Chapter 10
Revelation 10:1
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.
Here we have another interlude before the 7th Trumpet is sounded; God seemingly pulls back on His wrath a little and allows mankind another opportunity to think about what has happened and to repent. God sends a mighty Angel down from Heaven and because of his description and the might and authority He portrays many believe it is Jesus for in the Old Testament He is clearly referred to as "The Angel of the Lord". Whoever He is we know He comes down from Heaven and he is called a Mighty Angel
Revelation 10:2,3
2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,
3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.
This Angel stands with one foot on the water and the other on the earth, the stance of one with authority and in His hand He held a small scroll. With aloud voice He shouts and the voices of the 7 Thunders spoke. Again we can refer to Psalm 29 for a comparison of the 7 Thunders were the Voice of the Lord is described seven times as thundering, powerful, and majestic, it strikes like lightening and can shake the earth itself.
Revelation 10:4
4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down."
At this time John is given a command not to write what he heard the 7 Thunders say. Some commentators wonder why John recorded the event when he could not reveal what they said. It would do us well to remember that it is the Sovereign God that controls the destiny of the universe and everything within it. It is He who decides what is to be revealed to mankind and when it is to be revealed, this is the theme of the whole Book of Revelation.
Revelation 10:5-6
5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven
6 and 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, and said that there should be no more delays.
This Angel announced to John that two events would occur that are connected with the sounding of the 7th Trumpet. The first was the 'Ending of time', no more delays, this was a solemn oath given by the Mighty Angel. There would be no turning back, the end is set in motion and God who has been delaying His judgment so that the lost would have time to repent is closing the door of His Mercy on the unrepentant, time is up. The prayers of the martyred saints in Rev. 6:10, 11 are about to be answered.
Revelation 10:7
But in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.
The second event would be the finishing of the 'mystery of God'. According to the New Testament God's mystery is the 'Gospel' His plan of Salvation in Christ Jesus. The Creator of the Universe will finish His eternal plan, His mystery, as the Mighty Angel has declared. Life as we know it has always been full of mysteries but the day is coming when all the questions that have been asked regarding the things of God will be answered.
Ephesians 1:10
That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him
Ephesians 6:19
As for me, that words may be given to me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,
- - - - - - - -Revelation 10:8-9
8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, "Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth".
9 And I went to the angel and said to him, "Give me the little book." And he said to me "Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth".
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Psalm 119:103
How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
John hears a voice from Heaven telling him to go and take the book from the Angel and when he did the Angel told him he was to eat it, literally eat it. We remember that God's Word is often compared to food. It has been said it was sweet because of the honor given to John to present this prophetic message and the bitterness was because of the dreadful nature of the message. It is bitter-sweet because it discloses God's mercy and judgment together.
Revelation 10:9-11
10 Then I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.
11 And he said to me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and Kings."
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Ezekiel 3:2-3
And He said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you." So I ate it, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.
A book, sweet and bitter, the eating of it suggests the feeding of the soul on the Word of God. John is given a command to preach the Word and his eating of the book signifies his reception of God's Word into his innermost being as a necessary prerequisite for him to proclaim it with confidence and authority as it represents the fate of the entire world.
