“Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire. And in his hand was a small scroll that had been opened. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. And he gave a great shout like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders answered. When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Keep secret what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down.” Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand toward heaven. He swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay. When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.” Then the voice from heaven spoke to me again: “Go and take the open scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. “Yes, take it and eat it,” he said. “It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!” So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach. Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.””
Revelation 10:1-11 NLT
Man will be instrumental in the judgment of creation. As we near the end of seven seals, John is given the secrets of God and a measuring rod by which to proclaim this judgment. It begins with the people. This is not a happy moment, though it is a sweet one. The martyrs have cried out for justice for so long, yet they were told to wait. And so they did. And now the time has come to taste that justice, and though it is sweet in the moment, it fades into a rotten feeling. This judgment comes with sadness. Its effect is not satisfying. Any rejoicing and solace is found in the worthy lamb who brought something good from the impending damnation before it fell. There is no kingdom or ruler who can hide from it. The angel stands upon the land and the sea. Yet, we continue to see God’s promises upheld with the rainbow crown. Indeed, those who chose to be baptized in the water, will not have to face a cleansing by the fire to come. And it will come, the addition of languages to the judged group seems to imply that the judgment knows no boundaries of land, genetics or even cultures. No one who is left to be judged will be safe. All languages have continued to build their tower and every knee will answer for it. Thank God for his mercy.
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