The Infallible Word

Have your Bibles with you today.

Turn with me if you would to Revelation chapter 10 we have looked to the whole chapters, we go through the message from disco start with verses one and two, I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud.

The rainbow over his head and his face was like the sun's legs like pillars of fire he had a little scroll open in his hand and he said his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land is pray.

Heavenly father, we have worshiped this morning. We thank you Lord for the song that we were able to saying that helps us understand the holy God that we know love and serve fathers were singing that song today. I felt something just deep down in my spirit that just shook me in heavenly father. It was such a glorious feeling to to know that the day is coming when we are all going to be in your holy presence in worship is going to be like, they had only a million times better. Heavenly father, may we remember that when we walk out of the building today.

May we remember how glorious you are and how gracious you are and how blessed we are to have a Savior name Jesus who died for us gave his life for us that we might be able to spend all of eternity with the precious triune God heavenly father we thank you for this. Chapter 10 of Revelation the day in pray that you would take it in and use it in our hearts, Lord to draw us to Christ, make us more like you. We love you Lord, thank you and praise you for your goodness and loved us.

We asked is prayer in Jesus name, amen. You may be seated. When I was a little boy. My parents took me to see a movie if they had talked about all my life. Gone with the wind and I watched the first half of that movie and all of a sudden the movie stopped and the lights came on and I turned around my dad and I said well I guess this means that the movies over and he said no the movies not over the just the intermittent and also what's that he said it some thank city gives people the opportunity to get up and stretch their legs and and I go to the restroom if they need to go buy some popcorn and most of all it gives us some time to breathe, that we might be able to reflect on what's been said and what's been done in that movie that we might be able to think about it and reflect. That's what's happening in in Revelation chapter 10 what we see here is an intermission and remember what's taken place in the night chapter of the book of Revelation that the 10 trumpet the.

The seven truck have been sounded and what did the message bring the message frothy is that there are consequences to a people who were rebelling against their creator. There is great consequences and what did we see happen. We saw demonic activity flowing out. We salsa tannic delusion coming about, and we saw the horrors of war. Revelation 9 is a frightening preview of what is going to happen in this world when we meet. Continue an all-out battle against their creator so brothers and sisters, we need to intermission. We need a break so that we might be able to step back, take a breath and realize this truth.

God is sovereign. Jesus Christ is still on the throne. It doesn't matter what kind of crazy absurd things come out of the mouth of some of the United States politicians today. Those things do not frustrate God.

Now they frustrate God's people, but they don't frustrate God whatsoever. What is the Lord give us in chapter 10, to encourage us to build up our hope AE he gives us a vision of his church, receiving God's word being fast to God heard and sharing God's word even through persecution and even martyrdom. The last verse of Revelation 10 in verse 11. John is commanded by God to preach and who is he to preach to the Scripture says he is to preach to two peoples to languages to nations to kings in other words, the message that he's getting here is the same message that he heard from Jesus in Matthew chapter 28 verses 19 to 20.

Right before Jesus ascended back into heaven. When Jesus said, go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, the son of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I've commanded you and low I will be with you always, even the end of the age next week when we get into chapter 11 and the weeks following that we are going to see the two witnesses that God sends all of the earth and what are they doing, they are preaching truth to the people of this war the world due to them. The world take some and kills them. They were martyred for their faith the world so hates the word of God that they can't take it they won't listen to it and they take the lives of these two witnesses, GK Beale said this. This explains the judgment of the wicked the wicked suffer because they reject the message of the witnesses and persecute them. Revelation 10 tells us that the true church is the fun and as of as the people who have received the word of God and treasured the word of God and what is the command to the people of God, what are we to do with the word of God.

We are to preach yet we are to proclaim it. We are to herald it and we are to gossip the gospel the book of Revelation was not written to to make Christians cower and tremble. The book of Revelation was written to give us an explicit detail of everything that's going to take place at the second coming of Christ.

The book of Revelation was written to puts you'll in our spiritual backbone.

It was written that we might stand when the world tells us to sit.

