060 - Revelation 10

REVELATION 10

 

·        "And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:"  (Rev 10.1).

 

John was now positioned over the earth.

This angel is in contrast with the mighty angel of (Rev 5.2 - hence John say "another" mighty angel) and of (Rev 18.1). Many even confuse this angel with Jesus because of the immense similarity:

 

1º-   Descended from heaven; 

2º-   Clothed with a cloud; 

3º-   On top of her head was the rainbow;

4º-   His face was like the sun;

5º-   His feet as pillars of fire; 

6º-   He had in his hand a little book open. 

7º-   He cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth;

 

However, the angel, as a representative of Christ, reflects His glory and supports their ensigns (assigned in Rev 1.15.16; 4.3). However, although this may be a sign of divine favor on the angel, however it is not as glorious for a creature, inasmuch as the woman of Revelation 14 is described so much more sublime.

Why the angel is strong? Is there angel weak?

 

·        "Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word." (Ps 103.20).

·        "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5.19)

 

Note that the greatness and strength in the Kingdom of Heaven has to do with to hear the voice of the Eternal and keep His commandments, namely, the commandment of Jesus (John 13.34-35). Therefore, the angel is strong because he had the privilege of listening a message of Eternal to be transmitted to men. It isn’t any angel who has such authority. Angels help us, protect, but to reveal something of the Eternal has to have a lot of intimacy with Him (see Matt 18.10), because it is not just to deliver words, but mainly the content that is hidden in them.

He descended from heaven, i.e., he isn’t a simple human messenger, but someone who came to reveal something hitherto unheard of. The angel must be strong so that the faithful have for sure the promises made by Jesus, as well as the eternal punishment to unbelievers.

He came dressed in a cloud (which was a confirmation of her high dignity, as well as an emblem by binding the angel's message to the second coming of Christ). See the link between the cloud and the Eternal: 

 

·        "And Moses spake unto Aaron, Say unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, Come near before the LORD: for he hath heard your murmurings. And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud." (Exodus 16.9,10).

·        "And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud." (Exodus 24.16).

·        "And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD." (Exodus 34.5).

·        "And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease." (Numbers 11.25).

·        "And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD." (1Kings 8.10,11).

·        "Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne." (Psalm 97.2).

 

In the testament of the law, the cloud of glory of the Eternal arose when He was communicating something important to His people (either his word, direction, etc.). Cloud is seen accompanying the presence of the Eternal and symbolizes His righteousness, which happens when His glory is manifested.

It is seen, for example:

 

·        To speak in the tabernacle (Exo 40.34-38; Lev 16.13; Nm 9.15-22);

·        The occasion on which the Eternal used a cloud to lead the people of Israel by day, so as to preserve them from the intense heat of the desert (Exo 13.21);

·        The time that the Eternal came down on mount Sinai (Exodus 19.9; 24.15,16);

·        Jesus coming in the clouds to manifest His righteousness (Matt 24.30; 26.64; Mark 13.26; 14.62; Acts 1.9-11);

·        The transfiguration of Christ (a cloud covered Jesus and the two witnesses that will come in the spirit of Moses and Elijah) when the father wanted to show that only Jesus is worthy to be heard (Matt 17.5);

·        When Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1.9).

 

Feet as a column of fire remembers when the Eternal led the people of Israel through the desert at night, so that they could see the path to walk and, at the same time, heat them. The pillar of fire also reminds the judgment of the Eternal, since Jesus will come with His mighty angels in flames of fire (2Thes 1.7,8). The troubled ones by love for Jesus, the judgment of the Eternal means relief, but the sinners, it means destruction.

The feet of Christ, for example, are as a pillar of fire to lead the Church in the midst of the serpents and scorpions.

