September 28 Beyond Knowing

Revelation 10:1-5 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.” 5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven.
 
ONE of the challenges in understanding Revelation is to identify the various angels involved in the vision. The angels of the seven churches in Rev 2-3 are leaders of those churches. Other angels are the seraphim, directing worship and the release of four horsemen. Some angels are demons, described as bound and then released. Here is another angel who displays heaven’s glory and power.
    This angel is very Christ-like. Jesus is described in the Transfiguration (Mark 9) and Revelation 1:13-16 in similar glorious brilliance. But we know this is not Jesus because he is never called “angel” in the New Testament and especially in Revelation. This angel is one designated to carry the authority of God onto the earth.
    Because he stood on the sea and the land, the angel’s announcement will affect the entire earth. His authority is sure. The lion-like voice that quiets the seven thunders (loud tumult), commands, “Seal up!” and then raises the right hand to heaven demands obedience.
    Thus, the contents of the second, smaller scroll remain unknown. Although Revelation reveals many characteristics of God such as his justice, his authority and his heaven, we will not know all until the end of the age. Paul writes of heaven’s mysteries in 2 Corinthians 12:1a, 4 “I know a man (Paul) who …  was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.”
    One aspect of a living faith in Christ is to believe heaven is much, much more than we can imagine and understand. Sometimes we can become entrenched in the details, only to miss God’s grand majesty. Shaping heaven in our own image closes our mind to a heaven God created in his image. Let us be open to hear God’s Word and to see what he makes plain. May we, also, be willing to await heaven’s inexpressible wonders.
 
Prayer: Lord God, I look forward to eternally celebrating heaven’s glories with you. Amen.