By: Tom Lowe Date: 6-19-18
Title: The Angel with the Little Book (10:1-10:11)
Revelation 10:1-11 (NIV)
1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
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.
8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
10 And 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 as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
Introduction
If you have been expecting the seventh angel to sound the seventh trumpet at this point, you are going to be disappointed. Between the breaking of the sixth and seventh seals we met with a sort of interlude. That Interlude (chapter 7) described how God remembers mercy in the midst of wrath and seals a host of Jews and Gentiles. We mentioned in that earlier study that another such parenthesis would appear between the six and seven trumpets. The passage before us (10:1-11:14) is that parenthesis. The sixth trumpet has already sounded, but the seventh trumpet does not sound until later (11:15). These interludes, or parentheses, are parts of the whole. They are not unconnected segments.
As we begin our study, note that [5]John’s position has suddenly changed from Heaven to earth; the Mighty Angel came down from heaven. This angel is not to be identified with any other angel previously mentioned; he is not one of the seven (Some Bible scholars claim that he is not Christ and that Christ is never an angel in Revelation). This is another angel described in glorious terms.
Commentary
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1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven
There has been definite disagreement among outstanding and fundamental Bible expositors as to the identity of the Mighty Angel. Is he Jesus or is he just an angel with great power and authority? I have tried to present evidence to support both sides of this debate; however, we will not be able to clear this up since there seems to be good supporting evidence on both sides. I am happy to say that if you go with either crowd, you will be in good company. If you become a follower of them, it will be all right, and you will be in good company; but if you want to be right, you want to come along with me on this! (I believe the Mighty Angel was none other than the Son of God, Jesus Christ.)
The “Mighty Angel” is not named. However, there are a number of things about Him which have led some teachers of the Bible to identify Him as Jesus Christ. The idea that Christ might be called an Angel doesn’t need to trouble us. “Angel,” like “Son of Man,” is a title, and doesn’t imply that the One who bears the title is a created being. Frequently in the Old Testament we meet with “the Angel of Jehovah.” These pre-incarnate appearances of Christ are called theophanies or Christophanies. He is called “the angel of His [Jehovah’s] presence” (Isaiah 63:9), and “the angel of the Lord” (Exodus 3:2). If you will read Exodus 3, you will see that the claims and actions of the Angel of Jehovah pertain only to Deity. Here in the apocalyptic vision John saw Him “come down from heaven.” When our Lord was on the earth, He said, “I came down from heaven” (John 6:38). After His Resurrection, He was taken up into Heaven. But the day is coming when this same Jesus, the Mighty Angel of Jehovah, will appear on the earth again. As far as I know, the most popular theory making the case for this Angel being someone other than Christ uses this argument; “The Greek word translated ‘another’ means one of the same kind, that is, a created being; one of the highest ranking in Heaven, filled with splendor, greatness, and strength.” (Could it be Michael or Gabriel?)
This Mighty Angel is God’s only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ: let me point out eight things about this Angel that I feel give us His identity (I have already mentioned some of these.):
This Angel is mighty.
This Angel came down from Heaven.
This Angel is clothed with a cloud.
The face of this Angel is like the sun.
The feet of this Angel are as pillars of fire.
He has in His hand “a little book open.”
He stands with one foot on the land and one on the sea—denoting universal ownership and authority. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof” (Psalm 24:1).
The “little book” (scroll) (v. 2; 5:5) contains the rest of the prophetic message that John will deliver. Since our Lord was the only One worthy to take the “little book” and break the seals, it might well be concluded that He is the only One worthy to give his servant the rest of the message.
These eight facts testify that this Angel could be none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He was the only One found to be worthy to open the book and loose the seals (Revelation 5:5-7). The book is now open and in the hand of the Mighty Angel. The Angel John saw will actually appear when the time comes. He is referred to as “the Mighty Angel,” denoting His unusual strength and setting Him apart from all other Angels mentioned previously and in the chapters to follow. Then again, you may be asking yourself, “If this angel were Christ, John probably would have fallen down and worshipped him! He did so when he saw the glorified Christ in the first chapter of Revelation—evidently, the reason John did not fall down and worship him was because this is only an angel.