It was written that we might love Jesus more than we love life itself chapter 10 is written as an intermission, it is written as a as a point of reflection and what are we being told we are being told to focus on the word of God. In this chapter that the word of God is to be loved. It is to be trusted. It is to be believed, and it is to be hungered after our look at the passage in the three points that I want to share with you today .1. The sovereign authority of God's word.

Look at verses one and two. Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud with a rainbow over his head and his face was like the sun in his legs like pillars of fire he had a little stroll open in his hand and he said his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land to put yourself in and John choose for just a minute he's in a trancelike state and the Lord is feeling his mind and his heart with visions that he is to write down for us. Now he is being inspired so powerfully by the Holy Spirit of God that here is a man just a met in a fallible man that is going to pin down words that are absolutely infallible absolutely and errant absolutely truth. Now in its Peter chapter 1 verse 20 through 21. Peter explains how the Holy Spirit does that in the lives of those who write down the words of Scripture says this knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Here God's people today who mock those who believe the Bible is the inerrant and global word of God and they say will it cannot be a it's just it was written by men.

And so what we have in the Bible is just me and stalks me in sayings and man's ideas all know books the Bible is much, much more than that yes it was written by men.

Fallible men, but it was written so powerfully under the Holy Spirit inspiration that those men were carried along the Scripture says in order that they might write it down perfectly without error.

John MacArthur's just written a new book called the final word, and I wanted with you something he said I thought this was excellent. He said the word of God is characterized by objectivity, we must begin by acknowledging that the source of truth, is completely outside of us, people may believe or disbelieve the Bible but no one has the power or the prerogative to establish truth, or to change it. It is fixed once for all, the word of God is settled forever in heaven. This is profoundly essential. God wrote a book just one book and he was able to say everything he wanted to say. He said it without error without flaw without anything omitted clearly included. It is the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth God gave his book command to the mains of inspiration by which the spirit of God moved in human writers who write down the very words that God wanted them to write Scripture to mission is the word of God. Originating outside of man is his particular culture dominated by the subjectivity of postmodernism. Truth cannot be subjective.

There is no such thing as your truth or my truth. Truth is forever fixed authentic Christianity is always hailed that Scripture is absolute, objective truth.

The Bible is our list of whether a person believes understands or likes it is permanent and universal truth, and therefore it is the same for everyone.

Deuteronomy 4 to Revelation 2218 through 19 warned against adding to or take it away from Scripture last one suffer the plagues recorded therein. Proverbs 31st ask is this every word of God is tested he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Do not add to its words or he will reprove you and you will be proved a liar is God's word to man inspired objective and absolute truth hole. I can say to that is a million back to John he sees a mighty angel that's coming down from heaven, if angel is so glorious majestic that some have conjectured that it might be Christ himself. I do not believe that it is Christ, but it is an angel has been in the very presence of God and because he's been in the presence of God. He has a presence of holiness and godliness about that is absolutely amazing.

Reminds me of a great verse and in acts chapter 4 verse 13 is a passage about the disciples and the and the religious leaders and the Pharisees and and the scholars of tunes are shocked by the disciples. I said where did they get this wisdom forwarded they get this godliness about them letting go to tools they have not learned from our rabbis get it from an acts chapter 4 verse 13. The Scripture says this now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and they perceive that they were uneducated, and me and they were astonished and they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

These disciples had walked with Jesus. They sat at his feet, and they learn God's word from Jesus himself. They watched you care for people and minister to people that they watched Jesus live a perfect and sinless life in the Scripture says that when people look at. They they recognize them as having been with Jesus. In other words, Jesus rubbed off on and I think that's exactly what's being said about this angel. This angel is not Christ, but Christ is rubbed off owning and look how he's described, there's a client play out around him. That cloud represents the holiness of God. The otherworldliness of the Lord all around him. He is encircled by a rainbow and a rainbows not just A sort look at the whole rainbow. It's a whole circle and it represents eternity eternal nature of our great God is. Brightness is Johnny from his countenance that speaks of the glory of the Lord himself.

