Revelation Chapter 10

Revelations Bible Study 2020-2021 • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

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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: 2 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, 3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 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.[1]

Verse 1

Another mighty angel – This angel is different from the angels we have seen thus far. It has been suggested that this angel is Gabriel, and this would make sense whereas Gabriel is God’s chief messenger. While we can not know this definitely, what we must be clear about is this is not the same Angel (Christ) who was worthy to take the scroll.

Came down from Heaven – Up until now John has given us all of vision two from a heavenly perspective (chapters 4-9). For this brief interlude, going through chapter 11, John will give us his vision from earths perspective, and he will play a part consisting more than that a spectator. In the remaining portion of this vision, he will once again play the role of spectator.

Clothed with a cloud – That is, surrounded with the glory of God’s presence.

Rainbow was upon his head – The covenant mark between God and man. In the mist of judgement, the angel wears the mark of promise.

Face as the sun – When Moses was in the presence of God, his hair turned white and his face glowed so bright it had to be veiled. This angel is coming directly from the throne room of God and his face shines from the glory of where he has come from.

Verse 2

Had in his hand – The Greek is in perfect present tense, meaning not that he had, but has.

Little Scroll – We do not know much about this little scroll. We do know it is different from the scroll which was sealed, and no created creature was worthy to open. It is also debated how closely related to that other scroll this one is. It is understood that what was contained in this scroll may be the rest of this vision. This is only speculation, and we will discuss this more in verses 9 and 10.

Right foot on sea, left foot on earth – This represents the authority given over all the earth, the sea and the land, and all the creatures that dwell thereon/therein.

Verse 3

Seven thunders uttered their voices – These seven thunders are different from the angel that just descended. Thunder is often associated with the presence of God, and with judgement.

Verse 4

I was about to write – Previously, John had been commanded to write all that he sees. Obedient, John was about to write what he heard of the seven thunders.

I heard a voice from heaven – It is likely God, but this is unknown and debated. Whether it is God or a high ranking angel, this voice has authority as it is coming from Heaven.

Seal up… write not – John was commanded to write not of what he heard of these seven thunders. It may have been to keep us from worrying too much, or perhaps to not burden us with the contents or prevent us from having more information to try and date. It is widely debated, where thunder is associated with Judgement, if the ending plagues in Revelation were the thunders. If this were the case, this was but a temporary sealing, meant to be written later and turn our attention to what happens immediately. However, this seems unlikely, and in any case, we could not know. It is best to assume that we do not have these contents and thus, we don’t know all pertaining to the end times.

This is a echo from the command to Daniel in 8:26

“26 And the vision of the evening and the morning which was told is true: wherefore shut thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days. 27 And I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.[2]”

Verses 5-7 Prophecy and Warning of the End

5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.[3]

In understanding everything we will read in these three verses, and then the ending of the next chapter, we need to take a minute and review the chronological order of Revelation. We will actually see, that the end of next chapter takes place at the same time as chapters 20 and 21.

Verse 5

The angel I saw – This is referring to the same angel from verse one. John once again that he stands upon the sea and the earth, representing the authority over all the earth.

Lifted his hand toward heaven – That is, his right hand. This is the solemn position for taking oaths.

Verse 6

And sware by Him – Unlike pagan traditions, and even more common traditions, this angel swares not by heaven and by earth, but swares by the God who created the heavens and the earth. This angel is the only angel to take a solemn oath other than the Lord Himself (Angel of the Lord).

Who created the heavens…the earth… the sea… and the things therein – The angel identifies that the God of whom He swares by is the very creator of all that exists. This also reaffirms that God is in control, and this is not some reaction of a deity or person taken by surprise.

Verse 7

In the days of the seventh angel – The seventh angel has yet to sound his trumpet, and won’t sound for another couple of years (chronologically). In this vision, John is being told what to expect in the days that the angel sounds.

The mystery of God shall be finished – The verb usage here, in our English text, would give the idea that it is done, over, completed. It is further propagated by the fact that the word we have translated to finished is the Greek word teleo, which is the word Christ used on the cross when He said “It is finished”. In the context of the words uttered on the cross, we get the definition it is paid. In the context this verse, it is that there will be no more delay. Moving forward, God’s judgement will be carried out fully, and it will come quickly.

It is not clear what this mystery is. In a Biblical context, mystery has always meant divine revelation. It may be the revelation of God’s plan (which will be carried out and fully known as it is accomplished). It may be the revelation of God, whereas in the concluding events of the Bible, all men will know that He is Lord. It may also be a revelation that we have not yet seen or heard and has been kept only in the hearts of the prophets.

Verses 8-11 The Sweet and Bitter Book

8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. 9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. 11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.[4]

Verse 8

The voice which I heard from Heaven – This is the same voice from earlier in the chapter which warned him to not write what the seven thunders spoke. We are still not clear on whether this is God or a high-ranking angel. It is clear that this voice is a voice of authority.

Go and take the little book – Unlike the scroll which no eyes were worthy to look at, John is commanded to go and take this book from the angel.

Standing on sea and on earth – John once again, for the third time, repeats this phrase describing the angels position. It seems somewhat unnecessary, but also displays that there was much significance in this position to John. So much so that he recorded it three times.

Verse 9

I went to him and said to him – John obeys the voice heard from heaven and approaches the angel. He tells the angel, “give me the little book”.

Take it and eat it – John is commanded a second time to take the book, but this command includes another aspect a bit bizzar to the modern reader. This is an allusion to Ezekiel, when he was commanded to eat a scroll that was sweet as honey as well.

Ezekiel 2:8

“8 But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.[5]”

To the modern reader, what may seem a bit weird is better understood by the cultural context. In ancient times, to eat of a scroll symbolized being authorized the authority to proclaim it or to speak on the author of the scrolls behalf.

There is yet another allusion here, that the servant of God must internalize His word. We cannot passively receive His word, but we must take it in ourselves.

It shall make thy belly bitter, but in thy mouth be sweet as honey – There is some poetic symbolism here. To the believer, the Word of God is sweet. It is a love story between God and His creation. It is a hope that we have waiting something better, something promised. It is a story of deliverance, from sin and from death. But to the non-believer, the Word of God is bitter, as it brings forth condemnation. Just as the believer receives salvation and the non-believer receives judgement, so the scroll was sweet in the mouth, but bitter in the belly.

Verse 10

So I took and ate – John obeys and both takes the little book and eats it up.

And it was bitter in my belly, but in my mouth it was sweet as honey – Thus fulfilling the words of the angel.

Ezekiel 3:1-3

“Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. 2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. bThen did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.[6]”

Verse 11

John is being commissioned to prophecy to the nations. John refers to this book earlier on as a book of prophecy (1:3) and has been commissioned to warn the world of what lies in wait for them. Up until now, John has been prophesying of what he has seen in his visions. He is being told that he will continue to prophecy after this interlude, returning to the theme of what awaits this ungodly world.

[1] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Re 10:1–4). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[2] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Da 8:26–27). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[3] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Re 10:5–7). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[4] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Re 10:8–11). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[5] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Eze 2:8). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

[6] The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Eze 3:1–3). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.