Revelation10

John beholds a mighty angel descending from heaven, cloaked in a cloud with a rainbow, holding an open little book. The angel, standing upon the sea and earth, cries out, and seven thunders utter voices, which John is commanded to seal. The angel then swears by God that there shall be no more delay, and the mystery of God will be finished with the seventh trumpet. John is instructed to take and eat the little book, finding it sweet in his mouth but bitter in his belly, before being commissioned to prophesy again.
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The Mighty Angel and the Little Scroll

1
And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, arrayed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as 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 upon the earth; ​
3
and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. ​
4
And when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. ​

The Angel Swears an Oath

5
And the angel that I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his right hand to heaven,
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and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein, that there shall be delay no longer: ​
7
but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then is finished the mystery of God, according to the good tidings which he declared to his servants the prophets. ​

John Eats the Scroll and Is Commissioned

8
And the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard it again speaking with me, and saying, Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel that standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
9
And I went unto the angel, saying unto him that he should give me the little book. And he saith unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but in thy mouth it shall be 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 when I had eaten it, my belly was made bitter. ​
11
And they say unto me, Thou must prophesy again over many peoples and nations and tongues and kings. ​

Study Notes for Revelation 10

Verse 1

This mighty angel is described in terms suggesting divine authority, perhaps mirroring the glorified Christ (cf. Rev 1:15-16). The cloud, rainbow, and fiery presence symbolize judgment, covenant faithfulness, and God's overwhelming power.

Verse 2

The little book (*biblaridion*) is open, contrasting with the sealed scroll of Chapter 5, indicating its contents are ready to be proclaimed. The angel standing with one foot on the sea and one on the earth signifies universal dominion over the world.

Verse 3

The loud voice like a lion's roar is a standard prophetic image (cf. Amos 3:8), signifying a solemn declaration of divine judgment or imminent action.

Verse 4

The sealing of the seven thunders shows that not all of God's plans or judgments are revealed to humanity, emphasizing divine sovereignty. John’s willingness to write affirms his role as the recorder of God's revelation.

Verse 6

The oath is made by the Creator, underscoring its absolute certainty. The phrase 'time no longer' is better translated as 'delay no longer,' meaning the period of waiting for the final events is finished; the judgment process will now proceed immediately.

Verse 7

The 'mystery of God' refers to the full realization of God's redemptive and judgmental purposes, the culmination of the plan foretold by the prophets. This mystery is completed when the seventh trumpet sounds (Rev 11:15).

Verse 9

The command to 'eat it up' is a symbolic act common in prophetic literature (Ezek 3:1-3), signifying the internalization and acceptance of God's message for proclamation.

Verse 10

The sweetness represents the initial joy and honor of receiving divine revelation and the calling to prophesy. The bitterness reflects the difficulty, pain, and judgment contained within the message, which involves suffering for the prophet and condemnation for the world.

Verse 11

This verse is a crucial transition, commissioning John to prophesy again, indicating a new, intense phase of revelation (chapters 11-22) concerning the final conflict between God and the global powers.

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