Therefore, the angel be clothed with a cloud, and his feet as pillars of fire implies that He is coming in the name of Christ to manifest His righteousness (cloud) and judgment (fire). Therefore, the booklet contains words of judgment which should serve to guide the true Israelites to the truth (and, consequently, also to us) and keep them:

 

·        Warmed against the coldness of this world;

·        Enlightened amidst the darkness that covers the earth (Isaiah 5.30; 8.22; 9.1.2; 60.1,2; Matt 4.15,16);

·        Protected from the heat of persecution by love to Jesus and His kingdom (Matt 13.21).

 

And so that individuals can see well all this, note that the face of the angel is like the sun. It is true that the glory of the Eternal is reflected in His messengers, as it happened to Moses (Exodus 34:29,30). However, it does not consider the fact that the face shining like the sun as something big for a creature; all the righteous will shine as the sun in the Kingdom of Eternal (Matt 13.43).

It is good to remember that the blessing of Eternal over Israel implied in the Eternal making His face to shine upon them:

 

·        "The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:,3he LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." (Numbers 6.25,26).

·        "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah." (Psalm 67.1).

 

And it’s no wonder: after all, no man could see the face of the Eternal and live. Thus, the angel's message is, first and foremost, a message to the faithful who truly believe. As, unfortunately, the majority of men loved darkness rather than light (John 3.19-21), they will kill the two witnesses when transmitting the message brought by the angel, which was revealed by John.

The angel also comes with the rainbow over his head. As the angel comes dressed in the cloud (water) and the face shines like the sun, the presence of the rainbow implies that these cloud were dark clouds, rain ones. These clouds, at the same time that resemble storm, also recall the blessing of rain.

Whereas the last days will be like in the days of Noah (Matt 27.37; Luke 17.26), then this confirms the immensity of the judgment which will be brought upon this world: total purification: removal of the wicked to remain the righteous. It is not in vain that the rainwbow was around the throne: promise to those who receive the righteousness of Christ in themselves and approaches of the Eternal, judgment for those who remain stopped in themselves and contemplating Jesus from afar.

 

·        "And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth" (Rev 10.2). 

 

Unlike the book of Revelation 5 that was totally sealed and that nobody could even look for it (Rev 5.3,4), this one is open in the hands of an angel, i.e. , is accessible to anyone, but can be understood only by those who participate in the mystery of the Eternal (see Psalm 25.14):

 

·        “And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned." (Isaiah 29.11,12).

 

The term "little book" implies something that can be easily read, reread and easily transported. In addition, the book is small in comparison with the sealed book of Revelation 5. Not that the book has less content. Depends on the size of the letter. If the letters of the “little book” are small and the book of Ap 5 are very large, it may be that the “little book” contains more information.

The kings of Israel, in his coronation should have in their hands a copy of the law of Eternal (2Kings 11.12; 2Chr 23.11), as a way to confirm that they, as servants of the Eternal, would undertake to comply with the law, so that their reign could be characterized by intelligence, wisdom and righteousness.

This angel had his right foot on the sea (where ascend the gentile empire controlled by an Israelite leader - 1^St beast) and left on the land (from where raise the Israelite empire - 2^nd Beast). Do not forget that the dragon with his angels was cast out to land and sea (Rev 12.12),

That is to say, the prophecy of the book confronted the two empires, stating that, in spite of the monstrous field of two beasts (greatness political, military, technological, economic, media and natural resources of the first beast and the greatness of the religious deception of the second beast), in the end, all the land belongs to the Eternal (Psalm 24.1).

When the angel put his foot on the territories of the two beasts, he was showing that the “little book” concerns both. Also demonstrates the Eternal’s perfect firmness against the resistance of His enemies.

After all, the fact of the Angel put the sole of the foot implies that such a place belongs to the Eternal and is under His control (compare with Exo 3.5; Joshua 1.3; 5.15).

It is still a question: why his right foot on the sea and his left one over the earth (and not the other way around)?

 

·        "And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. 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." (Rev 10.3,4).

 

It is very likely that the seven thunders have to do with the seven characteristics of the voice of the Eternal (even because the voice of the Eternal is compared to thunder - Job 40.9):

 

·        "The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. 

