Understanding the Mighty Angel
This is one of the most difficult figures in all the book of Revelation to identify.
Some say it is Jesus, because so many of the symbols match those of Jesus in the first chapters of Revelation. This angel is clothed with a cloud and a rainbow as was Christ in chapter 1. His legs are like pillars of fire and he roars like a lion. This mighty angel straddles the earth and the sea, a symbol of ownership, all these would fit Jesus as the coming King of the earth.
Others point out that this mighty angel is introduced as another angel the word means another of the same kind, the same kind that we have seen in Revelation, but Jesus is not another of the same kind, for he was not created like the other angels. Usually when John shows us Jesus, he is giving a clear title for this is his unveiling, his apocalypse, but here there is no clear title like lamb of God or Lion of Judah. This angel also swears by the one who sits on the throne, which doesn’t seem to something Jesus would do. Also they point out that Jesus is never called the angel of the Lord after the Old Testament.
In the past I’ve said this is Jesus, right now I think this is another mighty angels, what hasn’t changed is that this is a very hard angel to identify. What he symbolizes though is not hard to understand.
The Symbol of the Mighty Angel
Look again at his description, “Revelation 10:1-3 (He is)clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth...
All these symbols tell us the same thing, this angel, this messenger of God brings the God’s message of power and promise. The cloud represents the power of heaven, the rainbow the promise of God, the sun shows righteousness and the feet show purifying judgment of fire. His voice sounds like a lion roaring before leaping upon its prey. All this power is standing by waiting to be unleashed upon those who are the enemies of God and the tormentors of his people.
Believing In Heaven’s Pent Up Power
As God’s people then will need the hope and reassurance that God is working in the background, working from heaven to cover and protect them, we also need to remember that God is working from heaven to care for us.
We may not be able to see past the veil of this physical body and earth, but we should believe, we should have faith that God is on our side and God is preparing the power of heaven on our behalf according to His plan and purpose.
Romans 8:28,37-39 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. …37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Psalm 46:1-7 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