The Bible tells us that he stands he has 1 foot out right foot on the CDs of his left foot on the land that's very interesting. In the to the book of Revelation. You can see Satan raising up different beast from the land and from the sea and the Scripture. When you see someone take his foot and put on someone or something else. It speaks of control authority or dominion.

I love the to chapter Joshua to chapter Joshua there is a story about five teams that have come up and took to try to destroy Israel.

And Joshua captures these kings and he takes the many places them in a cave he takes a huge amount of smolder and he puts it right in front of the cake so they can't get out.

Then they go out they win the battles against the enemy and they come back and Joshua says roll the stone away on list listen carefully what's been said here Joshua 1022 through 25 then Joshua said, open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me from the cave and they did so they brought those five kings out to him from the cave, the King of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of jar move, the king of location, the king of Eglin when they brought those kings out to Joshua.

Joshua summoned all the men of Israel and said to the chiefs of the men of war who done with him.

Come near put your feet on the necks of these kings and they came near they put their feet on their next Joshua said to them, do not be afraid or dismayed, be strong and courageous with. Thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight. I want you to think of that when you think of John's vision of this mighty angel. The mighty angel has 1 foot on the land. He is the other foot on the sea.

What does that mean I think it means exactly what Joshua gave us in Joshua 1035 do not be afraid or dismayed, be strong and be courageous. For thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you will find that's a great verse to take it and study and learn in an put into your put into practice in your life and times of persecution in times of trouble. In times of suffering in times of pain take your eyes off of that. Put your eyes on Christ and put your eyes on Christ in such a way that you will look to him for your protection.

He he is the will, the one who has dominion not you.

It may be your foot but it's it's his power.

It's his dominion that is standing over persecution, trouble suffering, and everything that we go through. Why should you do that, because look with angel has in his hand so little scroll. It's a little scroll and what is it some have conjectured that is the whole word of God.

I don't think so. I think most scholars believe that it's just the book of Revelation that it's the. The inspiratory inspired word that that John is receiving mail to write down that we have for us.

It's just that book but you know what is true about the book of Revelation is true about the whole word of God is absolute truth.

It is all truth is total truth, it cannot be changed cannot be compromised. It cannot crumble.

Dr. Vance Hebner said that when he was eight years old he walked through the woods to go visit a friend and he said he he got to the friend's house and once he got there. He said it started raining and it was raining really really hard and so EAA said. While this, Wayton and Lorraine will always I'll be able to go back home and it just didn't work out that way got darker and darker found it was so dark. He was a little afraid. He knew that he might not be able to see the path on the through the woods to home and he did know what to do about exit, you handle this. We went to his friend's father and he settlement a lot. I don't know where the path is I'm not sure how to get home father to come with me and he walked into the barn.

He took a long strong stick and he took some strips of cloth that had been soaked in kerosene and eat wound them around and around and around the empty stick about the stick until end of that stick to it was a huge big ball. Then he tied it up real tight.

Then he took it and he dipped down into a bucket of tar and then he held it up they went outside and he set a match to it and push it went up in this huge flame.

He said here you take this and this will light your path all the way home you be able to see fine won't be any problem, and in Vance.

We can argue.

He said it's raining it's of the brain might put it out and he looked at his advance. This torch will see you home and mansard argue again is a no no. Vance is listen to me this torch will see you home.

Vance took all the that pastors it was daylight and he walked right all the way to his house. The rainwater is hit that torch never even make it flicker finally got to his house and he walked to the backyard. He took that that torch and he just stuck it up in the backyard. He walked into the house later that not he looked out it was still burning like crazy. Two days later it was still burning while Vance Hebner learned a great principle that day.

When you start doubting the protection and the provision that God gives you is a great verse that you need to remember Psalm 119, 105.

Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path.

