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Revelation 10        

The Cruden's Concordance of the Bible defines angel as: "A messenger, or bringer of tidings, and is applied, [1] To those intellectual and immaterial beings, whom God makes use of as His ministers to execute the orders of providence, Rev. 22:8.  [2] To Christ, who is the Mediator and Head of the church, Zech. 1:12, Revelation 10:1."  Not surprising, many commentators throughout the centuries have identified the Mighty Angel of Revelation 10 to be a description of none other than the Savior--Jesus Christ.

Other studies of apocalyptic passages, especially Daniel chapters 10-12, have assigned the name of Michael to this unique Messenger to Israel.  However, this is no ordinary angel; this is the very Son of God who has been with the Father from the beginning (John 1:1-3).  Whether Christ is called Michael, the Mighty Angel, or, as we will see in this lesson, the "Seventh Angel," these titles help us understand the many varied roles of the Son of God in the redemption of mankind.  In fact, the Bible is full of names and titles assigned to Christ, our coming King. Revelation 8:2 reveals there are "seven angels who stand before God," who are given "seven trumpets" that are to sound at the end of time.  Revelation 10, the focus of this lesson study, describes the Mighty Seventh Angel's descent to earth and His tremendous loud voice and trumpet.

Judaism teaches that there are seven "Angels of the Presence" of God.  One of these seven is known as Michael, whom Jews believe to be their special protector.  Many times in the Old Testament, the "Angel of the Lord" appeared, to Abraham and to Moses and to lead the children of Israel into the Promise Land (Genesis 22:15-18; Hebrews 6:13; Judges 10:16; Zechariah 2:8; Exodus 14:19, 24; 23:20-23; 32:34; 33:14-15; Deuteronomy 1:32, 33; Acts 7:35-38).  Many in Judaism attribute these events to the Archangel Michael.  Believers now credit many of these events to the person of Jesus Christ--the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament.

The prophet Isaiah states, "Surely they are My people [Israel], sons who will not be false to Me; and so He [Michael] became their Savior.  In all their distress He [Michael], too, was distressed, and the Angel of His Presence [Michael] saved them.  In His love and mercy, He [Michael] redeemed them; He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old," Isaiah 63:8-9.  Christ is pictured as a father, tenderly caring for His beloved children (Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 1:31; 32:11-12; 33:27; Isaiah 46:4).

This "Angel of His Presence" is none other than Christ Himself, clothed in the linen garment--our Great High-Priest, who was ever with His people, protecting them by night, and leading them on to the Promised Land against all enemy opposition.  When the Tabernacle was set up, Christ manifested His presence in the holy Shekinah, above the mercy seat and between the cherubim (Numbers 7:89).

Gabriel is also understood to be among the seven angels who are in the presence of God: Luke 1:19 reads, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God."  A Jew who reads Revelation would understand that seven angels standing before God who are given seven trumpets and bowl plagues of God's wrath, are likely these seven "angels of the presence" of whom Gabriel and Michael would be numbered.  

One might overlook, in the Scriptures, that Michael is simply another name or representation of the Savior, the Angel of the Presence, the Redeemer of Isaiah 63:8-9.  In fact, if one would study the nearly forty or so Bible passages involving the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament in association with the Archangel Michael and His work of protection, redemption and resurrection, His military role as Commander in Chief of Heaven's armies and the Lord of hosts, and the events surrounding the Mighty Angel of Revelation 10, the student would be left with only one conclusion: Michael is Christ, and His identity has been held, in part, secret.  

Paul wrote of his own people, Israel, that they had, "eyes that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day" (Romans 11:8), so the work of Christ might be kept in secret until the calling of His elect, and His final Revelation and glorification.  This "hardening of the heart" will last until the "full number of the Gentiles has come in.  And so all Israel [of all twelve tribes] will be saved," Romans 11:25-26.  The mystery of God will then be completely understood.  

All through the centuries to our present day, Judaism has held Michael in high esteem; in so doing, they have unknowingly been giving honor and respect to the prophesied Redeemer--Jesus Christ.  On the other hand, Christians have not seen in the Scriptures, the clear connection between Michael and Messiah, in part, because some religions (example: Jehovah's Witnesses) have distorted this truth by falsely teaching that, since Michael is an Archangel, he must be a created being and not part of the Godhead.