Keys to Revelation – Chapter 10
Taken from the HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION (C) 1978 by the New
York International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible
Publishers.
BIBLE TEXT COMMENTARY
REV 10:1 Then I saw another [another mighty angel] – This angel
mighty angel coming down from is not one of the seven or the four,
heaven. He was robed in a cloud, but like the other strong angel in
with a rainbow above his head; his REV 5:2 and 18:21 or the other angel
face was like the sun, and his legs in 14:6,15. The angel could be the
were like fiery pillars. Archangel Michael, “the great prince”
in DAN 12:1, or more likely the angel
Gabriel as seen in a parallel passage
DAN 12:7 and DAN 8:16. Angel cannot
be the Christ, for angels are always
angels in Revelation, as well as in
the rest of the NT.
[cloud…rainbow…sun] – A cloud
surrounded his body and the glow from
a face like the sun could cause a
rainbow to appear in the moistness of
the clouds.
REV 10:2 He was holding a little [scroll…lay open] – Not like the
scroll, which lay open in his hand. great scroll of chapter 5 which was
He planted his right foot on the fastened with seven seals, this one
sea and his left foot on the land, lies open in the hand of the angel.
[on the sea…land] – The angel has
one foot on the sea and the other on
the land which most likely speaks of
a coming judgment that will be on the
entire earth, both land and sea. REV
10:6 includes reference to land, sea,
and heaven in relation to the time
having come for judgment.
REV 10:3 and he gave a loud shout [shout like…lion] – Angel had a
like the roar of a lion. When he voice with a deep resonance which
shouted, the voices of the seven would demand the attention of those
thunders spoke. who heard.
[seven thunders] – Actual voices that
sounded like thunder. In JOH 12:28-29
God the Father spoke as with thunder.
REV 10:4 And when the seven [about to write] – Just started to
thunders spoke, I was about to write what the seven thunders spoke.
write; but I heard a voice from John was commanded in REV 1:11 to
heaven say, “Seal up what the seven “write on a scroll what you see” and
thunders have said and do not write most likely was keeping some sort of
it down.” record of everything that had taken
place thus far and was simply logging
what the voices said.
[do not write] – The seven thunders
gave descriptions of more plagues for
man and his earth, but God has not
allowed us to know what kind of wrath
is stored up in these plagues.
REV 10:5 Then the angel I had seen [raised his right hand] – In the OT
standing on the sea and on the land the lifting of the hand was a part of
raised his right hand to heaven. oath-taking and here he raises his
hand to heaven as part of a very
solemn oath.
REV 10:6 And he swore by him who [he swore] – When one makes an oath
lives for ever and ever, who it is always necessary to swear by
created the heavens and all that is someone greater than themselves, and
in them, the earth and all that is this is further proof that the angel
in it, and the sea and all that is is not Jesus because Christ would not
in it, and said, “There will be no need to swear by anyone greater than
more delay! Himself.
[no more delay] – All throughout the
history of man, God has delayed His
complete judgment on sin. But the
time has come for God to “stop the
ticking of the clock” for the earth,
the sea, and man himself will now
receive God’s last phase of wrath–
the seventh trumpet.
REV 10:7 But in the days when the [mystery of God] – God’s divine pur-
seventh angel is about to sound his pose in history for mankind. Jesus
trumpet, the mystery of God will be is the “Mystery of God” in COL 2:2,
accomplished, just as he announced and Israel’s final destiny is the
to his servants the prophets.” “mystery” in ROM 11:25. When the
seventh trumpet is sounded then God
unfolds the last part of the mystery.
REV 10:8 Then the voice that I had
heard from heaven spoke to me once
more: “Go, take the scroll that
lies open in the hand of the angel
who is standing on the sea and on
the land.”
REV 10:9 So I went to the angel [Take it and eat] – Similar to the
and asked him to give me the little scroll given to Ezekiel in EZE 2:8-
scroll. He said to me, “Take it and 3:3. It was a scroll of judgment
eat it. It will turn your stomach but tasted as sweet as honey.
sour, but in your mouth it will be
as sweet as honey.”
REV 10:10 I took the little scroll [tasted sweet…stomach sour] – Here
from the angel’s hand and ate it. the scroll is sweet because it is the
It tasted as sweet as honey in my Word of God (PSA 119:103), but is
mouth, but when I had eaten it, my also bitter because of the judgment
stomach turned sour. and woes it contains.
REV 10:11 Then I was told, “You [prophesy] – In EZE 2:8-3:3 we see
must prophesy again about many that after Ezekiel ate the scroll
peoples, nations, languages and with written words of lament and
kings.” mourning and woe, he was to speak to
the people of Israel who were very
obstinate and hardened in their
hearts. In this verse John speaks
to everyone about the coming wrath,
which would also include the offer of
salvation from a loving and forgiving
God.
Tony Capoccia
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