Rev 10

F. The mighty angel and the little scroll (chap. 10) 1. the introduction of the angel holding the scroll (10:1–4)

Revelation 10:1–4 NLT

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire. And in his hand was a small scroll that had been opened. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. And he gave a great shout like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders answered. When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Keep secret what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down.”

Chapter 7 dealt parenthetically with the 144,000 and the many martyrs, without advancing chronologically the events of the Great Tribulation. Similarly 10:1–11:14 give additional information as a background to the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments. Another angel was introduced, apparently not one of the seven angels sounding the trumpets. Some believe this angel was Christ, pointing to the angel mentioned in 8:3 as also probably a representation of Christ as a priest. But though Christ appeared frequently as the Angel of Jehovah in the Old Testament

(e.g.,

Genesis 16:13 NLT

Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “You are the God who sees me.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?”

Genesis 24:7 NLT

For the Lord, the God of heaven, who took me from my father’s house and my native land, solemnly promised to give this land to my descendants. He will send his angel ahead of you, and he will see to it that you find a wife there for my son.

Judges 6:22 NLT

When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, I’m doomed! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!”

, there is no evidence that this person was other than a mighty angel (cf.

Revelation 5:2 NLT

And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?”

), perhaps Michael the archangel.

10:1–4. This angel, however, was pictured dramatically as robed in a cloud, having a rainbow above his head, his face brilliant with glory like the sun, and with his legs … like fiery pillars. John added that the angel held a little scroll and stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. At the same time he shouted like the roar of a lion. The scene is certainly one to inspire awe, and when this angel shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. John was forbidden to record what the seven thunders said. While Revelation is primarily designed to reveal and not to conceal God’s purpose and future events, some revelation was kept hidden as illustrated by God’s prohibiting John to write what “the voices” of the seven thunders said. In contrast with the seven-sealed scroll (biblion) held by the Lamb (5:1), this angel held a small scroll (biblaridion, also used in 10:9–10). This scroll apparently contained the angel’s written order for the mission he was about to fulfill.

2. the announcement of the impending end (10:5–7)

Revelation 10:5–7 NLT

Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand toward heaven. He swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay. When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.”

10:5–7. The dramatic introduction of this angel (in vv. 1–4) was a preparation for the pronouncement which followed in verses 5–7. Solemnly swearing by God the eternal Creator, the angel declared, There will be no more delay! The KJV rendering, “There shall be time no longer,” has been mistakenly interpreted as an abolishment of the present time system with its sequence of events. But this is not the thought of the passage, as the NIV translation is accurate. The clear reference to God as Creator (cf. 4:11; 14:7) answers evolutionary speculation as to the origin of the earth, and it also affirms the omnipotence of God in dealing with the world in judgment when the time is ripe. Announcement was made that the seventh … trumpet would bring about the accomplishment of the mystery of God. This mystery had been previously announced to God’s prophets. The reference, therefore, is not to hidden truth but to the fulfillment of many Old Testament passages which refer to the glorious return of the Son of God and the establishment of His kingdom of righteousness and peace on the earth. While God’s purposes are not necessarily revealed in current events where Satan is allowed power and manifestation, the time will come when Satan no longer will be in power and the predictions of the Old Testament prophets will be fulfilled. Then all will know the Lord and the truth about Him (Jer. 31:34). Here again is evidence that the seventh trumpet introduces the seven bowl judgments of God’s wrath described in Revelation 16.

3. the eating of the scroll (10:8–11)

Revelation 10:8–11 NLT

Then the voice from heaven spoke to me again: “Go and take the open scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. “Yes, take it and eat it,” he said. “It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!” So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach. Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

10:8–11. John obeyed the angel’s instruction to eat the scroll, and though it was sweet (like honey) in his mouth, it soured in his stomach. The angel then added that John would prophesy again. What does this incident mean? Though no interpretation was given John, it is evident that in partaking of the book he was appropriating what the book states

(cf.

Jeremiah 15:16 NLT

When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.

). The scroll seems to symbolize the Word of God and divine revelation in general, for John was told to deliver the Word faithfully. To John the Word of God was indeed sweet with its revelation of the grace of God and its many precious promises that belong to believers. As such it sharply contrasted with his circumstances on Patmos Island. David stated, “The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb” (

Psalm 19:9–10 NLT

Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.

). Though the Word is sweet to believers, it will be bitter to unbelievers when it brings divine judgment on them.

G. The two witnesses (11:1–14) While it is clear that 11:1–14 continues the parenthetical section begun in 10:1, an amazing variation of interpretations of this portion of Scripture have been offered. Alford calls this chapter “one of the most difficult in the whole Apocalypse” (The Greek Testament, 4:655). The best guideline to follow in interpreting this section is to take each fact literally. In line with this principle, a literal temple will be in existence during the Great Tribulation, and the city should be considered the literal city Jerusalem in keeping with its identification in 11:8. The time periods of 42 months (v. 2) and three and one-half days (vv. 9, 11) again should be considered literally. The earthquake will kill literally 7,000 individuals, and the two witnesses should be considered as two individual men. 1. the measuring of the temple (11:1–2) 11:1–2. John was given a reed, a lightweight rod, to be