JMA Missions Mid-Month August 2026
The Great Commission in the New Testament
The Mighty Book of Revelation, part 6
Welcome back to our ongoing series. This is #6 on the Great Commission in the Book of Revelation, and part 2 of our look at Revelation chapter 10.
Abbreviated monthly reminder, Revelation is three types of literature at the same time: it is a prophecy (ch.1:3); it is an epistle, written to real churches and real people; it is written in apocalyptic style, using symbolism/hyperbole.
Last month, we began looking at five reasons why I am calling chapter 10 the Great Commission of Revelation. Reason #1 was the Identity of the Mighty Angel.
This month, we move to reason #1b: The Mighty Angel is Jesus, but Jesus is not an angel!
Revelation 10:1-2, 1"I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land".
Last month, I gave 5 reasons that this angel is really Jesus, based on the descriptions. I inferred strongly that this was describing Jesus, but I didn't actually say it. So, this month, I'm saying it plain and straight! The identity of the Mighty Angel in Revelation 10 is Jesus and not an angel.
The book of Revelation uses the word 'angel' or 'angels' more than 75 times, far more than any other book in the Bible. It is used to describe the 'class' of created beings that we call angels. And it is also used to describe people. The context determines the usage in most cases, however sometimes that can be difficult to determine.
The Greek word is 'aggelos', and it means, 'a messenger, one who is sent, or an angel'.
It was used of John the Baptist, Matthew 11:10, "For this is the one of whom it is written, "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who shall prepare Your way before You."
In Luke 9:52, Jesus sent 'messengers', the same word, to prepare a place for Him. These were people, not angels.
2 Corinthians 12:7, "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure." Paul uses the word here translated messenger. It is not an angel.
The book of Revelation is a revealing book, an apokalupsis in the Greek. It reveals the truth in symbols and deliberate indirectness. It's not a code to break or an enigma that cannot be deciphered. It is truth revealed 'through a glass, darkly', as it were.
There is quite enough information here to get the real picture. So, the description of Jesus as a 'Mighty Angel' is not a proof-text that He is a created angelic being. It's the symbolic language revealing Him as heaven's mighty Messenger of the Gospel, the mediator of the new covenant!
So, Jesus is not an angel! He's much more! He is the Mighty Angelos, the Mighty Messenger, or if I can say it this way, He is the Great Commissioner, coming down from heaven in Revelation 10!
Next month, reason #2 why this chapter is the Great Commission of Revelation!
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