The Little Book (Revelation 10)

Let’s take a look at the little book in the hand of an angel described in Revelation 10.

The Little Book

Revelation 10:1 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:

The description “might angel” seems to indicate one of high rank, powerful enough for the superhuman task given, and different from the seven angels with the seven trumpets.

Revelation 10:2 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,

Theories are that the little book, little scroll or booklet is the Bible, the Book of Revelation, or just chapter 11. Let’s not fall into the trap of wild speculation, but be satisfied with not knowing everything. The angel sets foot on sea and land together, perhaps signifying authority over both.

Revelation 10:3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

The angel cries with a loud voice commanding attention. Then seven others spoke with voices that sounded like thunder and as with the other symbols, wild speculation abounds, dissatisfied with leaving it as a mystery. One has a sense of powerful angels steadfastly loyal to God and disgusted at the unrepentance of humanity.

Revelation 10:4 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.

Whatever the seven thunders uttered is not to be revealed as yet, perhaps so that we don’t get lost, as many do, in seeking the revelation of twigs of prophecy instead of remaining focused on the main purpose of the book.

Revelation 10:5-6 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 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:

Swear here means affirm or promise with an oath. Where did our modern courtroom practice come from? Are those Christians who refuse to make an oath in court aware of these verses? What does it mean “time no longer”? Other translations render this that there will be “no more delay.” (NIV, NLT, ESV)

Revelation 10:7 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.

That there will be no more delay, no more space to repent, is confirmed by the words “the mystery of God should be finished.” God’s mystery is the opposite of the mystery of Babylon (Revelation 17:5) and its associated mystery of iniquity (2 Thessalonians 2:7). God’s mystery has to do with the resurrection of the dead and the mystery of the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).

Revelation 10:8-9 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. 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.

Take and eat a book? This figurative language is similar to the scroll given to Ezekiel (3:1-3). We would describe it even today as digesting the contents of a book.

Revelation 10:10 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.

While the gospel is good news, it is only so in contrast to the bad news all around us. Mature Christians will mourn for the sins of the world.

Revelation 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

The job of a prophet is not one of bringing only good news, but also a warning. Even many Christians only want to have smooth things preached to them (Isaiah 30:9-13).

The mystery of God and His salvation is only bad news to those who don’t want to repent, but want to continue in their sins. God gives them a little space to repent, but that time is limited.