The Angel's Hand Lifted Up Revelation 10:5

As John the apostle continued to share about the “tribulation” that was to come upon the earth, he shared concerning the first six seals Jesus removed from the “scroll” in God's right hand. He began to write about what happened when Jesus, “had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets … And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth angels” blew their trumpets, and great judgment fell upon the earth. John continued, “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, 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 roars: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.” In chapter ten and verse five of Revelation John watched as, “the angel … lifted up his hand to heaven” where we read:

And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

The verse reads, “And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth ...” John began with the words “and the angel” which means “and the messenger, envoy and one sent” “which I saw” or “John perceived, noticed, discerned and discovered” “stand” which means “was made firm, fixed, established and set” “upon the sea” or “on the great and mighty waters” “and upon the earth” which means “on the arable land, country, territory and region”. John continued to watch the “mighty angel” whose feet were set upon the “sea” and the “dry land”.

The verse continues, “...lifted up his hand to heaven,” John added the words, “lifted up” which means “raised or elevated” “his hand” or “the angel's own hand as to uphold, preserve, determine and control the destinies of men” “to heaven” which means “toward the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings”. John watched as this “mighty angel” “raised” his “purposed and determined” “hand” toward “heaven” where God dwells.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we can imagine his wonder at this next move of the “mighty angel”. First, John saw this “angel”, then the “angel” made a great noise which was responded to by the “seven thunders” whose words could not be reveal by him. Now, this “angel” raises his “hand” in mighty power toward “heaven”. This must have been an ominous sight, and with God's pending judgment ready to be carried out again upon the earth, John must have been filled with wonder. This “mighty angel” with the loud voice and raised “hand” is under the control of God Almighty and was used by Him according to His purpose and plan. God desires for everyone to be in a relationship with Him that fulfills this same idea, and those who have given their hearts and lives to His Son Jesus Christ as their personal “Savior and Lord” are walking in fulfillment of God's plan. Those who are not shall face the judgment of the “mighty voice” and “lifted hand” of God's messengers like this “angel”. Let all who read these words take heed and yield to Him today.

Next time John shares how the angel, “swore by him that lives for ever and ever”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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