Trusting God in the Difficult and Unknown

Revelation 9:13-10:11 - Riley Boggs

More times than not, my faith seems very weak. When I read the stories of Christians being willing to die for their faith, I can’t even imagine myself standing as firm as they have. When I look around at the people in this room, particularly of the gray haired variety, I am blown away by their faith. They have lived three times as long as myself and have continued to trust God time and time again. They trust Him with the small things and they trust Him with the large things. When I look around, more times than not, my faith seems very weak. Many times my faith can be summed up by the words of the father whose son has been possessed in the Gospels. Jesus says to the boy’s father, “All things are possible for one who believes”, to which the father cries out, “I believe, help my unbelief.”

I don’t wonder, I know, that many of you go through times where you feel this same way. It’s often the theme of our prayer requests, as it should be. When we ask for prayers about worry or anxiety or peace or comfort, what are we actually asking for? We are asking for a stronger faith. We are asking that God would help us to believe more than we do right now. And not only is this theme of our prayer requests, it’s the theme of every Christians life. We continually are admitting that our faith is weaker than it should be. We are continually confessing that God is worthy of all our trust, and yet many times we struggle to do it. Over and over again we ask that God would strengthen our faith.

And because God loves His people and wants them to grow, He has provided the means by which you might grow your faith. He hasn’t left us to fend for ourselves and struggle aimlessly in an attempt to trust Him more. No, He gave us something that is, by the Spirit, specifically intended to grow our faith. Do you know what it is? In Romans 10 verse 17 we are told what it is. Paul says, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Often times we take this to mean that saving faith comes through the proclamation of the Gospel, the word of Christ, and that is exactly right. But it doesn’t stop there. Faith continually comes from hearing the Word. It’s not that the Word is just used to bring about salvation, it is used to grow us in our salvation. God gave us His Word so that we might read it and meditate on it, so that our faith might grow stronger.

Now I say all of this because it’s easy to come to church and approach preaching only with your mind. It’s easy to come and learn a bunch of information intellectually, but not actually believe it in a way that it strengthens your faith. There are a great many of atheists who know a lot about what the Bible says intellectually, in their minds, but they don’t believe it in their hearts. They have no faith. Now, that isn’t to say that knowing in our minds isn’t important, it is. In fact it’s the first step to believing. If you go back to that passage in Romans 10 I just referenced, you can see that’s the exact argument that Paul is making. He says, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? … So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Do you see that? In order for someone to believe, they must first hear. That is, they have to hear it with their ears and know it in their minds. That’s first. But it cannot stop there. Once it is heard, it must then be believed in the heart. More than intellectually knowledge, you believe it and trust it. This is how our faith is grown. And it’s one of the reasons we gather around the Word each and every Sunday. Not just so we have a more information in our minds, but so our faith might be strengthened just a little bit more.

The book of Revelation, I think, is one of the more difficult books when it comes to this. Because it’s unfamiliar and difficult territory, it’s tempting to approach this book without our hearts involved. We see it as an intellectual problem to solve, not as the means by which our faith might be strengthened. But let me remind you, once again, that this book is aimed directly at growing you. It’s intended to help you trust God more. It’s purpose is to help you believe God more. It’s goal is to strengthen your faith.

This morning, I want to encourage each of you to keep this in mind as we walk through our passage. Yes, there will be many things that have to be explained and made sense of. But let that only be the beginning. Mediate on the truths of what is being said. Pray that God would apply them your hearts. Even if only by a fraction of a percent, let this be a morning where your faith is strengthened by the hearing of the Word of God.

Last week we looked at the first 5 trumpets being sounded. And if you’ll remember, I said that these trumpets are intended to be understood as God’s warning signs. Through different kinds of symbolism and Old Testament references, we are being told that all of the turmoil of the world is intended to draw people to God. When people see natural disasters and pandemics, they are hearing a kind of alarm that says, “This world is passing away, trust in God.” The first 4 trumpets paint this picture for us. Pointing all kinds of calamities, and sin itself, as a destructive force that should awaken people to turn to Christ.

This week, we pick up with the sounding of the 6th trumpet. You can see starting in verse 13 that the trumpet is blown and what follows is very similar to what happens when the 5th trumpet is blown. Not only that, but many of the same pieces and parts mentioned in previous cycles are mentioned again. You have 4 angels and a great number of troops. You have horses with wild descriptive features. You have fire and smoke and other calamities. Rather than working through each of these details again, I want to just point you to 3 details that give us the right understanding of this trumpet as a whole. The first detail is the one mentioned in verse 14, where the angel is told, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” I want to draw your attention to that first because it’s a detail that we likely miss because we unfamiliar with the time period in which this was written.