Clothed with a cloud
John saw Him “clothed with a cloud.” The cloud was the garment of the divine presence and was associated with divine movements. The Lord directed Israel by day in “a pillar of cloud” (Exodus 13:21). When Israel murmured, “the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud” (Exodus 16:10). At Sinai He descended in “a thick cloud” (Exodus 19:9, 16). When the tables of stone were renewed to replace the broken ones “The Lord descended in the cloud” (Exodus 34:4-5). When the tabernacle was completed, “then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 14:34). This cloud was designated “the cloud of the Lord” (Exodus 14:38). God had said, “I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat” (Leviticus 16:2). The cloud was associated with direction as well as with Deity (Numbers 9:15-22). The Psalmist states that the cloud is characteristic of the Almighty, “Clouds and darkness are round about Him” (Psalm 97:2). On the Mountain of Transfiguration, when the splendor of Christ’s deity shown forth, “A bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him” (Matthew 17:5). When Christ ascended to Heaven, “a cloud received Him” (Acts 1:9). Before He left the earth He said, “They shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” (Luke 21:27). “Behold, He cometh with clouds” (Revelation 1:7). Clouds, then, belong to the attire of Deity. The cloud-clothing suggests that the Mighty Angel is Christ.
As the garments of deity, clouds indicate the unapproachableness of God and denote His infinite majesty . . . His consuming power toward sin. Sin cannot live before His uncovered glory—and yet in Revelation 10 He draws near to earth to offer mercy to earth’s dwellers.
And a rainbow was upon his head
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In chapter 4 the rainbow was “round about the throne” (4:3); here it is upon the head of the Mighty Angel. We know that the rainbow is the symbol of God’s everlasting covenant with the earth (Genesis 9:12-13). Therefore we would not expect any one other than the Divine Person to wear it upon His head. Ezekiel saw the rainbow as part of the glory of the throne of God (Ezekiel 1:28). Just as the cloud is indicative of the coming storm of wrath in divine judgment, so the rainbow is indicative of divine mercy in the midst of judgment, an evident symbol of security for the believing ones. In the Old Testament, the rainbow is a sign that God would never again flood the earth (Genesis 9:12-16). Yet this sign is meant to remind people of how God saved and judged people at the same moment. God protects His own when conditions in the earth are at their worst.
His face was as it were the sun
John says that “His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength” (1:16). On the Mount of Transfiguration, “His face did shine as the sun” (Matthew 17:2); an expression of unveiled glory. It was the same when Saul of Tarsus met Him on his way to Damascus (Acts 9:3; compare 26:13). It would seem that the Mighty Angel is He whom the prophet described as “the Son of righteousness” (Malachi 4:2). On the other hand, though many Bible scholars believe that this is His badge of identification; the signature of the glorified Christ (Revelation 1:16), it does not follow that this one must therefore be the Son of God. Moses’ face shone after he had been in the presence of God (Exodus 34:29). This angel’s face is shining because he has come out from the presence of Christ.
His feet as pillars of fire
John saw “his feet like unto fine Brass, as if they burned in a furnace” (1:15). His legs and feet are like pillars of fire—the pillars speaking of strength and the fire of judgment—which means He has the power of judgment within Him. These are the feet of majesty all set for the judgment of the earth.
2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
And he had in his hand a little book open
In verse 2 we learn that this Mighty Angel had in His [7]hand a little book—open. This is the same book (seven-sealed scroll; the title deed to the earth) mentioned in chapter 5, when John “wept much” because no one could be found worthy to open the book; but One Was found—the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lord Jesus Christ. The reason I say it is the same book is because a book of symbols would be confusing if it had a detail in chapter five appear again in chapter 10 with another meaning and without some explanation. Here in our present Scripture the book is open and the Mighty Angel is holding it in His hand. He stands with one foot upon the land and the other foot upon the sea.
