Bible Commentaries
Revelation 10

Verse 1

^{PARENTHETICAL REVIEW 10:1 - 11:14 THE MIGHTY ANGEL WITH THE LITTLE BOOK v. 1-7}

^{Note: see also Introduction Revelation}

^{1) "And I saw another mighty angel," (kai eidon allon angelon ischuron) "And I saw another angel, a strong one;” as in Revelation 5:2, perhaps the protecting archangel Michael. The trumpet judgments are here interrupted until Revelation 11:14, then continued to the end of that chapter. Attention is here called to three parenthetical interruptions of divine judgments for a moment of tension relief and turn to other scenes, Revelation 7:1-17; and by two consoling visions.}

^{2) "Come down from heaven," (katabainonta ek tou ouranou) "Coming down out of the heaven," where God’s throne was. The prophet-seer is positioned on earth as the strong (mighty) angel came down to him, described as follows, Revelation 10:4; Revelation 10:8.}

^{3) "Clothed with a cloud," (periblemenon nephelen) "Having been clothed (covered) with a cloud," signifying mystery and dark judgment yet to be, Ezekiel 1:28. Yet the cloud was marked with an assurance promise.}

^{4) "And a rainbow upon his head," (kai he iris epi ten kephalen autou) "And (there was) a rainbow upon his head," a sign of the covenant of mercy God made with Noah and those after him, Genesis 9:11-16; Revelation 4:3.}

^{5) "And his face was as it were the sun," (kai to prosopon autou hos ho helios) "and his face was like the sun, (in brilliance), as surrounded by a rainbow of promise, of mercy, and resurrection hope and assurance to Israel and the church to come, Ephesians 3:21; Luke 1:30-32; Matthew 17:2.}

^{6) "And his feet as pillars of fire," (kai hoi podes autou hos stulos puros) "and his feet (appeared as) pillars (supports) of fire;” indicating a support of judgment to be later resumed, Revelation 11:14. This is in harmony with the judgment appearance of Jesus, as described also Revelation 1:15-16.}

Verse 2

^{1) "And he had in his hand," (kai echon en te cheiri autou) "And (he was) holding in his hand," in his control, in his care, in his stewardship service, or ministry, Hebrews 1:14.}

^{2) "A little book open," (Biblaridion eneogmenon) "a little scroll (booklet) that had been opened," in contrast with or in addition (supplement) to the seven seas book of Revelation 5:1. This has its parallel, Ezekiel 2:9; Ezekiel 3:1-2; though similar, these are not identical.}

^{3) "And he set his right foot upon the sea," (kai etheken ton poda autou ton deksion epi tes thalasses) "and he put, placed, or set his right foot upon the sea;” indicating that his message of mingled mercy and judgment about to be disclosed for the Master was for the entire universe, Matthew 28:18; Psalms 95:5; Haggai 2:6.}

^{4) "And his left foot on the earth," (ton de euonumon epi tes ges) "and the left (foot) he put, placed, or set upon the land." This indicates absolute jurisdiction of administration over the whole earth. Whichever angel (among God’s ministering spirits) this mighty angel was, he was acting and speaking with divine authority for Jesus Christ, Hebrews 1:14; John 3:35; John 5:27; Matthew 11:27; 2 Timothy 4:1-2.}

Verse 3

^{1) "And cried with a loud voice," (kai ekraksen phone megale) "And he cried (aloud) with a megaphone-like voice," loud, clear, distinct, and terrible voice, that split the air with trembling shock and fear.}

^{2) "As when a lion roareth," (hosper leon mukatai) "Just as when a lion roars," or similar to the shock of a lion’s roar, as king of the beasts in the midst of the forest, Jeremiah 51:38; Hosea 11:10; Ezekiel 22:25; 1 Peter 5:8.}

^{3) "And when he had cried," (kai hote ekraksen) "and when he had cried aloud," when this mighty strong angel had roared in thunder-like reverberating sound what he had to say.}

