “little book” in his hand.  The Greek word for these two words is “biblaridion“, a diminutive of “biblion“.  This word could be translated as the single word “booklet” and be perfectly accurate.  Books have been established in this series of visions as the figurative means which God used to express Himself.  Certainly we know that these are not literal books with binding, paper and ink.  In the first century this would likely have been a scroll.  This little book or scroll is figurative for a message and with the book being open, it is obviously a message which was intended to be revealed to John.  This is a continuation of the vision where Jesus Christ unsealed the scroll containing the ultimate fate of the enemies of Christianity.  This little book is a part of the message already unsealed by the Son of God. 

This angel with his right foot upon the sea and his left foot upon the earth simply means the whole earth.  The message contained within the little book is therefore directed at the inhabitants of the all the earth. 

Revelation 10:3
and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.
Lions represents great strength, boldness and
bravery.  The voice of this angel was powerful, bold and was accompanied by the voices of the seven thunders.  The number seven represents the totality or completeness associated with God’s authority on the earth.  Thunder signifies authority, power and volume and often is associated with a message from the divine.  This voice thundering with the voice of the angel can only mean a direct response from the throne of God.  All the messages to man originate from the throne but this one is given special notice in order to signify the authority and importance of it.

Revelation 10:4
And when the seven thunders uttered (their voices), I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
John heard what the voices of thunder revealed but was commanded to refrain from recording this message.  Scripture teaches that there comes a time when sinners are given over to suffer the consequences for their actions.  Hymaneaeus and Alexander were disfellowshipped by Paul in order that they repent.  Paul instructed the Christians in Corinth to do the same with the man who was in sexual sin with his father’s wife.  The objective in both cases was so that they would repent.  They were given over to their sin in order to suffer the full consequences of it in their lives.  There are no more warnings, there are no more exhortations.  The sinners were withdrawn from and left to face the ravages of sin alone. 

I remember as a young spirited boy growing up the times when my misbehavior pushed my father over the limit.  The time was not appropriate for punishment but I could tell from his stony silence that his mind was made up and at his earliest convenience, I was going to receive correction.  The warnings which were few to begin with utterly stopped and when I looked at him I was met with a ice cold stony silent glare that boded ill for me.  It was at these times when contemplating my forthcoming immediate fate that I considered my actions and my predicament.  The thunder of my father’s anger was apparent in his silence.  There is something about a father’s grim irresolute silence that is quite disturbing to a child.  As long as the child is being corrected, he feels somewhat secure in the knowledge that Dad is still working with him.  But when that stops and nothing but silence is forthcoming then an attentive child knows he has gone too far.  It was during these times that I tried the hardest to be on my best behavior.  I knew that my only remaining chance to avoid disaster was immediate and total surrender and impeccable obedience. 

The Roman Empire had gone too far.  God sent earthquakes, famines, diseases, violent weather and vicious enemies in an effort to get them to repent from their unrighteousness.  They rebelled against God’s authority, insisted on worshipping their own gods and persecuted His children until He had enough.  Everything God had done had not produced any change in their behavior and He was done talking to them about it.  There was plenty more He could say, but like an earthly father who has put up with all he’s going to, it will be communicated in the actions soon to come.  What a horrible thought it should be to an erring Christian to think that God had given up on him.   It is no different for an unbeliever.  When God gives up on them, talking is over, the last opportunity to repent is at hand and they better avail themselves of it.  The wrath of our God is far worse and much longer lasting the wrath of an earthly father.  The judgment is final and the punishment is eternal. 

John knew what the thunders revealed but was commanded to keep it to himself.  The utterances of the thunders were carried unwritten to John’s grave.  We will never know this side of heaven exactly what those thunders said, but we can be assured it was serious indeed.  The implication of receiving no more warnings from God is serious enough in and of itself to speak volumes to anyone left who might listen.  Sometimes it’s the things not said that speak the loudest.

Revelation 10:5
And the angel that I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his right hand to heaven,
It is one’s right hand that mankind today raises to swear oaths such as to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in a court of law.

Revelation 10:6
and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein, that there shall be delay no longer”
The angel seen standing on the earth with his right hand lifted in a solemn display swears an oath by Jesus Christ, the one who lives for ever and ever (Hebrews 7:24-25), who created the heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein (Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:16). The swearing of oaths was a big thing in old testament times.  The swearing of an oath was the invoking of a curse upon one’s self if one has not spoken the truth (Matthew 26:74), or if one fails to keep a promise (1 Samuel 19:6; 20:17; 2 Samuel 15:21; 19:23). It played a very important part, not only in lawsuits (Exodus 22:11; Leviticus 6:3,5) and state affairs, but also in the dealings of everyday life (Genesis 24:37; 50:5; Judges 21:5; 1 Kings 18:10; Ezra 10:5).  In new testament times, the swearing of oaths by man is prohibited by divine commandment, “Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black” (Matthew 5:33-36).  A literal angel did not stand on the earth with one foot in the seas and one foot on land and lift his right hand and swear and oath on the name of Jesus Christ.  The image here is to illustrate the solemn seriousness of the next phrase.

“that there shall be delay no longer”
Time was up.  Judgment which had been partial and scattered over the Roman Empire at different periods of time was now going to be total.  The Roman Empire was reduced to a mere shadow of what she once was and was about to be utterly destroyed and would never ever again rise to power.   Today there are no more Caesars or crested Roman soldiers.  There are no more temples built to worship the Roman Emperors and the other various pagan gods so prevalent in their culture.  The shining magnificent cities are lay in ruins, the powerful legions of soldiers only march in the pages of history now.  This is a grim testament to the utter and total finality of God’s judgment.  The Roman Empire did fall and they had no one to blame but themselves. 

