Bible Commentaries
Revelation 10

Verses 1-11

Interlude between the Blowing of the Sixth and Seventh Trumpets Robert Mounce notes that Revelation 10:1 to Revelation 11:14 serves as an interlude between the blowing of the sixth and seventh trumpets. He notes how there are similar interludes between the openings of the sixth and seventh seals (Revelation 7:1-17) and between the pouring forth of the sixth and seventh bowls (Revelation 16:13-16). [81]

[81] Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, in The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), 298-299.

Revelation 10:7 Comments - Scholars believe that 1 Corinthians 15:52 is a description of the Rapture of the Church which immediately precedes the seven-year Tribulation period. Irvin Baxter makes the comment that this last trumpet is a reference to the seventh trumpet that sounds in the book of Revelation. [82] We read in Revelation 10:7, “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.” He suggests the “mystery of God” refers to the Church of Jesus Christ, that mystery that was hidden in ages past. The finishing of this mystery would be the church age, which ends at the time of the Rapture of the Church.

[82] Irvin Baxter, Jr., Understanding the End Time: Lesson 12 The Seven Trumpets (Richmond, Indiana: Endtime, Inc., 1986) [on-line]; accessed 1 October 2008; available from http://www.endtime.com/Audio.aspx; Internet.

1 Corinthians 15:52, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.”

Revelation 10:9 Comments - Both John the apostle and Ezekiel are given books to eat. Both experience sweetness at first, then bitterness.

Ezekiel 3:3, “And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness .”

Ezekiel 3:14, “So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit ; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.”

In Revelation 10:9, John describes the effects of bitterness in his belly. Ezekiel is probably describing the same experience when he says that he became bitter, in the heat or indignation of his spirit.

Revelation 10:9-11 Comments - Note that Ezekiel ate the book in Ezekiel 3:1-4 for same purpose, and he experienced the same taste in his mouth.

Ezekiel 3:1-4, “Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them.”

Perhaps the symbolism of the sweet and the bitter is found in the comments of Sadhu Sundar Singh.

“The cross is like a walnut whose outer rind is bitter, but the inner kernel is pleasant and invigorating. So the cross does not offer any charm of outward appearance, but to the cross-bearer its true character is revealed, and he finds in it the choicest sweets of spiritual peace.” [83]

[83] Sadhu Sundar Singh, At the Master’s Feet, translated by Arthur Parker (London: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1922) [on-line]; accessed 26 October 2008; available from http://www.ccel.org/ccel/singh/feet.html; Internet, “V The Cross and the Mystery of Suffering,” section 1, part 6.