The Scroll of Revelation, 2 - Sent By an Angel

Revelation 1:1-3.

1. The things which John saw.

Address of origin.(1: 1-2) John receives this document from an angel. Even when Jesus appears to be speaking, the angel is delivering the message. Knowing just this one fact will make much of the reading in the beginning and especially at the very end of the Book, much smoother. For example, in 22:6-8, John falls down to worship an angel. And why not? The angel has been saying things like, "I am coming quickly!" Only Jesus should say that! But the mystery is abated in 22:6 where the angel himself explains, "The Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angel..." That means the Lord God is not the angel himself.

The cultists love going to these passages to "prove" that Jesus is nothing more or less than an angel, and definitely not Divine, since he refuses worship from John. But here in the very first verses of Revelation is the solution to that heresy. As in chapter 22, the statement is made that Jesus sent and signified it by His angel.

Many want to take the "angel of the Lord" passages of the Old Testament and make them work here, believing firmly that that Old Covenant appearance of this angel was indeed Jesus. Since we are never told who that angel is, and since he does indeed seem to say some things that are very Divine-sounding, it makes some sense to "go there" for the interpretation. My personal feeling is that such diversions may be dangerous, and that we should not mix the two concepts, viz the eternal Son, and the doctrine of angels.

A cursory study of the appearances of "the angel of the Lord" leads people to the same conclusion that John was brought to, but erroneously, namely, This must be Jesus! In Genesis 16:7-14, Hagar sees him and believes so much that he is God that she names a well, "One Who lives and sees me". But in a later confrontation of these two, Genesis 21:17, it is clear that God and the Angel are separate. Abraham's hearing of the Angel is that of one receiving a simple message from God, the role indeed of messengers. But with Jacob, one would think that God Himself is speaking when the Angel reportedly says, "I am God." (Genesis 31:11). In Genesis 48:16 Jacob seems to be referring to God as "the Angel who redeemed me."

In Exodus (3:2) Moses has a similar experience to Jacob, where the angel seems to be introducing himself as God. In Numbers God's anger against Balaam is manifested through the same Angel of the Lord. (22:22 ff) In Judges 2:1 the Angel again calls himself God. But later in that book (6:20) we are told that Gideon saw the Angel, and the point is made that he did not die. Before Christ was born of a virgin, could anyone look upon God and live? Judges 13:3: With Samson's family the clear distinction between God and the Angel of God is made.

When David saw the angel, he spoke to the Lord, II Samuel 24:16. Daniel was aware likewise of the difference when he said, "God has sent His angel." (6:22) And the prophet Zechariah is admonished by an angel, who begins, "Thus saith the Lord."

Now, this phrase is missing in most of the Angel's appearances, but in my opinion, it is implied in all.

In the New Testament, the definite article of the KJV has been changed to the indefinite, underscoring the fact that the translators are convinced that angelic appearances are to be kept separate from Divinity. Only in Acts 12:11 is it clear that a particular angel is being referenced, and in this case it is equally clear that he is not God.

The point I believe Scripture makes is this: There is a magnificent Being known as THE messenger of the Lord, perhaps Gabriel, perhaps Michael, perhaps one we have never met by name in the Biblical record. He is God's special envoy sent on the most urgent of Kingdom business. His presence and power are so great as to make everyone from the unlearned Hagar to the beloved Apostle John, wise with years of knowledge of the Lord, think he/she is in the presence of God Himself. But attempt worship, and the rebuke will come swiftly, "Don't do that!" No, in comparison to Divinity, he is merely a servant, like John. A servant of God and a servant of the prophets, and a servant of all obedient to the Word. Worship, says the angel of the Lord, is reserved for God only! (22:9)

Now, lest we get caught up too early in religious controversy, let us meditate awhile on just how incredibly important the Book of Revelation must be to have been thus sent down the "chain of command" to us. The Father passes it to the Son. The Son passes it to the Angel of the Lord, "His Angel". The Angel is then the spokesman throughout the Book, assisted by other angels, and all copied diligently by John. John bears witness to this word, and passes it to us. Those who are His sheep and hear His Voice, because of His Spirit living in us, pass it on and pass it on and... How very MUCH He wants us to have this message!

The blessing. (1:3) The instructions regarding this 66th Book of the Bible cannot be taken lightly. Read! Hear! Keep! We know the Spirit would not tell us to do something that would bear no fruit in our lives or that was impossible to do. Away with the idea that Revelation is "beyond us", that the things of the future will somehow "work out" and need not concern us now. We are commanded to grasp this Book and let it change our lives. For the erstwhile, it will mean much meditation, prayer, re-reading, comparing, investigating. But what a joy, what a dividend is reaped!

A word about method: There are so many Bible-land happenings going on right now, that the common temptation is to grab something from the news that looks "promising" and try to make it apply to Revelation. I strongly counsel against this method. Let the Word speak first. Paint the picture in your mind that God is painting. Then even casual glances at the news will be clearly "in" or "out" of the thinking process. For example, an American or Russian antichrist will suddenly sound "lame" to a person who has discovered who the man of sin really is.

"For the time is near." Words like these have always caused believers a bit of concern. It sounds like Jesus must come in the first century. Indeed, the first believers thought that. Certainly God had not enlightened too many people in those days about the time of His coming. Yet, the words were there. Peter (II Peter 3) said that many will come in the last days scoffing at our long wait. The warnings of Jesus in Mark and Luke mention men going on LONG journeys. The clues were there. It will be a LONG time!

Yet John is told in the same first century that the time was engus, near, or perhaps more truly the meaning of the word, "at hand." Regardless of how we think we understand this book, we must constantly live under the caution that His coming draws near. We do not always see things as He sees them. Our understanding is darkened at times. He is near. Be ready. For some, He will come in death this very day. Be ready. Antichrists abound, and mean that Christ is somewhere at hand. Are you sure He will not come today? Hold on to every word of this Book. But be prepared to wait awhile too!