And he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth
The full significance of this action is not stated anywhere in Scripture. We do know that the sea and the land stand for the sum total of the material universe. I take it that the action of planting the feet down, one foot on the earth and the other on the sea is equivalent to claiming both the earth and the sea as His possession. “For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof” (1 Corinthians 10:26, 28). If you can envision the scene that John is describing you may agree with me that this is a huge figure, so huge that He can stand astride the sea with one foot on land and the other on the sea. I am reminded of the passage in which God said to Joshua, “Every place that the soul of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses” (Joshua 1:3; Deuteronomy 11:24). The Mighty Angel is “the Lord of all the earth” (Joshua 3:11), for “all things were created by Him, and for Him” (Colossians 1:16). When He shall set His feet upon the land and the sea He will express His intention of taking possession of that which is His. In the Old Testament such an act signified taking possession of that place (Deuteronomy 11:24; 1:3). But One Bible scholar says, “It is an act befitting the character and office of Christ, but hardly a created angel.” Christ came to have dominion over all creation; therefore all things must be put under His feet (Psalm 8:6; Hebrews 2:8).
Satan will assert his claim to the earth, but when Christ puts His foot down He will take possession of His own property and subdue all assaults of the enemy. Thank God, Satan’s control of God’s creation is fast coming to a close. The whole earth now groans and travails (Romans 8:22), but one day the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters now cover the sea. Those mighty feet standing on the land and on the sea testify to the Lord’s enemies that there is no need for further resistance. Who can stand against two tremendous columns of fire?
This is not His final coming, for other things must take place first. What we have here is the formal assertion by Him of His right to reign. This claim has already been acknowledged in Heaven (Revelation 5); now it is asserted on earth. He claims dominion over the entire world—river, sea, and shore; the Gentile nations and Israel. The Lord is about to act, but He will act in compliance with the mind and will of God. All unfulfilled prophecies and promises will now come to pass.
3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth
His cry sounded like a lion’s roar. Here is the mighty voice of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5; compare Hebrews 7:14). He is asserting Himself prior to the carrying out of judgment. Elsewhere in Scripture the lion’s roar was a symbol of eminent judgment. Hosea prophesied, “They shall walk after the Lord: He shall roar like a lion: when He shall roar, then the children shall tremble from the west” (Hosea 11:10). Joel added his prophecy, “The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel” (Joel 3:16). Amos said, “The Lord shall roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Caramel shall wither” (Amos 1:2). “Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver him” (Isaiah 5:29). The lion roars when he is about to make his last leap upon his victim. In a loud voice to be heard over all the earth Christ asserts His right to rule and His intention of accomplishing it.
This further identifies the Mighty Angel. This is the voice of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. And He cried—uttering the words set down in verse 6. It is a cry of power and victory—not a cry of fear or distress. The lion fears no beast. He is king of the jungle, and his roar is feared by all other beasts. This cry was an announcement of the looming immediate judgments upon the enemies of God and the wicked that will inhabit the earth at that time. And while he cried or was crying—at the same instant, heaven answers with the wondrous words of the next clause.
And when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices
Thunder is a recognized type of God’s voice in judgment (1 Samuel 7:10; Psalm 18:13). Personality is attributed to these “seven thunders.” Everything is in sympathy with the Lamb of God. These mighty thunders utter messages that are intelligible—they speak words. John heard what they said—and when the time comes in reality, the seven thunders will speak words that earth’s dwellers will fully understand. It will be a message in tones of thunder. We use a public address system to amplify voices when we want to be heard—but God needs no amplification. He can speak like mighty thunder—and He WILL when the time comes!
The substance of these awesome peals of thunder is not indicated. The number seven is suggestive of the completeness and finality of the Angel’s mighty sayings. We see these seven thunders in psalm 29 where “the voice of the Lord” goes forth seven times as thunder. When the Father spoke from Heaven to the Lord Jesus on earth, we are told that “The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered” (John 12:28-29) even though Jesus understood a message. Here in Revelation 10, the seven thunders are the judgment thunders of God.
John heard what the thunders said, and when he was about to put into writing what he heard, a voice from heaven said: “Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. (10:4).
