Revelation 10
Revelation 10 is an intermediate passage placed between the sixth and seventh of the seven trumpet judgments. In this chapter, another mighty angel appears, holding a small scroll, and a special scene is recorded in which John receives it and eats it. This serves to emphasize again the seriousness of God’s revelation and mission, before the message of the final judgment is proclaimed.
1verseI saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.
2verseHe had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land.
3verseHe cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.
4verseWhen the seven thunders sounded, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from the sky saying, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders said, and don’t write them.”
5verseThe angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky
6verseand swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay,
7versebut in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants the prophets.
8verseThe voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.”
9verseI went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”
10verseI took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.
11verseThey told me, “You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”
Development and Structure of the Scene
- The appearance of the mighty angel (vv. 1-4) : The mighty angel comes down from heaven, described as being robed with a rainbow and clouds, his face like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He is holding a small scroll, stands with his feet on the earth and the sea, and cries out in a loud voice. In response to the angel’s cry, the seven thunders speak, but John is commanded not to write down what they said.
- The angel’s oath (vv. 5-7) : The angel raises his right hand to heaven and swears by the eternal living God, proclaiming that there will be no more time (no more delay). He declares that God’s secret will be accomplished when the seventh angel sounds his trumpet.
- The small scroll (vv. 8-11) : John receives and eats the small scroll that the angel was holding. It was sweet in his mouth, but it turned bitter in his stomach. After that, John is given a mission to prophesy again to many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.
The Overall Meaning and Message of Chapter 10
This chapter symbolically shows that God’s plan of redemption is brought to completion along with the message of judgment. The unheard voices of the thunders, John’s symbolic act of receiving and eating the book, and the command to “prophesy again” all suggest that God’s will and plan are fulfilled mysteriously beyond human limits. At the same time, it indicates that one will experience both the sweetness and the pain of the ministry of receiving God’s revelation and delivering His message.
Points to Ponder
- Do you remember that God’s revelation is not fully disclosed and remains mysterious?
- In the process of accepting the Word, are you experiencing not only sweetness but also, at times, the pain and burden that come with it?
- Are you living a life that responds faithfully to God’s promises and keeps the faith to the end?
Try Applying It to Yourself
- Take a moment to reflect on what God’s Word and mission given to me today are.
- Meditate on what attitude you should have in order to move forward—by trusting that you will carry not only the sweetness you feel when you hear the Word, but also the difficulties you encounter as you put it into practice.
