Our Text …

8 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. 9 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. 10 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. 11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

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As we have studied the Tribulation, this sweet/bitter nexus is rather apparent.

Fact … the Church will not have to endure this terrible time!

Very sweet!

But lost loved ones will have to endure all the coming horror!

Very bitter!

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As usual, Revelation draws its analogy about eating a book from the Old Testament.

Ezekiel 2:9 through Ezekiel 3:3

Ezekiel 2:9-10 … 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.

Ezekiel 3:1-3 … 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.

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Did Paul have bitter times, or was the Christian life always sweet to him? You decide …

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 … In labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

2 Timothy 3:12 … Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

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If we preach the whole Counsel of God (Acts 20:27) … preach Heaven and Hell …

Here again is the sweet/bitter paradox!

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Here it is also in Acts 28:24 … And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

Belief … sweet!

Unbelief … bitter!

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Watch the class, to get it all …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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The Lord slows the pace a bit here in chapter 10!

And actually the seventh Trumpet does not sound until Revelation
11:15 … “And the seventh angel sounded …!”

Therefore, from Revelation 10:1 until Revelation 11:14 … a Span including the “Two Witnesses” of chapter 11 … we see and hear some amazing things!

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I was able to cover most of my study material in class. But I ran out of time when it comes to that noun “mystery” in verse 7.

A word (“musterion” in Greek) that does not necessarily mean “something eerie or frightening,” as it often does in English. Rather it hasa this connotation … “Something that God has not made known yet! But is now revealing!”

Here are my copious notes on that word …

Mystery in New Testament …

Mark 4:11 … And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables …

Romans 11:25 … For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 … Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

The mystery about which Paul most loved to talk and write is the CHURCH!

Ephesians 3:9-10 … And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God …

(Ephesians 5:32 … This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.)

(Ephesians 6:19 … And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel …)

(Revelation 1:20 … The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks.)

Colossians 1:27 … To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory …

Here are some more …

2 Thessalonians 2:7 … For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken …

1 Timothy 3:16 … And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Then our Text here … Revelation 10:7 … 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.

Lastly … Revelation 17:5 … And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

(Revelation 17:7 … And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.)

I count a total of 27 times the word is used in the New Testament, 22 singular and 5 in the plural!

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Of course, I always recommend watching the video if you can …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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From my study notes …

Repentance … as preached by Jesus …

Luke 13:3 … “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

And John the Baptist before Him …

Matthew 3:2 … “And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

And the Prophets before them …

Ezekiel 14:6 … “Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.”

So, I am saying repentance is a decision!

Though, to be balanced, it is too a gift from God!

Acts 11:18 … “When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles GRANTED repentance unto life.”

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I failed to give this exact Reference …

Repentance and Faith are fundamentally related!

Acts 20:21 … “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Is repentance for the Believer, too?

Job 42:6 … “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

Revelation 3:19 … “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

I say … YES!

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In our short Text, just two verses, we are told twice about the fact that mankind refuses to repent! Revelation 9:20-21 …

“And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.”

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In case you missed these facts …

Three times we find “vice lists” in Revelation … Paul uses these too! (See 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, for example.)

Three occurrences in Revelation …

Revelation 9:20 … “And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.”

Revelation 21:8 … “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Revelation 22:15-16 … “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. 16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.”

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The Lord values repentance so highly that He has devoted several whole chapters (Psalms) to illustrating it, teaching it to our minds and hearts!

Psalm 32 and Psalm 51 come to mind!

There are others, often called the “Penitential Psalms.”

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I briefly mentioned this fact. Here are the details …

Beginning with our current Text … Revelation 9:20 … the noun “plagues” (as plural) occurs 10 times in Revelation (plus twice more in the singular)! Twelve times in all!

Revelation 9:20 … “And the rest of the men which were not killed by these PLAGUES yet repented not of the works of their hands …”

Then in Revelation 11:6 (in reference to the Two Witnesses), 15:1 and 6 and 8, Revelation 16:9, 18:4 and 8, Revelation 21:9 and 22:18!  The singular occurrences are both in Revelation 16:21.

Wow!

Things (these judgments) are intensifying!

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Notice that God gives the opportunity “to hear” before He ever allows harness of heart!

Hebrews 4:7 … “Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will HEAR his voice, harden not your hearts.”

Which is quoting  Psalm 95:7-9 … “For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will HEAR his voice, harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: when your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.”

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Watch the linkage between mere idols and actuals devils, demons …

Psalm 106:36-37 … “And they served their idols: which were a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto devils … “

Pretty clear!

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But, better yet, watch the video class …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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This fierce judgment reminds one of Psalm 11:6 … “Upon the wicked He shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.”

Often, what God has already done in the past, He will repeat in the future. As in Genesis 19:24 … “Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven.”

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The God Who prepared a great fish for Jonah …

Can also prepare these demons for this task!

Because normally “spirits” (demons here) are bodyless!

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Wicked angels, demons, bound? (Restrained, chained!)

The devil will certianly be …

Based on Revelation 20:1-2 … “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and BOUND him a thousand years.”

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The credibility of fire exuding (fire breathing) animal-like creatures?

Leviathan might be an example!

Job 41:19-21 … “Out of his mouth go burning lamps, and sparks of fire leap out. Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth.”

Job 41:34 … “He is a king over all the children of pride.”

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Here’s the video now …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Our Text …

“7 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. 8 And the second angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 9 And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died; and the third part of the ships were destroyed. 10 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; 11 And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter. 12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise. 13 And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!”

The Trumpet Judgments are astounding!

Just previous to this first Trumpet …

Revelation 8:5 … 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.

These Trumpet Judgments initially parallel (to some degree) the plagues of Egypt!

Exodus 12:12 … For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.

And these “Trumpets” too, in all likelihood, are directed at the “gods” of this world!

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“True and Righteous” … are God’s Judgments!

Psalm 19:9 … The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Revelation 16:7 … And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

Revelation 19:2 … For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.

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Angels “preaching” in Revelation?

(GRACE!)

Revelation 14:6-7 … And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

(WRATH)

And here … Revelation 8:13 … And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!

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Angels and judgment?

Matthew 13:39-40 … The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world.

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“Wormwood” in the Old Testament (la-an-ah’) is once translated “hemlock” in the King James Version!

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Sun becomes very erratic …

Revelation 16:8-9 … And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun; and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory.

“Controlled, even measured, Divine Judgments!”        Which the world will label … “Ecological catastrophes!”

Jesus in Luke 21:25-26 …

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.”

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Watch the Lesson if possible …

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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