4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me
At the beginning of these marvelous visions, John was commanded to write in a book what he saw and heard—past, present and future. But when the thunders spoke, John was given another command. He was about to write—but a voice from Heaven said: “Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.”
The seven thunders must have given a terrible message. Already set before us are blood, tears, famine, heartache and heartbreak; killing, misery, hail, fire, burning mountains, demon monstrosities, men begging to die and unable to do so. Surely what John was forbidden to write must have been beyond human imagination and understanding! There is no need to speculate on what the thunders said. Your guess is as good as mine; but you may rest assured that the message is for everyone in the world, and it had to do with God’s last gigantic, unheard of, indescribable judgment, when God “lowers the boom” in utter destruction.
Will you be on earth when the seven thunders speak? You are the only one who can answer that question. If you are born again you WILL NOT be here—but if you are NOT born again, you may be here. Read John 1:11-12, 3:16-18, 3:36, 5:24; Romans 10:9-10, 10:13, 10:17; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 John 1:9. Read these verses, hear what they say; receive them—and you WILL NOT be here when the seven thunders utter their message of destruction. You WILL be with Jesus.
[1]Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
The command was clear and unquestionable, and John obeyed it. Therefore what the seven thunders said is not known by any of us, so it is foolish to speculate. As far as I understand the book of the Revelation, the seven thunders are the only part of this book which has been sealed. Concerning the rest of what John saw and heard, the Lord said to him, “Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book” (22:10). But John is not alone in having been forbidden to write all that he saw and things he heard in Paradise (2 Corinthians 12:4). God knows with whom He can trust His secrets. “God thundereth marvelously with His voice; great things doeth He, which we can not comprehend” (Job 37:5). Some truths of God are so wonderful that the human mind would not be able to comprehend them. So God doesn’t even tell about it but will wait until His people come to Heaven for them to find out. Frankly, God has revealed all we need to know to live for Him now. In our desire to be ready for the end, we must not place more emphasis on speculation about the last days than on living for God while we wait.
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
After the sound of the seven thunders, the Mighty Angel lifted His [2]hand toward Heaven and swore, or uttered an oath. The vision is most solemn! It is not inherently wrong for Christ to take an oath. Keep in mind that the scene before us does not occur during the dispensation of grace. Under the law God swore, and here Christ swears to bear witness to the authority and finality of His own statements. There may be limitations on swearing during the gospel period (Matthew 5:33-37; James 5:12), but here we have moved on to another period of time after the Church has been caught up to heaven.
We have stated that God confirmed His promise to Abraham by an oath, “When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,” (Hebrews 6:13). When God made a promise to Abraham, He pledged Himself to carry it out (Genesis 22:16). The confirmation that God gave to Abraham was the greatest that God could give. God had actually staked His very existence on the carrying out of His promise. In other words, it is as though He were saying, “I will cease to be God if I fail to keep My promise.” The fulfillment of the promise was as certain as God’s existence. To make an oath, one must swear by someone or something greater than himself, otherwise the oath is of no more value or validity than a mere statement. But the Almighty could not swear by a person greater than Himself, for there is none greater. One man may not accept the claim of another because men do not trust one another, but if a man would swear by one greater, then his assertion would be considered binding. So in order to condescend to a weakness in man’s nature, God confirmed His promise with an oath. The greater events yet to happen on this earth, as announced by God, must surely come to pass. These events have to do with judgment. Christ has staked His very existence on their fulfillment.
There is a question that comes to mind after reading verses 5 and 6: “Could John be alluding to Daniel 12:7, where an angel lifted his hands toward heaven and swore by the One who lives forever that there would be only 3 ½ more years until the end; here this angel swears that the time has come, and there is no further delays. (Some apocalyptic texts spoke of countable time itself ending, but the point here seems to be “time before the end,” given in Daniel 12:7; Revelation 2:21; 6:11; 28:3; Habakkuk 2:3.)