·        The voice of the LORD is powerful;

·        the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 

·        The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.

·        The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire. 

·        The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. 

·        The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory." (Psalms 29.3-5,7-9) 

 

Let us not forget that:

 

·        "Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne." (Psalm 97.2)

 

That is to say, the base of the throne of the Eternal consists of justice (love) and judgment (discipline, correction, punishment). Clouds and darkness, at the same time that hide the face of the Eternal for the ungodly and announces storm, serves as a rest and rain to the righteous.

It is worth remembering the name given to the two brothers, James and John:

 

·        "And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: " (Mark 3.17).

 

This angel cried out something and the seven thunders responded to this cry. Comes the question: the seven thunders uttered at the same time the same thing, or each spoke one after the other?

The angel will cry out loud for you all awaken and listen. The seven thunders confirm the cry of the angel (whatever it is that he cried).

Comes the question: why was ordained to John that does not write what the seven thunders said? So, let's take a look at other parallel passages:

 

·        "And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days." (Dan 8.26);

·        "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." (Dan 12.4)

·        "And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." (Dan 12.9) - here it was sealed, because such information was not relevant to the generation of Daniel.

·        "And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." (Acts 1.7) - Here Jesus showed the disciples that the secret things belong only to the Eternal (Deut 29.29) and that such information would only fill them with boast.

·        "How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." (2Co 12.4) – it is not lawful trying to express what is exalted, well above what words can say or the sentiments expressed. This would desecrate the sacred and diminish the beauty, greatness and excellence of what is being expressed.

 

Although it is not mentioned what the seven thunders said, whenever thunder appear in revelation is to announce some judgment:

 

• "And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake." (Rev 8.5) -> Here the seven trumpets would sound;
• "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail." (Rev 11.19) -> here was being announced the arrival of the day of wrath of the Eternal in which the seven bowls would be shed; 
• “And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great." (Rev 16.18) -> here was being announced the arrival of Jesus for the great battle of Armageddon (see Rev 19.19,20);
• "And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." (Rev 19.6); -> here there was no thunder, but a voice that sounded like great thunder. And what they commemorated? The Eternal judgment on Babylon the Great, which helped to bring the reign of the Eternal on the earth.

 

Thunder are also a symbol of judgment (Psalms 29.3-9). Note how the seven seals (Rev 8.5), the seven trumpets (Rev 11.19) and the seven bowls (Rev 16.18) are finalised, among other things, with thunder.

Comes the question: why "the seven thunders"? The definite article "The" indicates that these thunders were known (have already been mentioned before. Think: where did these thunders from? From the throne of the Eternal (see Exo 19.16; Rev 4.5; Job 28.26). The article "the" also indicates the degree of prominence and uniqueness of them.

Therefore, whatever the thunder told (Rev 10.4), it is a message that has to do with the judgment of the Eternal. Even more whereas the lion remembers the quality of Jesus as the One who reigns with justice and judgment (remember that the voice of the angel was like the roar of a lion).

 

·        "And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 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: 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. " (Rev 10.5-7). 

 

If, in the New Testament, the order of Jesus was that nobody did any oath (Matthew 5.33-37; James 5.12), then why the angel was using this custom of the Old Testament (it can be seen in the  Luke 1.73; Heb 3.11.18; 4.3; 6.13,16,17; 7..20,21,28; Dan 12.7)?

And the act of raising the hands to swear it was customary among the Israelites (Gen 14.22; Deut 32.40). And was intended to indicate the immutability of His promise:

 

• "For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:" (Heb 6.16-18).

 

And why this neglect of individuals to think that the fulfilment of the mystery of the Eternal (the coming of Christ) would take too long to fulfill (2Pet 3.3,4)? There are two errors that individuals commit: one is to use the delay of Christ in return to justify their lewd behavior; another is to want that Jesus come quickly to see free of problems and have the "pleasure" of seeing the wicked suffer forever:

 

• " Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? " (Amos 5.18-20).

