REVELATION 10.1 I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 10.2 He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land. 10.3 He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars.
10.5 The angel whom I saw standing on
the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, 10.6 and
swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that
are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things
that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, 10.7 but in the days
of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery
of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets. -WEB
Bible.
The Book of Revelation has been mostly linear up to
this point, describing the events of the Tribulation one after another. And,
the story is nearly finished: the triumphant return of Jesus Christ is
imminent. However, Revelation switches gears from here on, and departs from the
linear story. There are side stories to tell, and strange characters to
introduce.
We need to realize that the Tribulation is not just for
mankind. Ever since Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, God has mentioned
judgment on the fallen angels as well. Revelation will describe some of these
wicked principalities, and how they meet with their destruction.
The Bible tells us in EPHESIANS 6:12,
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the
spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
-NAS
Revelation 10 describes a massive Angel. The impressive size
suggests incredible strength and power. The beasts that will be described later
are puny compared to this Angel who introduces John to a series of demonic
beings and monsters. Who can be afraid while such a guardian stands by your
side?
The end of the Tribulation is complex: God's vengeance is
sudden, violent, complete and far-ranging. The impacts are on a massive scale.
We understand (with astonishment) how incredibly patient God has been, holding
back his power and vengeance until this brief but utterly devastating moment.
The evil characters that will be described in the remaining
chapters of Revelation are destroyed all at once! However, it requires one-third
of the book of Revelation to explain it all.
IMAGE CREDIT: Image of the Mighty Angel on Land and Sea is by
Benjamin West, circa 1797.