Well, this is a relief. If you’re still with us (!), we have something of an intermission between the sixth and seventh trumpet. John’s role as prophet is endorsed by the angel coming and delivering the scroll – a similar picture to the one presented earlier in 5:1. The seals have been opened and the scroll can now be read. Receiving the word of God is a bitter-sweet experience for John. It’s not hard to understand how this is true for John – the book of Revelation is hardly full of sweetness and light. If John has any integrity about him it is not hard to imagine that giving this word, writing it down, is painful for him as he entered into the resulting picture of suffering. So, a few thoughts today about our own use of the gift of prophecy.

First, a desire to hear from God for people requires us to be compassionate people. Do we want to hear from God for our own self-esteem and pride? Or, is it because we genuinely want to bless them, build them up, strengthen and encourage them?

Second, some of what we hear will be for our own understanding only. It will be for us. John heard the seven thunders but is told that it’s not for others to hear but for him – John – only. Sometimes, what we hear from God is to be kept to ourselves. For example, occasionally someone has come to me with a word for the church, or someone else, and I have suggested that perhaps the word is instead intended primarily for them.

Third, we have to ‘eat the scroll’. We are more likely to be ‘safe’ prophets if we have digested the Scriptures. The more we are earthed in the Biblical picture of God, the world and ourselves, the more we will be able to speak out His living word to the world around us. The more we know Scripture the greater the capacity God has to remind us of what we know. Of course, sometimes he bypasses the human memory bank altogether which is good news for those of us who suffer memory loss! But, one of the tests of prophecy is: does it line up with Scripture?

Fourth, we see the imperative about prophecy. John is told that he must prophesy (v.11). Somehow John speaking out the purpose of God is part of the way in which His will is fulfilled. It raises the importance of us declaring prophetic words over people, places and powers. Prophecy releases life and the purposes of God in people.

Just as a passing observation the angel’s message is delivered in a way that connects land and sea to heaven. When the mystery of God is fulfilled in these events it is not to wipe out creation, destroy the world, but so that creation can be made all that it is intended to be.

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Take the last point seriously. It matters how we treat our environment. We are passing pilgrims – choose to leave a place better than you find it!