In the first century, one of the major threats against the Roman Empire was from a group known as the Parthians, which lied across a certain river in that area. Can you guess which one it was? The Euphrates. Because of this, there was an understood reality that you were to fear that which was on the other side of the Euphrates. Or, in the words of John, there was something to be feared that was bound by the great River Euphrates. That’s the idea being conveyed. John is simply saying, in a way that would have been very easily understood in it’s time, that this trumpet is releasing that something fearful. That’s the first detail I want you to see.

The second detail can be found in two places. First, you can see it at the end of verse 15, and again secondly you can see it in verse 18. In both of these you can see that what is coming as a result of the trumpets is actual death. Now that’s significant because in the previous 5 trumpets there was much pain and destruction going on, but it was clear that death was not coming. What was being conveyed was warning signs that ought to prevent people from dying in their sins. But now, after the 6th trumpet is blown, death does indeed come. The picture being painted here is one where the warning signs goes beyond the turmoils of the world, but is now applied to death itself. In other words, Jesus is saying that people will die in this world, having ignored the many warning signs before. And even further, their death itself should serve as a warning to others that they should trust in Christ. They should see people drawing their last breath and be reminded that they too will die one day, and they should be moved to faith in the One who can save them. That’s the second detail I want you to see.

The third and final detail can be see in verses 20-21. Look at what this says with me. John writes, “The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” This takes us to the first point of the sermon this morning...

1.) Though God sends countless warning signs, many will ignore them (9:13-21)

This is a heartbreaking reality, but it is reality. God, in His kindness, sends warning sign after warning sign. The trumpets continually blare. There are all kinds of troubles and disasters that make it abundantly clear that this world is passing away, and that people must put their hope in something outside of this world. And even in this trumpet, we see that death will continually take people who do not believe. Whether their days are long or short, their days are numbered. They will die in their sins. People will fill the funeral homes and grieve them. Someone will stand at the front and talk about how good of a person they were. And yet, somehow, the eternity that awaits them will be an after thought. It will not be mentioned, it will not be considered.

This is what is we are being told to us here in this passage. There will be many who ignore all the warning signs, ignoring even death itself, and will die in their sins. And we don’t have to wonder why, John tells us. He gives us a handful of things that they will be distracted and bound by. They won’t repent of their evil works. They won’t give up false worship. They will continue to make idols. They will not repent of their sins. In other words, they will be in love with their sin.

Now, what is interesting is that John doesn’t actually tell us what happens to these people yet, does he? He tells us that many people will die not heeding the warning signs, which we understand. But this second ground, the ones who also don’t heed the warning, but are still alive are sort of left hanging. What happens to them? Well think about the time period that each cycle in this book is encapsulating. It’s the time from the first coming of Jesus all the way to the second coming. And so what John is saying is that throughout the ages people will die in their sin, ignoring the warning signs. But, there will also be a day where the Lord does indeed return, and on that day, there will be many who have not died and have yet to trust in Christ. On that final judgement day, those who have died in Christ will join those who are alive in Christ, and be glorified. Likewise, those who have died in their sins will join those who are alive but unrepentant, and be judged.

There isn’t going to be a second chance. There isn’t going to be one last call. When the Lord returns, all final judgment will take place and that will be that. Hopefully you see why this is a trumpet, a warning sign, in and of itself. Again, it is an alarm blaring, calling people to trust in Christ who can and will save you from your sins.

Now, before I go on, I need you to think back to the seven seals we looked at in the previous cycle. If you remember, as the 6th seal is opened, there is this great deal of anticipation of the 7th seal. It’s obvious that the 7th seal is the final judgement, and you expect it to happen right after the 6th seal. And then, you read the next verse, and the 7th seal is nowhere to be found. Instead there is this great interlude between the 6th and the 7th. Well, one of the ways that we know that this book is structured in cycles is because that is precisely what happens here with the trumpets. After you read those final lines of the 6th trumpet, you expect to see the Lord returning. It’s been perfectly set up. But then you keep reading, and it’s nowhere to be found. The 7th trumpet actually won’t be blown all the way until the end of chapter 11. So, the question is, what does the interlude contain?

Again, unsurprisingly, it is very similar to the theme found in the interlude of the seals. That is where we read about the 144,000 and the great multitude. We read about a people who have been sealed by God, claimed as His own. A people on Earth who are persevering in faith and a people in heaven who are rejoicing, but the same group nonetheless. And in it’s in that interlude where God is reminding His people to trust Him. They are reminded to take heart, believe the promises God has made, and press on in faith. Here in this interlude the message is very similar, but takes a new perspective.

