Revelation: Chapter 10
Setting
As seen in the chronology of Revelation, John is viewing these events from earth. Although this is a very short chapter, it reflects the profound emotional impact that these passages in the first part of the book have had on John. One could argue that this pause is really for John to regain himself, in preparation for all that is yet to be revealed.
This is a second pause in the timeline of judgments John observed. The first pause occurred before opening the seventh seal to place God’s seal on the foreheads of the 144,000, as described in Rev 7:2-8. This second pause occurs after blowing the sixth trumpet. This is another pause in the rapid action of events so far in this book, occurring around the mid-tribulation period. This is a challenging chapter within the book of Revelation, primarily because it is a complex and difficult passage to comprehend. Expositors are all over the map in attempting to provide insight to this chapter concerning three main issues:
- Who is this mighty angel? Some say this is Jesus Christ, while others do not
- Who are the seven thunders, and what do they say? Some have attempted to infer what was said, others leave it alone
- What is the little book John is given to eat? Some say this is the seven-sealed scroll that has been opened, others do not
- Who benefits from the events revealed in this chapter?
- Believers who are not sealed may be given a time of respite from the effects of the judgments
- Nonbelievers have a moment in time to reflect and accept Christ Jesus as their Lord and Savior
This chapter is also interesting because of the question, why is it here? If this chapter were removed from the book of Revelation, would it be missed? More questions than answers are spawned by this chapter. Finally, it should be asked, who benefits from the events revealed in this chapter?
| Verses | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1-4 | Another mighty angel |
| 5-7 | The declaration of the angel |
| 8 | The voice from heaven |
| 9-11 | John eating the little scroll |
In Revelation 10:1, John observes a mighty angel. There was a previous occasion when "A mighty" angel was made known to John. This first appearance was before the throne of God when a mighty angel asked who was worthy to open the seals and open the scroll, Revelation 5:1-2. The events recorded in Revelation 10 take place on earth rather than in heaven, and there is no indication that the mighty angel of this chapter is the same as the one John observed in Revelation 5:1-2. This mighty angel serves as the agent, the herald of Christ Jesus, who was worthy to take and open the seven-sealed scroll. The angel comes from the throne room of God, and with a loud, declarative voice, announces the eviction of the usurper from the world by revelation of the small book that lies open in the angel’s hand.
However, one aspect of the mighty angel of this chapter is his physical appearance. His physical characteristics are similar to those described in relation to Christ and the throne of God, which may indicate that his position in heaven is very close to the throne. This does not mean that this mighty angel is the Lord for two reasons. First, this verse clearly states that this is "ANOTHER" mighty angel, and second, John does not fall on his face before this angel as he did before the Lord in Revelation 1:17-18.
There are two other occasions when someone physically close to the Lord had their bodily characteristics reflect that closeness. Moses' face was radiant after coming down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony, Exodus 34:29-30. Also, at the mount of transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared with Christ, and all were surrounded by a bright cloud, even though they had a bodily form that Peter, James, and John could recognize, Matthew 17:1-5.
Additionally, groups of individuals, whether in their physical bodies or eternal bodies, likewise reflect the glory of Christ Jesus in several ways:
- The seven churches in Revelation 2 and Revelation 3, individually and collectively, represent Christ Jesus in His glory
- The 24 elders are seen in similar dress and with crowns, just as the Lord appears in His glory. In general, the closer a person is to Christ in His glory, the more of His glory they reflect
- Paul wrote, we are to conform with the image of Christ Jesus in our physical lives, Romans 8:29-30
The physical characteristics of the mighty angel that are observed and show the closeness to the Lord are:
- Robed in a cloud, Acts 1:9, Revelation 1:7
- A rainbow above his head, Ezekiel 1:28, Revelation 4:3
- His face shone like the sun, Revelation 1:16, Exodus 34:29, Luke 24:4, Acts 6:15
- His legs were like fiery pillars, Revelation 1:15
John also observes that the mighty angel is holding a little scroll that is laid open in his hand.