^{4) "Seven thunders uttered their voices," (elalesan hai hepta brontai tas heauton phonas) "The seven thunders spoke out or uttered their own voices," articulately spoke or uttered what they had to say. Reverberating thunder sounds refer to a divine voice of warning. The number seven seems to indicate complete, finished, or adequate warning. The Jews referred to thunder as the seven voices or absolute voice of the Lord, as in repetition of Psalms 29:3-11; as they also considered lightning to be the fire of God’s consuming wrath, Job 1:16.}

Verse 4

^{1) "And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices," (kai hote elalesan hai hepta brontai) "And when the seven thunders spoke," had completed their judgment utterances, as I (John) heard them so distinctly.}

^{2) "I was about to write," (emellon graphein) "I was about to start writing," writing what the thunders uttered or revealed to me.}

^{3) "And I heard a voice from heaven," (kai ekousa phonen ek tou ouranou) "and I heard a voice out of the heaven," about the throne of God, from where the mighty strong angel had come, Revelation 10:1. It was an interrupting voice to John.}

^{4) "Saying unto me," (legousan) "Saying to, or instructing me," with regards to the things I had just heard.}

^{5) "Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered," (sphragison-ha elalesan hai hepta brontai) "Seal thou (shut up or conceal) the things which the seven thunders spoke;” This is similar to instructions Daniel received, Daniel 8:26; Daniel 12:4; Daniel 12:9.}

^{6) "And write them not," (kai me auta grapses) "And thou mayest not write them," or record them. It is therefore vain for one to speculate what the seven thunders said. Our Lord even advised His disciples on one occasion that He had many things to say to them, but "ye cannot bear them now," John 16:12; 1 Corinthians 3:2.}

Verse 5

^{1) "And the angel which I saw," (kai ho angelos hon eidon) "And the angel whom I saw," the mighty, strong angel, Revelation 10:1. He is mighty to inform and to serve as a judgment administering, ministering angel to and for the Lord Jesus Christ, Hebrews 1:14.}

^{2) "Stand upon the sea and upon the earth," (hastota epi tes thalasses kai epi tes ges) "was standing upon sea and upon the land," the earth; As in Daniel’s vision, the angel testified to him of the same era of pending judgment, Daniel 12:6-13. The coming judge is thus affirmed to be the central executor of end time judgments upon Israel and the nations, John 3:35; John 5:27; 2 Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9.}

^{3) "Lifted up his hand," (eren ten cheira autou ten deksian) "He lifted (up) his right hand," as was the custom in swearing to the most High God, possessor of heaven and earth, as Abraham did, Genesis 14:22. The Hebrew term "to swear" means to "lift up my hand," Genesis 15:18; Genesis 22:16; Genesis 26:3; Genesis 28:13; Genesis 35:12; Exodus 6:8.}

^{4) "To heaven," (eis ton ouranon) "to, toward, or (in direction of) heaven," in the presence of, and in reverence of, honesty toward the Creator, the eternal God, the righteous judge, Deuteronomy 32:40; Daniel 12:7.}

Verse 6

^{1) "And sware by him that liveth," (kai omosen en to zonti) "And swore by him who lives," by the most high God by whom prophets and saints had sworn or affirmed oaths, Genesis 14:22; Deuteronomy 32:40.}

^{2) "For ever and ever," (eis tous aionas ton aionon) "Into the ages of the ages," Daniel 4:34; Revelation 4:10, as attested by both Daniel and John. See also Hebrews 6:13; Hebrews 6:17.}

^{3) "Who created heaven, and the things that therein are," (hos ektisen ton ouranon kai ta in auto) "who created heaven and the things in it," even by Jesus Christ, the risen Lord, the coming judge, and King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11.}

^{4) "And the earth and the things that therein are," (kai ten gen kai ta en aute) "and the earth (land) and the things in it," This was the central person of Paul’s address of Mar’s Hill, Acts 17:24; Acts 17:28-31.}