6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein
When He lived on earth, the Lord Jesus said, “swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by earth; for it is his footstool” (Matthew 5:34-35). But there is One whose right it is to set upon that throne and whose right it is to rule the earth. He can swear, and so He does. He takes a solemn vow that matters will now be hastened to their full and final end. There shall be no more delays. The days will be shortened. Note: some expositors make it clear that this angel could NOT be Christ, since he takes an oath by the eternal Creator.
With his mighty hand raised up to the stars, He speaks and vast regions of the firmament echo with His mighty voice. All the artillery of the sky bursts forth. Seven thunders speak, sending out the universal alarm, preparing the earth to receive Heaven’s orders to finish God’s program of judgment. There can be no further delays. The cup of fury is running over. God’s longsuffering and tenderness is running out. Consuming fire of judgment is about to fall. For 2100 years God has not interfered with the governments of the world. The visible church has pushed Him out. The world is a colossal wreck. God has put up with man’s insults long enough. Man has had his chance; governments of earth have had their chance; the visible church has had its chance. There can be no further delays.
That there should be time no longer
The word that is translated “time” actually means “delay.” God has been delaying His judgments so that lost sinners will have time to repent (2 Peter 3:1-9); now, however, He will accelerate His judgments and accomplish His purposes. The Revised Standard Version has a literal and more accurate translation of the text. It reads, “That there should be no more delay.” The very next verse explains the meaning.
Some older interpretations suggested that the passage means “time will be no more,” i.e., eternity will have begun. I do not feel that is the correct interpretation; this is no announcement of the end of time and the ushering in of eternity, for that comes over 1000 years later.
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.
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound
Christ is saying in the midst of the tribulation that there is one more [3]trumpet judgment. Time will continue long after this event, but what He says is that when the seventh trumpet sounds, all evil in the earth will be put down without further delay. Sin has been reigning, and righteousness has suffered throughout man’s day on the earth, but now things must change. There must be a reversal of this order. The Mighty Angel’s affirmation means that the hour has struck.
The mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
This clause indicates that all the counsels and covenants of God concerning His governmental dealings over man and the earth, made known through the penmen of Holy Scriptures, will be consummated. When Christ comes to reign, there will be no more mystery, because mystery will give way to manifestation. “The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11:9). When the Mighty Angel asserts His rightful claim to the earth, the program of God in judgment will reach its completion without delay. For centuries men have been saying, “My Lord delayeth His coming” (Matthew 24:48), while others have scoffingly said, “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter 3:4). But God is not slack concerning any of His promises.
The great mystery of our age has been the so-called silence of God in the face of prevailing wickedness. Sin has stalked around the earth unashamedly without much divine intervention. But one day the judgment of the Almighty will be laid upon the world. Then we shall know why He permitted Satan and sin. The mystery of the struggle between light and darkness, good and evil, will be made known in that day. I confess that at times I have been baffled, and even troubled, by questions in my own mind as to the strange providential ways and dealings of God. But I know that I must wait in patience until that day when the mystery will be made known. That which is now unknown will then be revealed.
Here we must exercise care so as not to confuse the coming judgments of God with the mysteries of Christ (Matthew 13) and of Paul (Romans 11:25; 1 Corinthians 15:51; Ephesians 1:9; 5:32). The secret here in the Revelation refers to what had already been made known by God to the Old Testament prophets. The great secrets concerning Christ and His Church were confined to the New Testament prophet, the Apostle Paul. But all will be fulfilled in their respective times.
Let me list the seven mysteries:
The mystery of God’s will (Ephesians 1:9).
The mystery of an iniquity (the devil in flesh (2 Thessalonians 2:7).
The mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16).
The mystery of God (Colossians 2:2).
The mystery of the seven stars (Revelation 1:20).
The mystery of the woman on the beast (Revelation 17:7).
The mystery of Israel (Romans 11:25).
These mysteries are distinct from the mystery of God in our present passage . . . they denote something previously unknown but now revealed. The “mystery of God” is usually understood to refer to the gospel message, though it could have to do with God’s plan to punish all evildoers and to usher in the kingdom of His Son, but it could have an even broader meaning than that. The mystery mentioned in Revelation 10:7 will be unfolded at the time when the Mighty Angel, the Lord Jesus, will stand with the earth and the sea under His feet, and His hand raised toward God’s throne.
