In my personal reading notes, I have recently been reflecting on some of the chapters in the final book of the Christian scriptures: the book of Revelation.
It is a book that is difficult to understand, and therefore is dismissed by some as being nonsense; that is avoided by others as they can’t get to grips with it; and is also abused by others with ridiculous claims for themselves.
I began reading at the first verse of Chapter 10, and was just overwhelmed by the pointers to the promises of God within that one verse alone.
The verse introduces the reader to an unnamed angel but it was the appearance of that angel that struck me. First, he was robed in a cloud – drawing the reader’s attention to the Ascension of Jesus being taken up to heaven on a cloud. Secondly, there was a rainbow above his head – drawing attention to the promise given to Noah, that there never again would be a flood of the magnitude of the deluge of his time. Thirdly, his face shone like the sun – the same phrase being used in the Gospels for the appearance of Jesus at the time of the Transfiguration; and fourthly, there was reference to a fiery pillar – this being the night-time means by which God led the children of Israel, during the days of Moses.
The combination of these factors just spoke a simple message: that within the appearance of the Angel are the reminders of God’s promises. This also reminds me that when Joshua (Moses’ successor) was old, he summoned all the people of Israel and said, “You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all of the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed”. He is, indeed, the God who never breaks His promises.
Graham Warmington
