Click Banner to go to main page
Revelation Study
By Rev. Richard Puckett
Text and Reference
from Parson's QuickVerse and there helps, Pictures from through out the Internet not for resale!!!!Chapter 10
The Angel and the Little Scroll
(Rev 10:1 KJV) 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:
Verses 1-7. The apostle saw another representation. The person communicating this discovery probably was our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, or it was to show his glory. He veils his glory, which is too great for mortal eyes to behold; and throws a veil upon his dispensations. A rainbow was upon his head; our Lord is always mindful of his covenant. His awful voice was echoed by seven thunders; solemn and terrible ways of discovering the mind of God. We know not the subjects of the seven thunders, nor the reasons for suppressing them. There are great events in history, perhaps relating to the Christian church, which are not noticed in open prophecy. The final salvation of the righteous, and the final success of true religion on earth, are engaged for by the unfailing word of the Lord. Though the time may not be yet, it cannot be far distant. Very soon, as to us, time will be no more; but if we are believers, a happy eternity will follow: we shall from heaven behold and rejoice in the triumphs of Christ, and his cause on earth.
(Rev 10:2 KJV) 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,
(Rev 10:3 KJV) And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
(vv. 3,4) The sequence of judgments continues. Following the seals and trumpets, seven thunders utter their voices. John is about to record this message, in accord with previous instructions, when he is prevented from doing so by the intervention of a voice from heaven. He is told that the awesome message of the seven thunders must be sealed up. The intent of this event is to remind John and his readers that as devastating as the judgments of seals, trumpets, and bowls are, they are not exhaustive. The wrath of the period of the Great Tribulation is ultimately unimaginable.
(Rev 10:4 KJV) 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.
(Rev 10:5 KJV) And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
(Rev 10:6 KJV) 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:
The word translated "delay" (chronos, Gk.) is illuminating. The fact that numerous events do in fact follow suggests that the angelic proclamation does not announce the end of chronological time, but rather the end of any further delay. Events of the Great Tribulation will now pass swiftly, moving inevitably toward the return of Christ and the establishment of His kingdom.
Rev 10:6: 10:6 GOD, Creator-- God is the eternal Creator who brought everything into existence. Both of these ideas suggest His sovereignty, the theme of the whole book. The sovereign God controls the destiny of the universe. He decides when the great day of judgment will come.
(Rev 10:7 KJV) 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.
Rev 10:7: 10:7 GOD, Faithfulness-- God does not forget His promises. He is faithful to the end. What He first spoke through His prophets in past ages will come to pass. God's people can depend upon God. Delay does not mean forgotten.
(Rev 10:8 KJV) 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.
vv. 8-10) The precise content of the bittersweet book is uncertain. That the book contains the words of God concerning eschatological matters is evident. Eating the book has to do with the assimilation of the message of the book. The judgments of God are sweet in that they bring evil to the proper end. On the other hand, the book is also bitter because the wrath of God is devastating as it falls upon the unrepentant recipients.
Verses 8-11. Most men feel pleasure in looking into future events, and all good men like to receive a word from God. But when this book of prophecy was thoroughly digested by the apostle, the contents would be bitter; there were things so awful and terrible, such grievous persecutions of the people of God, such desolation's in the earth, that the foresight and foreknowledge of them would be painful to his mind. Let us seek to be taught by Christ, and to obey his orders; daily meditating on his word, that it may nourish our souls; and then declaring it according to our several stations. The sweetness of such contemplation's will often be mingled with bitterness, while we compare the Scriptures with the state of the world and the church, or even with that of our own hearts.
(Rev 10:9 KJV) 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.
(Rev 10:10 KJV) 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.
(Rev 10:11 KJV) And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.