In the Bible, the word “mystery” refers to divine secrets, a truth hidden to those outside the family of God but revealed to God’s people by His Word (Matthew 13:10-12). The mystery of God has to do with the age-old problem of evil in the world. Why is there both moral and natural evil in the world? Why doesn’t God do something about it? Of course, the Christian knows that God did “do something about it” at Calvary when Jesus Christ was made sin and experienced divine wrath for a sinful world. We also know that God is permitting evil to increase until the world is ripe for judgment (2 Thessalonians 2:7; Revelation 14:14-20). Since God has already paid the price for sin, He is free to delay His judgment and He cannot be accused of injustice or unconcern.
Paul wrote about two different mysteries. First: “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and shares together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 3:6, see also Romans 11:25; 16:25). The second mystery about which Paul wrote: “God’s secret plan has now been revealed to us; it is a plan centered on Christ, designed long ago according to His good pleasure. And this is his plan: At the right time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in Heaven and on earth” (Ephesians 1:9-10). This second mystery is about to be revealed with the final trumpet.
The Angel utters a famous, and more or less puzzling statement—“there should be time no longer” (10:6); or, as some understand it, “There shall no longer be any interval of time, any further delay.” This declaration, coupled with the assertion of verse 7—“The mystery of God should be finished—convince us that the purpose of this vision and especially of these utterances, is to prepare us for the final pouring out of God’s judgments, the close of the end of the age, and the destruction of the enemies of the Lamb. “The mystery of God” will be revealed and finished as the events of the final half of the Apocalypse develop. Significant aspects of this mystery have already been revealed through the prophets, but much remains that will be understood only when the events take place.
8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
When the Mighty Angel appeared, “He had in His hand a little book” (10:2). There it was closed; here it is open in the hand of the One worthy to open it. What does the little book contain? Nothing short of divine revelation. It is the Word of God. Its message is that portion of divinely-revealed truth which pertains to the final judgments and the second coming of Christ to reign. This little book might be the same seven-sealed book described in chapter five. Some teachers believe it to be the writings of Daniel, which God told him, must be sealed up until “the time of the end” (Daniel 12:9). There are others that insist that the little book contained the information in the rest of Revelation. And there is also the idea that it contains God’s purposes as achieved by the Lamb; the little scroll presents a version of those purposes that will be accomplished by the church. It may be futile to speculate as to the content of a book which no one ever read before John ate it. At any rate, we know it is God’s Word, the mighty agent He uses in disclosing His sovereign purposes. There are other theories held by modern bible scholars, such as, it contains a very special message to the church to get on with the business of publishing the gospel to the ends of the earth and someone has suggested that the little book (sealed scroll) was the Old Testament (at least it’s prophetic oracles) to which Jesus supplied the key for interpretation. Then the little book would be the message of Jesus, open and universal. The little book is never mentioned again. Obviously, “ate it” (10:10) meant that John completely mastered the message.
John was commanded to take the little book out of the hand of the Mighty Angel—and he obeyed immediately—but when he did so the angel said: “Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey” (10:9b). The imagery here is kind of vague; however, the angel may be talking about sin. Sin tasted sweet like honey but was poison because it led to judgment (Proverbs 5:3-4; Numbers 5:23-31); but the sweetness here is the Word of the Lord (Proverbs 24:13-14), and the bitterness is the bitterness of judgment that John must proclaim.
9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me
John is then commanded to [6]eat the little book—and again he obeys. This order comes from Christ in Heaven as He is directing every operation recorded in the Book of Revelation. He is in full charge.
What are we to understand from this command given to John? The Word of God is compared with food. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Jeremiah wrote, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O Lord God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16). The psalmist wrote, “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103). “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). “For every one that useth milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:13-14).