In Revelation 10:2, two aspects of this angel are given. First, he is holding a little scroll that lies open in his hand. Some feel that the scroll opened by the Lord with the seven seals is the same as this one. However, there is no indication given that this little scroll is related to any other known document. The physical size of the scroll is described as "little." Its contents are not specified, but later in this chapter, it is revealed that John must still observe and report on what he sees to all the people, nations, tongues, and kings of the world, Revelation 10:11. There is no effort made in Scripture to associate the two documents. The Lord has yet to reveal the seventh trumpet, which introduces the seven bowl judgments.
Second, the mighty angel's right foot is on the sea, and his left foot on the land, Psalms 95:5, Psalm 24:1, Psalm 8:6-9, Haggai 2:6. If this angel is not Christ, then he may be Christ's representative due to the physical characteristics of the angel given in the previous verse. As Christ's ambassador, He may be given the right and authority over all of the terrestrial and maritime environments. Since the mighty angel’s height stretches into the atmosphere, the lower of the three heavens written about in scripture, he holds authority over that realm as well. These were all the domains that God originally gave to Adam to rule over, as stated in Genesis 1:26-28.
In Revelation 10:3, John hears this angel shout, with his voice sounding like the roar of a lion. Again, this reflects a characteristic of Christ, as the Lion of Judah. The angel reflects a characteristic of Christ, as the Lion of Judah, King of Israel, rather than the slain lamb. The angel is projecting power to eject the usurper, Satan, from the land of Israel. Interestingly, John does not provide the content or words that the angel shouted. John also hears a response given to the angel's shout by the voices of the seven thunders. The identification of the seven thunders is not given, but since there are seven spirits before the throne (the Holy Spirit), it is assumed that the response is from Him. Recall that the Holy Spirit does not speak on His own, but He speaks only what he hears, and will tell what is to come, and bring glory to Christ, John 16:12-15. The thundering denotes judgment as shown in the following passages: 1Samuel 7:7-11, Exodus 9:22-26. Thundering also denotes power, as seen in Psalms 29:3-4, Exodus 19:16-19, and Job 37:5.
In Revelation 10:4, John is told by the voice from heaven, which is the Lord, to seal up the words of the seven thunders and not to write them down. The voice John hears is similar to the one he heard when he was told to come up, as recorded in Revelation 4:1. John's instruction from the Lord is not similar to the one Daniel received when he was told to seal his book. There are two reasons for the differences. First, Daniel was not told to "not write" what he saw and heard. Also, the sealing of Daniel's book meant that he was to "officially" preserve the book he wrote, which was to be revealed by God for a later time, Daniel 12:4. This is the only time in the book of Revelation that John is told to seal up the words and not write them, all other times he is to write down the things he witnesses, Revelation 1:11. The words between the angel and the Holy Spirit were intelligible as reported by John, who was about to write them down.
There "MAY" be three reasons for this occurrence of this chapter:
- All that John saw and wrote up to this point may have taken an emotional toll on him, as it did on Daniel, Daniel 7:28, Daniel 8:26-27, Daniel 10:4-9. Daniel may have needed this pause to rest. Since this is the worst time in either Earth's past or future, the visions were no doubt a tremendous strain on John, Matthew 24:21-22
- The words spoken will be revealed only to the tribulation saints who will have already suffered much for their testimony of Jesus Christ and the maintenance of their faith. These words will encourage them
- Despite the desperate condition David faced with his men who wanted to stone him, David encouraged himself in the Lord his God, 1Samuel 30:6
- Paul was told not to reveal what he had seen and heard in the third heaven, after he was stoned to death, then was raised from the dead, likely because that was reserved for John to reveal after Paul’s death by the Romans, 2Corinthians 12:1-4, Acts 14:19-20
- This occasion may have been for John's benefit to prepare him for the final events that he will have to witness and record, as well as for the tribulation saints to assure them of God's sovereignty over His creation and for their encouragement while in the tribulation at that point, Psalm 30:1, Micah 7:7-10, and their salvation, Micah 7:16-20
In Revelation 10:5-6, John observes the angel lifting his hands toward heaven. His swearing was in the name of the Lord, which is another reason to argue against this angel being the Lord, for two reasons. First, there is no other name but His for the Lord to swear by, Hebrews 6:13-20. Second, it is the Lord who swears unto Himself to take vengeance on His adversaries, Deuteronomy 32:39-42. The angel lists the attributes of God, to whom he swore by:
- He lives forever and ever
- He created heaven and all that occupy it
- He created the earth and all that occupy it
- He created the sea and all that occupy it
The angel swore that there will be no more delay in the judgments, Mark 13:19-20. There is still the 7th trumpet and the seven bowl judgments to be poured out on the world's inhabitants.