^{5) "And the sea, and the things which are therein," (kai ten thalassan kai ta en aute) "and the sea and the things in it," Exodus 20:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Revelation 14:7.}

^{6) "That there should be time no longer," (hoti chronos ouketi estai) "that chronological or measured time should be or exist no longer," no more at all, following the ultimate and final judgment of Israel, the nations, and the unbelievers Daniel 12:7; Revelation 16:17.}

Verse 7

^{1)"But in the days," (all’ en tais hemerais) "But in those days," indicating a progressive time element in which this succeeding and seventh angel shall sound forth final judgment of woes and sufferings.}

^{2) "Of the voice of the seventh angel," (tes phones tou hebdomou angelou) "of the voice (sounding) of the seventh angel," of the seven who were appointed to sound the seven trumpets of judgment, Revelation 8:1-2.}

^{3) "When he shall begin to sound," (hotan melle salpizein) "Whenever he is about to trumpet," as the final trumpet blast, of the seven is about to break the air.}

^{4) "The mystery of God should be finished," (kai etelesthe musterion tou theou) "There was also or even then finished or completed the mystery of God," the full or consummate revelation of God is, and, or will then be disclosed, how God judges and rewards the Jew, the Gentile, and the church of God, 1 Corinthians 10:32; Ephesians 3:21; Luke 1:30-31.}

^{5) "As he hath declared to his servants the prophets," (hos euengelisen tous heautou doulos tous prophetas) "Just as or even as he announced it or declared it to his servants, the prophets," Revelation 11:15. The kingdoms (governments) of this earth shall become the kingdom (government) of our Lord; Revelation 16:17; 1 Corinthians 15:24-28; Ephesians 3:9-10. Even in the millennial age our Lord’s church, the twelve apostles, and true church saints (stewards), shall have administrative and jurisdictional reign with Him, Luke 22:28-30; Luke 19:17; 1 Corinthians 6:3.}

Verse 8

^{THE LITTLE BOOK TO BE EATEN v. 8-11}

^{1) "And the voice which I heard from heaven," (kai he phone hen ekousa ek tou ouranou) "And the voice which I heard out of (having come from) heaven," to John on earth, Revelation 10:1-3. It was the voice of the mighty (strong) angel or of the Son of God himself, Revelation 10:4.}

^{2) "Spake unto me again and said," (palin lalousan met’ emou legousan) "was again speaking with me and saying," as he had already spoken in thunderous reverberating tones, Revelation 10:4.}

^{3) "Go and take the little book," (hupage labe to biblion) "Go thou and take the scroll," the little book or pamphlet, or "come thou and take it."}

^{4) "Which is open in the hand of the angel," (to enegomenon en te cheiri tou angelou) "The one Which is (exists) open, in the hand of the angel," the divine minister or spiritual servant of God, Revelation 10:2. An open book is a book of revelation or disclosure, Revelation 4:1.}

^{5) "Which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth," (tou hestotos epi testhalasses kai epi tes ges) "of him who stands upon the sea and upon the land," indicating a universal area of jurisdictional judgment upon men, Revelation 10:5; Revelation 12:7.}

Verse 9

^{1) "And I went unto the angel," (kai apeltha pros ton angelon) "And I went away toward the angel, of my own accord," I approached the mighty angel with the little book (pamphlet) in his hand, Revelation 10:2; Revelation 10:8.}

^{2) "And said unto him, Give me the little book," (legon auto dounai moi to biblaridion) "Telling him (requiring him) to give to me (deliver to me) the little (small) scroll," the pamphlet.}

^{3) "And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up;”- (kai legei moi labe kai kataphage auto) "And he says (said) to me (directly) take it and eat it down (swallow it)," absorb or digest it, make the word story of revelation your own, a part of you, John, as Ezekiel did Ezekiel 2:9 to Ezekiel 3:3.}