Revelation 10:7
but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then is finished the mystery of God, according to the good tidings which he declared to his servants the prophets.
The seventh angel with the trumpet has not yet sounded but when he does, the mystery of God will be finished.  The Romans had no idea why their empire was crumbling about them.  The workings of God in opposition to their unrighteousness was a complete mystery to them because they refused to repent and turn to righteousness.  The Christians knew what was going on.  They had the good news of the gospel given to them.  The mystery of God was the plan of redemption and the promise of eternal life for the faithful (Colossians 1:26-27), once delivered to his apostles and servants (Jude 3), now is almost finished and will be completed when the seventh angel sounds.  This reference to the good tidings being completed is linked to the Book sealed with the seven perfect seals, the book that contained the coming of righteousness, followed by the influence of Satan and the steps progressing up to the rise of the great persecution and now with the little book at the end, we see the final chapter about to close on this greatest earthly enemy the Christians had ever known. 

The good tidings in the view of the oppressed Christians is of course the victory they will achieve from their perseverance in Christ.  This was good tidings indeed for them, especially in view of what is about to come chapter 11.  The oppressed Christians are going to need all the reassurance they can get because the persecution was yet to get so bad that the enemies of righteousness thought they had successfully stamped out Christianity forever.  The battle is almost over but the worst was yet to come. 

Revelation 10:8
“And the voice which I heard from heaven, (I heard it) again speaking with me, and saying, Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel that standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
The final chapter in the mystery of the good tidings is laying open in the hands of the angel.  John is instructed to go take that book.

Revelation 10:9
And I went unto the angel, saying unto him that he should give me the little book. And he saith unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but in thy mouth it shall be sweet as honey.
This is the second time John was instructed to take the book.  It was not handed to him even after he asked for it.  The meaning here is that God’s will is never forced on anyone.  We must reach out and take it of our own free choice through a conscious act on our part. 

The imagery of eating the book is taken directly from Ezekiel’s vision where he was similarly instructed to take the open roll of a book and eat it (Ezekiel 2:8-3:3).  John was to take the message contained within this book and and ingest it into his being.  He was to take this message into his bowels and make it a part of his life.  This message of the hope of the victorious will be sweet as honey in his mouth but the message of the fate of the enemies of righteousness will be bitter and hard to deal with.  The Psalmist wrote, “Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law” (Psalms 119:53).  The good tidings of this final message for the righteous was honey in his mouth but the horrors it contained for the unrighteous was bitter and would make him sick.  The application for us today is that while the good news of the gospel message is wondrous for us, it contains a very different message for the unrighteous.  The horrors that will be the eternal fate of the enemies of the cross should make us sick to our souls.  God was willing to sacrifice the life of His only Son in order to give people an opportunity to escape this horrible fate.  What should we today be willing to sacrifice in order to help fulfill this great purpose?

Revelation 10:10
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 when I had eaten it, my belly was made bitter.
John took the book and did as instructed which resulted in the bittersweet taste promised him.  The reception and comprehension of God’s word is indeed sweet to the ears of the saints but fraught with bitterness of spirit in its condemnation of sinners and the declaration of the consequences awaiting the disobedient. 

Revelation 10:11
And they say unto me, Thou must prophesy again over many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.
While the fate of the enemies of Christianity is impending, John’s job is not yet complete.  He is going to prophecy much more and over many nations and people of the earth.  Being only half way through the Revelation it is easy to see what is being said here.  Following the seventh trumpet announcement, John immediately starts over with the radiant woman which was the nation of Israel bringing forth the Messiah.  The whole saga we are now nearing the conclusion of, repeats itself, but with different visions and a lot more detail.  In Homer Hailey’s commentary, it is stated that the rest of the Revelation from chapters 11 thru 20 is the message within the little book.  I see no reason why this cannot be the case. 

Summary Paraphrase:

Revelation 10
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, robed in a cloud, with God’s covenant with man over his head like a rainbow.  His face was bright and shining like the sun, and his feet carried the judgment of God like pillars of fire.  He carried a message in a small open book in his hand for me to see.  He set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land and stood over the whole earth.  Then he shouted with a loud voice like the roaring of a lion; and when he had finished, the seven thunders gave voice and uttered their message in distinct words.  And when the seven thunders had spoken, I was going to write down what they said, but then I heard a voice from heaven saying, “do not reveal what the seven thunders have said!  Do not write it down!”

Then the mighty angel whom I had seen stationed on sea and land raised his right hand to the sky and swore in the name of  Him Who lives forever and ever, Who created the heavens and all they contain, and the earth and all that it contains, and the sea and all that it contains.  He vowed that no more time would pass and there would be no more delay.  But when the days come when the trumpet call of the seventh angel is about to be sounded,  God’s secret design and hidden purpose as He had announced in the gospel to His servants the prophets, shall be completed and accomplished.

Then the voice that I heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, Go and take the little book containing the last message which is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.  So I went up to the angel and asked him to give me the little book. And he said to me, Take it and consume its message into your very being.  It will be as sweet as honey in your mouth but in your bowels it will be bitter.  So I took the message in the little book from the angel’s hand and consumed it and made it part of my life and its message was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but deep down inside it sickened me to my soul.

Then it was said to me, You are to make a fresh prophecy concerning these many peoples and races and nations and languages and kings.

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