Eating the Word is, in its more general application, appropriating and assimilating God’s truth; it is meditating in it (Psalm 1:2). No child of God will deny that the truth of the Scriptures is sweet to know. “It is sweet to know as we onward go: the way of the Cross leads home.” It is sweet to know that Satan will not hold sway over the earth forever. The prophetic Word is sweet because it talks of the blessing and glory that lie ahead. The idea is that eating the scroll is devouring the truth or taking the words to heart. Ezekiel had an experience quite similar to that of John (Ezekiel 2:9-3:4). In the same way that Ezekiel received God’s word with joy but also as an impossible mission—to proclaim judgment to a hardened people—John and his churches are called to preach a sweet and bitter gospel that offers grace yet demands repentance. In light of the Roman Empire’s increasing hostility against Christianity, theirs will be a mission embittered by suffering and even death. The trumpets by themselves cannot bring people to repentance. The trumpets only provide the context for people to see sin in its ugliest form. To repent, the world needs the church to be a prophetic witness (Ezekiel 3:6-21).
10 And 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 as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
He eats the book and in his mouth it is as sweet as honey; but the moment it reaches his innermost parts it is bitter. There is nothing sweeter than the message of grace, redemption and peace; but there is nothing quite as bitter as the judgment message that God’s messengers must deliver. To eat is to make the thing one’s own, to incorporate it into one’s being. Eating the little book means to receive the Word of God with faith. This is the teaching of the Word of God, for in Jeremiah 15:16 we read: “Thy words were found, and I ate them, and thy words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I am called by thy name, O Lord, God of hosts.” Jeremiah likens the appropriation of the Word to eating it.
When John eats the little book, it is exceedingly bitter in his innermost being. But why did that book which tasted so sweet leave God’s servant with the feeling of inward bitterness? The book revealed the terrible, horrible judgments of God’s holy fury. I believe that the prophecies of coming judgment leave the child of God with great heaviness of heart and bitter anguish of soul. It was so with the Apostle Paul (Romans 9:1-3). The future will be glory for the saint but grief for the sinner. God’s Word is a two-edged sword. It contains the sweet message of deliverance and the bitter message of damnation (Hebrews 4:12). He who appropriates the book cannot escape its mixture of sweet and bitter. There is nothing sweeter than the gospel to a believing soul, but, on the other hand, there is nothing more bitter than the divine pronouncement of forthcoming doom upon the unbeliever. It has been said, “Prophesy both gladdens and saddens, as it contains announcements both of joy and grief.” In Proverbs we read, “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb sweet to the soul, and health to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24). But words of doom and damnation are not pleasant words. In Isaiah’s day the truth was bitter to the people, so they did not want it (Isaiah 30:8-11). Nevertheless God’s Word is His agent in salvation and in condemnation.
11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
After partaking of the Book, John was assigned the task of ministering to many more people that which he himself had heard, and seen, and received. Quite simply, he was to warn people about the bitter judgment in the seventh trumpet and the seven bowls. The believer who receives God’s truth is solemnly obligated to pass it on to others. The minister who fails to preach the whole counsel of God will be held accountable by God (Ezekiel 33:7-9). It is not easy for the minister to deal with matters of sin and judgment, but he has no choice. There are “peoples and [4]nations and tongues and Kings” who must hear God’s message of salvation. John was faithful, for in the chapters which follow he prophesies of the final overthrow of the nations, the Great White Throne judgment and hell. The message may not be what the people want, but it is what God wants them to have.
This final verse of chapter 10 leads us immediately to new phases of God’s fury and judgment—new scenes and circumstances. We will see in the following chapters the appearance of new personalities not referred to up to now.
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End Notes:
[1] To seal means to hide what has been said.
[2] He swears an oath by raising his right hand, a gesture common in both ancient and contemporary days.
[3] The seventh trumpet mentioned in verse 7 is not actually blown until 11:15.
[4] The word nations usually refers to the Gentile nations.
[5] John saw the mighty angel come down from heaven seems too indicate that John was on the earth and that the angel went from Heaven to the earth.
[6] The angel gives a “little book” to John, and he is asked to eat the book—that is, completely identify with its contents—and proclaim its message to the world (10:9-10).
[7] And he had in his hand—His left hand: He swore with his right.