 

It is true that in the midst of plenty of struggles, our tendency is to want that the mystery of the Eternal fulfill itself, that is, that the rapture occurs and, with it, our definitive union with Jesus (1Thes 4.16,17; Romans 8.21-22; 2Cor 5.1-4; Rev 19.7). However, the correct feeling it is the one of Paul:

 

• "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you." (Phil 1.21-24).

 

Comes the question: to whom the angel is responding by saying: "There would be no more delay"? With certainty to the martyrs of Revelation 6.9-11 (question that is being done also by all believers of the Great Tribulation).

However, there is a curious thing here: as the martyrs (Rev 6.9-11) or whoever, in the Great Tribulation period could be so anxious, knowing that the entire period will last for seven years? It’s nonsense to ask one thing that already knows. After all, six trumpets have already been touched. Even more knowing that Jesus denied the delay of the Eternal (Luke 18.7,8) and Paul added that the Eternal will complete his work abbreviating it (Matt 24.22; Romans 9.28).

What happens is that when someone is in the midst of much suffering (or, as in the case of the martyrs, seeing thousands arrive at the bosom of Abraham by virtue of mistreatment of the antichrist), a second seems an eternity.

Then the angel raised one of his hands to heaven and swore an oath. Sware by Him:

 

·        Who liveth for ever and ever -> one who personally maintains firm promises (which does not depend on others for the implementation of them). After all, His life is not interrupted by death. This Title contrasts with "no delay).

·        Who created heaven and the things that are in it, and the earth and what is therein, and the sea and the things that are in it -> Being the Eternal the Creator of all that exists, He will never allow His creation experience, suffer or be destroyed without fulfilling His purpose.  

 

Note how God is highlighted by being eternal and creator. Moreover, the fact of that He is Creator is something well emphasized in Revelation (also in Rev 14.7). This recalls the importance of rest and wait in the Eternal (Psalm 37.7), something that should always be in remembrance of all (Exo 20.8) not only on the sabbath day, but every day.

But why these characteristics of the Eternal were highlighted? Which leads us to disobey the Eternal is precisely our inability to believe in Him, right? So, if we believe that He is the Creator, we do not concern ourselves with what we have now. Even if all the doors of the world are closed to us, He can create something new. He does not depend on the limitations of this world to operate in who He loves.

And what was the message of the angel? That the mystery (secret) of the Eternal would be fulfilled without delay, as soon as the 7th trumpet was played. Whereas the scourges of the first six trumpets are terrible, even the duration of trumpets being short, it will seem like an eternity. Many will question why Jesus is taking so long time to come.

The Angel then affirms that the mystery of the Eternal (the Church - Col 1.26,27; 2.2) will go to fulfill soon, i.e., touching the 7th trumpet the Church will be raptured and have its body transformed (this is the wedding feast of the Lamb). It’s Jesus taking possession of His kingdom (the Church).

As Great Babylon works the mystery of iniquity (Rev 17.5), i.e., the sacred community that seeks to each relating with the other based on its own interests, the Eternal works the mystery of truth and justice, where love each other as Jesus loved us (John 13.34,35).

In Holy Scripture we see the following mysteries:

 

·        Mystery of the seven stars (Rev 1.20);

·        Mystery of the kingdom of heaven (Matt 13.11; Mark 4.11; Luke 8.10);

·        Mystery of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15.51)

·        Mystery of the Gospel (1 Cor 2.7; Eph 6.19);

·        Mystery of the will of the Eternal (Eph 1.9);

·        Mystery of the union of Christ with His people (Eph 3.3,4,9,10; 5.32; Col 1.26,27);

·        The mystery of Christ (Col 2.2; 4.3);

·        Mystery of iniquity (2Thes 2.7);

·        The mystery of faith (1Tim 3.9);

·        Mystery of godliness (1 Tim 3.16).

·        Mystery of the great Babylon (Rev 17.5,7).

·        The dream of Nebuchadnezzar was also considered a great mystery (Dan 2.18,19,28-30,47).