Look with me at chapter 10. In verse 1 John begins to see something new. He sees a mighty angel coming down from heaven, who is described in an amazing way. Some commentators take this to be a depiction of Jesus, some take it to be a depiction of His glory, and some take it to be just mighty angel. Truthfully, I could go anyway, but I prefer the last option and think it is just a mighty angel. Regardless, it does not change the meaning of what is about to take place. Because after we read this description, we are told that there is a little scroll in his hand, and that he is standing above all of creation and speaking with a loud voice. A voice that is described as seven thunders sounding. John hears this mighty message and goes to record it. Remember, all the way back in chapter 1 verse 11, John was commanded to write down what he sees in these visions. All of what we have read up until this point are those things. And so naturally, John begins to record the words that he has just heard. But then something happens, doesn’t it? Look at verse 4. A voice from heaven says to him, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”

This whole scene begs 2 questions. First, what is on the scroll? And second, what did the angel say that John could not record us? Well let me give us our second point and attempt to answer these questions. Point number 2...

2.) Much of God’s plan has been hidden from us (10:1-4)

The answer to those two questions that I just mentioned is the same. What is on the scroll? What did the voice say? To both of those questions the answer is a simple, I don’t know. And I think that is precisely the point being made here. Whether that scroll is the same scroll as before, which the full plan of God, or something else, is inconsequential. What the angel said or didn’t say isn’t something that we should spend a lot of time speculating on. The whole point being made here is that God has a plan that has not been entirely revealed to us. Much of it is a mystery.

If you zoom out for a moment and consider the message at large, it makes sense that God would say this very thing, right? The trumpets are sounding and things might seem a bit out of control. These pictures of the alarms blaring are complex and confusing. And as we begin to make sense of them, there is a question that continually rings in our minds; Why? Why is God doing it like this? Why this and not that? An endless array of “why’s” fill our minds. And so the Lord pauses the trumpets and says to His people, “You cannot know the full plan. I’ve hidden it from you. I am God, and you are not.”

Recently Shelby and I have been watching through a TV series that is constantly bringing you back to that same question; why? Throughout the series there are more and more unknowns presented. Things aren’t explained, and it builds suspense and confusion. And the reason that we keep watching is because at the end of each season, guess what happens? Well that a lot of those questions are answered. We watch it and go, “Ohhhh…” and let out sighs of relief. We say, “Finally, it all makes sense.”

Can I tell you a difficult truth that we all need to learn? When it comes to God’s plan, we may never get the answers to our questions. There is no final episode where God will reveal all the hidden parts of His plan to us. Much of it, most of it, will continue be a mystery to us. We are not God, we have no right to this full plan. We are not due an explanation. But can I tell you something else? That’s okay.

Our third point tells us why it’s okay. Point number three...

3.) Though much of it is hidden, we can fully trust in God’s plan (10:5-7)

Look with me starting in verse 5. John was just told to seal up what was said, and then we see the angel again. Except now, the angel swears by someone. He swears, “by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it.” In other words, the angel swears unto God. What is it that he is swearing? He continues, at the end of verse 6, “that there would be no more delay.” He continues, in verse 7, “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.”

Man, this is why I love this book so much. Think about what we are being told here, by God, through His Word. He is saying that even though much of God’s plan has been hidden, even though much of it is a mystery, you can guarantee that it will come to fruition. The final trumpet will blow. There will not be endless delay. Every word written to by the prophets will be fulfilled. Every promise made will take place. In other words, you can trust the plan of God completely not because you know the plan, but because you know God. You know Him to be holy and perfect and good. You know Him to be sovereign and merciful and kind. You know God, so trust Him and His plan completely, withholding nothing.

Can I just say, this is what good counseling looks like the vast majority of the time? When someone comes to you in the throes of despair, they often come bearing that question. Maybe their loved one has been given a terminal diagnosis. Maybe their marriage seems to be on the brink of disaster. Maybe they have lost a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister, or a parent. Whatever the situation is. They are driven into a deep grief and they come to you and say, “Why? Why would God do this? Why would He allow this?” In that moment, it is not your job to come up with an answer to that question. We do not know why. We don’t even think to offer convenient answers for a moment.

What do we do? We take them immediately to the character of God and His promises. We say, “We don’t know why, and we may never know why. But we do know that God is good. That His plan is good. That He loves you, that He cares for you. That all of this will work out for the good of His people. That one day all of this pain you are feeling will be gone.” We tell them to run to Christ in prayer, for only in Him can joy and peace be found in these times.

And we don’t say this because in the blink of an eye they will believe it and everything will be okay. No, we say it again and again and again. We will have to remind them and ourselves of these realities for the rest of our lives. There are answers that will not come in time and there are wounds time cannot heal. So rather than demanding answers, we fall into the grace that God so readily provides us. We cling to Him and His Word.