Brothers and sisters that torch was something special to Vance Hafner and it all to be special to us and that is this that torch is like the word of God and the word of God will get us home. It will always get us home. The mighty angel holds a little scroll in his hand and he's telling John and he's telling us study the book of Revelation read the book of Revelation. Trust the book of Revelation, because in this book we have a promise and that promise will get us home. What is the promise. This is the promise Jesus wins Jesus wins brothers. Wicked governments can't stopping emperors and tyrants can't stopping mighty armies can't stop p.m. Satan and all the host of hail can't stopping Jesus wins that truth will get you home .2 the certain fulfillment of God's word. Look at verse three through seven called out a loud voice like a lion roaring. We called out the seven thunder sounded and when the seven thunders. It sounded I was about to write that heard a voice from heaven saying seal up with the seven thunders have said and do not write it down. Angel whom I saw standing on the sea and the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it in the sea and what is in it, there would be no more delay, but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel. The mystery of God would be fulfilled just as he announced to his servants the prophets, the mighty angel cries in the lab voice and the Scripture says it sounded like the roaring of a lion.

I remember being in a pastors conference in Kenya and we went out into the jungle and while we were out there.

I had the privilege of seeing a lion also had the privilege of hearing that lion roar and the missionary turned to us and said when that happens the whole jungle pays attention and I watch to see what would go along and is outline was roaring. I saw giraffes that were turning their heads and looking at the lion. I watch monkeys climb a little higher up in the trees. I watch the jeeps that were out there on a safari and all of them just came to a stop in every I was focused on that line is he was roaring but sets of pictures being pretrade for us here in verse three nobody can ignore the mighty angel when he speaks, people tremble in every ear perks up when the angel speaks the seven thunders roar help me ask you to shiver been in a thunderstorm and a light flash is very near to you. Just boom it comes very close and almost immediately here that that clap of thunder. What you do you ignore it know you don't ignore it. Menu jump in your heart jumps up in your throat and you think and could crisis that was close, and it gets your attention. It will not be ignored. I think it's of is exactly what's happening here. The angel is about to speak, and no one's going to ignore him. Every ear will hear what he's got to say rather strange thing happens here. John is told not to write down what he has his heard of the seven thunders and instead John saw it, but he wouldn't allowed to to detail it out for us is not allowed to speak it to us. One commentator said this.

This shows that God has more plans for history than the ones he's chosen to reveal to us in the Bible. Therefore we should not be surprised when things happen that are not accounted for in Scripture's will is Deuteronomy 29, 29 things at the secret things belong to the Lord. Things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever. So what happens the angel Ray Mrs. hand to swear a solemn testimony and and that's what witnesses do in the courtroom minute witness. Get ready to testify put his hand left him on the Bible.

He raises his right hand up and then he shares his testimony with this angel because it under the great authority imaginable and who is that it is Jesus Christ himself, the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 10, six sales and he 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 if there should be delay no longer know what is it that's not going to be delayed. Here it is folks here it is.

When the seventh trumpet is sounded.

Jesus Christ returns Jesus Christ comes back to this earth and brothers and sisters when that happened there will not be any time to repent they will not be time to prepare. There will be no place to hide.

There will be nowhere to go. We will be taken to meet the Lord in the clouds to ever be with the Lord and then the Lord will send all mighty judgment upon this earth, like the earth has never seen before. The angel testified this is not his opinion is is not his conjecture. This is an emphatic, thus saith the Lord God Mr. Ruth Richard Phillips commentary as a witness authorized to swear by God, the angel not only brings God's word but also testifies to the certainty of its fulfillment, that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel. The mystery of God would be fulfilled just as he announced to his servants the prophets. This verse draws from the vision in Daniel 12 when that prophet wondered about the coming of the end, the angel spoke to Daniel raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and swore by him who lives forever.

On that occasion the angel told Daniel that there was yet a great time of trial to be endured before the end, it would be for a time a time and 1/2 time before the end. Now is the seventh trumpet is about to be blown. The angel perhaps the same angel gives a different message there would now be no delay but with the blowing of the seventh trumpet, the mystery of God would be fulfilled in accordance with Scripture brothers and sisters that is going to happen .3 the commission in verses eight through 10 then the voice that I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said go take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel.