 

• "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God." (1 Corinthians 4.1).

 

We cannot ignore the fact that the secret of Eternal was foretold by the prophets (Isaiah 60:3; 66:8; Daniel 2:44; 7:25; Zechariah 14:9) (it is not something unheard of so-called New Alliance - 1 Peter 1.10-12).

 

·        "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. 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. 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." (Rev 10.8-10). 

 

The Holy Scripture is not the revelation, but the record of the it. The revelation occurs when Jesus speaks to us.

But how is it possible that something is at the same time sweet and bitter?

 

• "Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh." (James 3.10-12).

 

The sweetness has to do with the readiness and pleasure that we feel when we come into contact with the perfection, wisdom and beauty that there is in the holiness of the Eternal (Psalms 29.2; 96.9), as well as in His salvation:

 

• "The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb." (Psalm 19.9,10). 
• "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! ” (Psalms119,103).

 

But when it becomes a part of us and we realized the immensity of the judgment that will come upon the world because of the stubbornness of the wicked, the sadness and anguish takes care of us.

 

• "Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts." (Jeremiah 2.19)

 

After all, what is eaten is assimilated and becomes part of our body. And the reason why John ate the “little book” is because only must prophesy one who received the Word within themselves, coming this to do part of their spiritual members, namely, of the heart.

This remembers what happened with Ezekiel:

 

• "And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; and he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe. Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness." (Ezek 2.9-3.3).

 

Note that the book of Ezekiel was full of lamentations and mourning and woe. And the book that John had to eat was no different. Note, however, that in Ezekiel only the sweetness is mentioned immediately; the bitterness is implicated only later in Ezekiel 3.14.

And to whom John should prophesy:

 

·        "And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings." (Rev 10.11).

 

After all, it is important that we prophecy to many:

 

·        Peoples (races) -> Remember that Jerusalem shall be trodden down by gentiles for forty and two months.

• "Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem." (Zechariah 12.2)
• "And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." (Zechariah 12.3) 
• "In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem." (Zechariah 12.6)
• "And this shall be the plague wherewith the LORD will smite all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth." (Zechariah 14.12).

·        Nations -> all nations will be with their attentions toward Israel. The media has been responsible for it;

• “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land." (Joel 3.2). 

·        -> Tongues -> whatever the belief of the person (the tongue speaks out of the abundance of the heart (Matt 12.34,35), which controls our body (James 3.2)). Various beliefs (for example, Christianity, Islam and Judaism) claim the importance of Jerusalem.

• "I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." (Isaiah 45.23)

·        Kings -> all politicians in the world will be involved with Israel.

• “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." (Rev 16.14). 

Detail: it is good to remember that Israel will have two heads (Hosea 1.10,11) or, if you prefer, two kings (the beast rising  from the earth (religious leader) and the beast rising  from the sea (political leader)). To prophecy to kings implies, first of all, prophesy to Israel.

 

In the particular case of John, as it was necessary he continue prophesying about many races, nations, tongues, and kings, he had to eat "the little book", instead of simply knowing or talking about him.

Just as Jesus experienced the wickedness of others in His flesh, so it should be with John and with all who are willing to follow Jesus (Rom 8.1-4; 2Cor 5.21).

But after all, what was the content of the book? After John eat the book it is said: "thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings." After this order, the next thing that is given is a stick used to measure the temple, the altar and those who worship in it. 

Finally appears the two witnesses prophesying during one thousand two hundred and sixty days.

Therefore, the content of the book concerns the correct way of praising the Eternal. Measure the temple, the altar and those who worship in it means to show to the Israelites the greatness of ministry of Christ compared with the sacrifices and rituals of mosaic covenant.

The fact of John to have received such task does not mean that it was he who should fulfill it. This task was to be passed to his descendants.

The same happened with Elias: although three tasks had been given to him, he only fulfilled one: anoint Elisha as prophet: in his place. The other two tasks was Elisha who fulfilled them (1Kings 19.15,16).