Revelation10
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1And 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;
2and he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left upon the earth;
3and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.
4And 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.
5And the angel that I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his right hand to heaven,
6and 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:
7but 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.
8And 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.
9And 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.
10And 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.
11And they say unto me, Thou must prophesy again over many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Revelation 10.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The Angel of the covenant presents a little open book, which is followed with seven thunders. (1–4). At the end of the following prophecies, time should be no more. (5–7). A voice directs the apostle to eat the book; (8–10). and tells him he must prophesy further. (11).
vv1-7
The apostle saw another representation. The person communicating this discovery probably was our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, or it was to show his glory. He veils his glory, which is too great for mortal eyes to behold; and throws a veil upon his dispensations. A rainbow was upon his head; our Lord is always mindful of his covenant. His awful voice was echoed by seven thunders; solemn and terrible ways of discovering the mind of God. We know not the subjects of the seven thunders, nor the reasons for suppressing them. There are great events in history, perhaps relating to the Christian church, which are not noticed in open prophecy. The final salvation of the righteous, and the final success of true religion on earth, are engaged for by the unfailing word of the Lord. Though the time may not be yet, it cannot be far distant. Very soon, as to us, time will be no more; but if we are believers, a happy eternity will follow: we shall from heaven behold and rejoice in the triumphs of Christ, and his cause on earth.
vv8-11
Most men feel pleasure in looking into future events, and all good men like to receive a word from God. But when this book of prophecy was thoroughly digested by the apostle, the contents would be bitter; there were things so awful and terrible, such grievous persecutions of the people of God, such desolations in the earth, that the foresight and foreknowledge of them would be painful to his mind. Let us seek to be taught by Christ, and to obey his orders; daily meditating on his word, that it may nourish our souls; and then declaring it according to our several stations. The sweetness of such contemplations will often be mingled with bitterness, while we compare the Scriptures with the state of the world and the church, or even with that of our own hearts.
Key Words
καί (kaí): and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
εἴδω (eídō): used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent G3700 (ὀπτάνομαι) and G3708 (ὁράω); properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by implication, (in the perfect tense only) to know
ἄλλος (állos): "else," i.e. different (in many applications)
ἰσχυρός (ischyrós): forcible (literally or figuratively)
ἄγγελος (ángelos): compare G34 (ἀγέλη)) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor
καταβαίνω (katabaínō): to descend (literally or figuratively)
ἐκ (ek): literal or figurative; direct or remote)
οὐρανός (ouranós): the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel (Christianity)
περιβάλλω (peribállō): to throw all around, i.e. invest (with a palisade or with clothing)
νεφέλη (nephélē): properly, cloudiness, i.e. (concretely) a cloud
Cross References
Revelation 10The angel lifts his hand to heaven and swears an oath, closely matching Daniel's vision.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Ezekiel is commanded to eat the roll, which is sweet as honey in his mouth.
Supported by JFB
The rainbow upon his head recalls the covenant sign encircling God's throne in Revelation 4:3.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
The description of feet like pillars of fire corresponds to Christ's feet in chapter 1.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The face shining like the sun directly matches the description of Christ in Revelation 1:16.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Christ's transfigured face shone as the sun, mirroring this mighty angel's face.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The visual of a hand holding a roll parallels the 'little book open' in the angel's hand.
Supported by JFB
Daniel is told to seal up his words, mirroring the command to seal the seven thunders.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Daniel is commanded to shut up/seal his vision, analogous to John sealing the thunders.
Supported by JFB
The promise of 'time no longer' directly answers the martyrs' plea to wait a little season.
Supported by JFB
Jeremiah 'eats' the words of God, finding them to be the joy and rejoicing of his heart.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The rainbow of covenant mercy given to Noah is re-established over the angel's head.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrasts the sealed book of chapter 5 with the open little book here.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The Lord God roaring like a lion parallels the angel crying out as a roaring lion.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God lifting His hand to heaven and swearing by His eternal existence.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The sounding of the seventh angel, when the mystery of God is declared finished.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Ezekiel experiences bitter heat in his spirit after receiving his prophetic commission.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The oath invokes God as Creator of heaven, earth, and sea, echoing the Decalogue.
Supported by Matthew Poole
God's words are described as sweet as honey to the taste.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jeremiah's commission to prophesy over nations and kingdoms parallels John's commission.
Supported by Matthew Henry