He stands on the sea and on the earth, so I went to the angel said to him give me the little book and he said to me cake and eat it and it will make your stomach better, but it will be sweet as honey in your mouth that I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it and it was a sweet as honey in my mouth when I ate had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. What's happening here.

John is being called to approach the angel and take the scroll from the angel's hand. What a glorious thing in that angel's hand is the most precious thing on the face of the earth. It is the word of God is the word of God.

So what are we being taught here about what we're to do with the word and how would a minister. The word only share with you for quick things. Number one.

The Bible is a revelation from God to man. John took the word of God from God's messenger. The angel John did not derive this message from his study he did not get it from people he did not go after other people's opinions.

He got it straight from the angel and God had given the message to the angel second. John was not passive he had to put out effort to get the scroll. John is told to not only take it in his hand but then he is told to eat it. Now what is the symbolism here. It means if we that that we have to ingest the word of God that an unread unstudied Bible that sits on our bookcase or lies on our desk does us no good whatsoever. We gotta take Bible we got to read it. We got to study it.

We got ingested into our souls before it's gonna be a good. I don't usually quote the Anglican book of common prayer, but I like what it says on devotion says we are to read Mark learn and inwardly digest God's word so it will nourish and enliven our salt was that true. Third, we should expect God's word to be both sweet and bitter is nothing that is more sweet and more glorious than for God's word to common cup when you're hurting cleans you when you're dirty or to her or to minister to you and motivate you when you need motivation. It's a glorious sweet and wonderful thing. David tells us about that in Psalm 19 verses seven through 10. He tells us what the word of God will do for us and what is he say he says it revives the soul. AAA says it, it makes wise the simple. It rejoices the heart. It enlightens the eyes pieces is more precious than pure gold. And it is sweeter than honey. But the Bible is not just sweet for us. Is it is also there for us when were in trouble is there for us, telling us that there will be times of trouble and persecution.

As Paul said all we live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution policy, for it is given to you, not affords. Given the lower half of Christ not only to believe upon him, but also to suffer for his sake, and it was Jesus that the name be my disciple, letting him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. So it's both bitter and sweet.

Fourthly, we like John or commission to proclaim the word of God. The message of the gospel is not just to be read, digested, loved it, and then hidden away. It is to be taken and then commissioned you to take it to a lost and dying world books. The only way this world is going to hear the gospel is if we take it to the only way the world is going to come to know Jesus, who we know and love is if we take the gospel to close with God commissioned John in verse 11 and he said to me, you must prophesy again about many peoples nation, tongues, and kings. John is told to preach judgment for sinners who refuse to repent and to preach salvation for sinners who are ready to repent and believe the gospel. Richard Phillips put the ball in our court. He said this our calling is to be witnesses to the gospel for the ingathering of all who will believe we must, therefore, first receive the gospel is the glorified Christ own word.

Second, being assured a certain fulfillment. We must hold fast to God's word without compromise. Third, we must feel the commission to proclaim God's judgment and salvation to many people, nations, languages and kings. Knowing that in this way despite persecution, we are more than conquerors. The loved us is pray. Heavenly father, we thank you and praise you for this great chapter Lord chapter that just thrills our hearts about what we have in the word of God. Father, help us not to ignore it, help us not to neglect it. Help us Lord, that we might savor it and love it and learn it and then take it and proclaim it, Jesus. We love you today. We thank you for loving us again, we thank you Lord for the privilege of worship. Lord, what a joy it was this morning to sing holy, holy, holy, and may we realize that the God that we serve is a holy, gracious, merciful, wonderful God. But as we get ready now to to celebrate in the Lord's supper.

We pray that you would prepare every heart here to participate celebrate in it.

Those of us who are saved and know you and are walking in right fellowship have that privilege this morning and father may your presence show up in such a powerful way that when we walk out the day we will know that we have been with Jesus. We love you, praise you and thank you for loving us in Jesus holy precious name we pray. Amen