In Revelation 10:7, it is declared that the seventh angel will sound to indicate when the mystery of God should be finished. This is the mystery that the Lord revealed to His servants, the prophets, such as Daniel and the 70 weeks of years, Daniel 9:24-27, or Ezekiel and the valley of bones, which represents Israel coming back to life by God, Ezekiel 37:1-23, among many other prophets in scripture. This is likely a reference to the beginning of the mystery revealed in a dream to King Nebuchadnezzar, in which God revealed the dream and its interpretation to Daniel, His prophet, Daniel 2:19-23, Daniel 2:46-47. It was the Lord who declared Daniel to be a prophet, as stated in Matthew 24:15.
Jesus spoke of the mysteries of the kingdom of God, Mark 4:11, Luke 8:10, and of heaven, Matthew 13:11, where:
- These mysteries were told by Christ Jesus in a series of parables to describe how the gospel of the kingdom would be spread and received, how the kingdom of God would grow within the world, Satan’s attempts to disrupt the God’s kingdom, but how the Lord would prevail over His enemies and His kingdom will be established, Revelation 20
- All of these mysteries concerning the kingdom will be fulfilled when the Lord Jesus Christ establishes His kingdom in this world, and sits on the throne of David, 2Samuel 7:13
- The last mystery, mystery Babylon, will be destroyed at the end of the tribulation, Revelation 17:5, 18:21
- At the end of the millennial reign of Christ, all the promises, covenants, prophecies, and mysteries will be fulfilled by Him
As an aside, the mysteries concerning the Body-of-Christ have all been revealed to the apostle Paul and will also be concluded in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 3:2-12
In Revelation 10:8, John hears the voice of the Lord Jesus Christ on the throne, who is directing all these activities.
- The Lord spoke to John from heaven, since He is not the mighty angel in this chapter
- John is told to take the scroll from the mighty angel
In Revelation 10:9-10, John asks for the scroll from the mighty angel. The angel warns John that his stomach will become sour, and in his mouth the word will be as honey, Psalm 19:9-10, Psalm 119:103, Proverbs 16:24. This is similar to the experiences of Ezekiel when God commissioned him to prophesy to the exiled Israelites, Ezekiel 2:1-5, 8-10, and Ezekiel 3:1-4. Though John’s experience of eating the scroll was similar to Ezekiel's, in that it was sweet to the taste buds, John’s reaction was more like Daniel's, after he had seen all that would befall Israel in the distant future, relative to Daniel’s day, Daniel 8:27. Both men’s stomachs were upset. In this case, this partially reveals the reason for this chapter. John had already experienced the first half of the tribulation, which would have extreme and terrible outcomes from those judgments. The Lord is preparing John now for the final half of the tribulation, which will be the worst time the world has ever known, or will ever know, Daniel 121:1, Matthew 24:21-22.
In Revelation 10:11, John is told by the seven thunders, who may be the Holy Spirit, to prophesy again concerning the entire world. Some argue that the events in Revelation regarding the tribulation are limited to the Near East region or the areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. Still, this text suggests that the entire world is being judged. This command from God is remarkably similar to what was commanded to Saul, later known as Paul, Acts 13:9, when Ananias was instructed to pray over Saul to restore his eyesight, as seen in Acts 9:10-16. Both apostles were explicitly told to go out to the Gentiles, Paul to give the gospel of grace, and John the warning of God’s judgements and coming kingdom.