To begin with the second part of this verse: where is the angel standing and what is he looking at? He stood with his right foot on the sea. Seen from Israel and seen as John sees from the island of Patmos this means that the angel stands with his right foot on the Mediterranean Sea.1 Patmos, the island to which John was banned, lies ninety kilometres south-west of Ephesus, off the coast of Turkey, on the west side, between Turkey and Greece. If he is standing with his right foot on the Mediterranean Sea and his left foot on the island of Patmos – or on mainland Turkey – he is standing with his face turned towards Jerusalem, towards Israel!
The expression implies that He is placing His foot and is standing there as a ruler, as a victor, with His legs spread upon the earth and the sea. The Lord told Joshua: “I will give you every place where you set your foot.”2 This is how the Messiah-King will rule over all the earth, “with the enemies as a footstool for Your feet”.3 Indeed, the whole earth is His footstool, because the Father has put all things into His hands. Christ, the other angel, is different than all the other angels mentioned in the Book of Revelation. He is the strong Angel. Angel means: the sent one. Christ is not an angel. But like them He is also a ‘sent one’. He is completely different from the angels.
Under the caption: ‘The Son Superior to Angels’ in the NIV it is said in Hebrews 1:5-9 “For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”? Or again, “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”? And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, “Let all God’s angels worship Him.” In speaking of the angels He says, “He makes His angels spirits, and His servants flames of fire.” But about the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of Your Kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has set You above Your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” What a glorious description of our Lord and Saviour!
So like angels sometimes are sent into our world He also was sent by the Father, John says in his Gospel.4 And Jesus says: “As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you”, He says to His disciples.5 Jesus calls the ministers of the seven churches His angels, His sent ones, heralds, messengers.6
He is standing there with His legs and feet as fiery pillars, pillars of judgment and righteousness. We do not yet see everything subject to Him, according to Hebrews 2:8. We see Jesus lower than the angels because of the suffering of death He undergoes in our place, tasting death for everyone, but crowned with Glory nevertheless. We often do not understand His rule in our life. We often do not know why things in the world have to be as they are, if everything is placed under His feet.7 And yet, we do realise: the Saviour is coming to judge; truth and mercy will shine from His sweet face.8 That moment has not yet dawned at this point in time. The Angel still has an unopened little scroll, a message, in his hand. And He gives that message with His face directed towards Jerusalem and Israel. The diminutive ‘little scroll’ is used expressly. He is holding it in His left hand since His right hand is raised to Heaven. It is open, the content is not hidden. Can we already know now what it contains? For the hidden things are for the Lord, our God, but what is revealed is for us and our children for ever, so that we fulfil the words of this Law, this Thora.9 Is it a ‘summary’ of everything God has said? Does this refer to God’s revealed will for man and the world? What is it?
• John will shortly receive this little scroll – for that is what it is – and he has to spread its content. He has to spread its content worldwide. With his eyes focussed upon Jerusalem and Israel.
• When the Jewish people are restored in the land of Israel, the return of Christ is very near. When the twigs of the fig tree become tender and its leaves come out, summer is near.10 When Israel is being restored, Christ is at the door.
Bible References:
1.Revelation 1:9 2.Joshua 1:3; Deuteronomy 11:24 3.Psalm 110:1, 8:7; Isaiah 66:1; 1 Corinthians 15:25–27; Acts 2:34–35; Hebrews 2:6–9; Matthew 11:27, 28:18; 4.John 3:35, 17:2 5.John 3:34, 4:34, 8:29 6.John 17:18, 20:21 7.Revelation 2:1, 8, 12 and 18, 3:1, 7, 14 8.Ephesians 1:22 9.Revelation 10:5 10.Deuteronomy 29:29 11.Matthew 24:32–35