This is a what it means to have great faith by the way, and it’s why I began the way that I did. The people who we look up to as people who have great faith are not those who have more answers than us. They aren’t those to whom more of the mysteries of God has been revealed. No, they are a people who are more okay without answers, because they know God and they know His promises. God’s plan is sure. God’s plan is good. And through this passage, written to the church awaiting His return, He is telling us to believe that. He’s telling us that much is hidden from us, but that does not for a moment affect how sure or how good the plan is. Certainly, a truth that is easier heard than lived, but it’s one that our Lord is calling us to, by faith, believe as we await His return.

But until then, while we are walking by faith, we have a task laid before us. That is where I think this vision takes us starting in verse 8. In verse 8, John hears that same voice from heaven, and it says this, “Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” And so John does this very thing. He goes and takes it, and then is told to eat the scroll. But not only, but he is told what will happen once he eats it. He is told that it will make his stomach bitter, but in his mouth it will be as sweet as honey. Then, just as he was told, John eats the scroll and this very thing takes place. And then finally, in verse 11, he is told one more thing. He is told that he must go again and prophecy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”

Now within this is a clear reference to the early chapters of Ezekiel where he is told to eat a scroll as well, with similar details surrounding. We saw this same reference earlier in the book of Revelation when we saw the scroll that was sealed with 7 seals. For that reason, I do believe this scroll to be the same scroll as the one earlier, which is intended to represent God’s plan for redemption. That seems to track very well throughout all of what we have seen previously and in our passage today. And one other thing, the word “little scroll” and just the word “scroll” in the Greek could be used almost interchangeably, so that detail is not supposed to necessarily indicate a different thing.

Regardless, the point being made here is this. John is being told to take in the plan of redemption. He is told that on one hand it will be sweet, on another hand it will be bitter. And not only that, but he is then told to continue to prophecy. Put this all together, and I have the final point for us this morning. Point number four...

4.) We have been given a task and message that will bring joy and hardship (10:8-11)

As we await Jesus’ return, as the trumpets are sounding, we have a job to do. We have been commissioned, by our Lord, to go out and tell others of the great redemption plan that God has provided. We have been commanded to tell a dying world that there is hope in God, that there is forgiveness in Jesus. And no matter if we understand the plan, the task still lays before us, and so we go. We go bearing the message of the Gospel. That Jesus lived a sinless life, died a death He did not deserve, and was resurrected on the third day. That on in His death Jesus bore our sin and shame, and the wrath of God, for us. And that all who believe in Him will be given the very righteousness of God. That’s the task, that’s the message, and I believe that is what God is being told to do here.

But that only explains part of it, right? What about this sweet and bitter thing? Well similarly to the scroll in Ezekiel, this task and message is one that will bring 2 different things. To some, salvation. To other, judgement. In other words, as we go out and share the Gospel with others, we will find ourselves in our most joyful and our most difficult moments. When we share the Gospel with someone and they believe, there is hardly a greater joy to be had. Right before our eyes we have seen God break the bondage of sin and death, and bring them into the glorious light. But, when we share the Gospel with someone and they don’t believe. When their heart is hardened and they are angry at us, or worse, there will be great hardship. Right there, before our eyes, we see someone bound by sin and shame, and trapped in darkness.

The same reality is true for all the Christian life. Your greatest joys and your deepest pains will likely come as a result of your faith lived out. Your highest highs and lowest lows will more than likely be found when dealing with these kinds of things. Why? Well because these things are weighty. They are meaningful. When it comes to the Gospel, eternity is at stake. It’s infinity more meaningful than anything this world has to offer, and so it rightly takes us to these places of tremendous joy and incredible hardship.

By a raise of hands, who in here likes to be rejected? How about rejected by those you love and care deeply about? That is why this message can be bitter in our stomachs. Because we’ve been called to follow Jesus down the path that often leads us to rejection. And in those moments, it can seem as if you are doing something wrong. But right here, from God’s Word, He’s telling us that we should expect it. That if we are following Jesus in this world, carrying out this task with his message, then we will find it to be very difficult at times. Don’t be caught off guard. Don’t worry that the plan is failing. Even when we don’t understand why, we’ve just been reminded right here that the plan is sure.

On the other hand, however, there is a reason this message is sweet. By a raise of hands, who in here likes sweet things? Yeah, me too. They are good. They satisfy. So it is with this message. The message we carry is the greatest message that has ever, will ever, be told. It’s a message of hope and joy and redemption and salvation. Our own lives are evident of the sweetness of this message. Because of nothing we have done, we have been saved from our sins and brought near to God. Our own lives are marked, through and through, by the kindness of our Lord. Don’t forget that.

This morning, I believe this passage is teaching us how we might grow in our faith. Growing in our faith begins and ends with character of God, specifically revealed to us in the Gospel. That God sent His only begotten Son to die for the very people who killed Him. Mediate on this, and there you will find your faith begin to grow.