^{4) "And it shall make thy belly bitter," (kai pikranei sou ten koilian) "and it will embitter thy stomach," make thy stomach ache. John’s future or the future of Israel, his people, was yet to have bitterness, pain, agony, and sorrow, Revelation 11:2; Revelation 12:13.}

^{5) "But it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey," (all’ en to stomati sou estai gluku hos meli) "but in thy mouth it shall be sweet, similar to honey," Jeremiah 15:16; Ezekiel 2:8; Ezekiel 3:3; Psalms 19:9-10. The books that help one most are those that make one think the most. The slowest and hardest way of learning is by easy reading. Worthwhile, weighty thought-content requires deliberate absorption and digestion, be the matter pleasant or unpleasant, Ecclesiastes 12:13.}

^{EATING A BOOK?}

^{Yes; where is the difficulty? The phrase is familiar enough - "read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest," etc. What is eaten comes to be assimilated, and so to become a portion of one’s own flesh and blood. Before the eating it lies out side us. Until it is eaten, it is only that which would nourish if it were eaten, but by no other process than by our eating it can it serve its purpose or ours. This is one of God’s parables in nature. His words of truth and grace are meant to be the life of human souls, on which they grow and thrive. The assimilation by reading, thinking, faith, and prayer is necessary if God’s Word is to be the support of our souls. Pulpit Com.}

Verse 10

^{1) "And I took the little book," (kai elabon to biblaridion) "And I took the little (small) scroll," in obedience to the divine voice, Revelation 10:9.}

^{2) "Out of the angel’s hand," (ek tes cheiros tou angelou) "Out of the angel’s hand," as he gave it over, delivered it to me as a gift from God, Hebrews 1:14.}

^{3) "And ate it up," (kai katephagon auto) "and ate it," swallowed it down, devoured it, or absorbed its message. Blessed are those who still do this, John 5:39; Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Acts 20:32.}

^{4) "And it was in my mouth sweet as honey," (kai hen en to stomati mou) "And (while) it was in my mouth (hos meli gluku) it (tasted) sweet, similar to honey," assured eventual deliverance for Israel was sweet to John, as well as the triumph of the church, Daniel 12:1; Daniel 12:3; Daniel 12:13; Revelation 7:4; Revelation 12:6-7; Revelation 12:14; Ephesians 3:21; 2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:5-9.}

^{5) "And as soon as I had eaten it," (kai hote ephagon auto) "and as soon as I had eaten, devoured, swallowed, or consumed it," when I had comprehended the meaning of the content message of the little scrolI, book, or booklet, Daniel 12:9-10; 1 Thessalonians 5:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5.}

^{6) "My belly was bitter," (epikranthe he koilia mou) "my stomach was made bitter, made to ache, to contract. Ezekiel 2:8-10, for the lamentations, mournings, and woes yet to be on my people Israel in the latter days of the tribulation the great, Matthew 24:14-22.}

Verse 11

^{1) "And he said unto me," (kai legousin moi) "And they say (or he says to me)," Jesus Christ and the mighty (strong) angel both communicated to John.}

^{2) "Thou must prophesy again," (dei se palin propeteusai) "it is necessary that you prophesy again," or you must again prophesy, or your people Israel must rise and prophesy again, after the many days, with morning and evening oblations during the first half of Daniel’s 70th week, Daniel 9:26-27; Daniel 12:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 2:4-12; Revelation 11:1-4.}

^{3) "Before many peoples," (epi laois-pollois) "Before many peoples," as Jesus did, as Paul did, 2 Timothy 4:16-18.}

^{a) "and nations," (kai ethnesin) "and before many nations," Revelation 5:9-10; Revelation 9:6; Revelation 9:20-21.}

^{b) "and tongues," (kai glossais) "and before many languages," Revelation 7:9-15.}

^{c) "and kings," (kai basileusin) "and before many kings," you must prophesy, Revelation 11:1-7; Zechariah 12:10; Zechariah 14:16-17; Daniel 9:26-27; Isaiah 2:1-5.}