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.

The Mighty Angel and the Little Scroll

1
Next I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was dressed in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head; his face was like the sun, his legs like columns of fire; ​
2
and he had a little scroll lying open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, ​
3
and shouted in a voice as loud as the roar of a lion; and when he shouted, seven thunderclaps sounded with voices that spoke. ​
4
When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up the things the seven thunders said, do not write them down!” ​

The Angel Swears an Oath

5
Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted his right hand toward heaven
6
and swore by the One who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it: “There will be no more delay; ​
7
on the contrary, in the days of the sound from the seventh angel when he sounds his shofar, the hidden plan of God will be brought to completion, the Good News as he proclaimed it to his servants the prophets.” ​

John Eats the Scroll and Is Commissioned

8
Next the voice which I had heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the scroll lying open in the hand of the angel standing on the sea and on the land!”
9
So I went over to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll; and he said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” ​
10
I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it; and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; but after I had swallowed it, my stomach turned bitter. ​
11
Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages 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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