Revelation Chapter 10 offers a brief but significant pause between the sixth and seventh trumpet judgments, introducing a powerful angel who descends from heaven wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head and a face shining like the sun. This mighty angel stands with one foot on the sea and one foot on the land, holding a small scroll and calling out with a loud voice, symbolizing the authority and majesty associated with divine revelation. As the angel cries out, seven thunders respond, though John is instructed not to record what they said, adding an element of mystery to the vision.
The angel then raises his hand toward heaven and swears an oath by the eternal God, declaring that there will be no more delay and that the mystery of God will soon be completed, just as He had announced through His prophets. John is instructed to take the small scroll from the angel and eat it, and he discovers that it tastes sweet like honey in his mouth but becomes bitter in his stomach. This vivid imagery symbolizes the mixed nature of receiving and proclaiming God’s message, which brings joy and sweetness in its truth but also deep sorrow and difficulty due to the judgment it contains. The chapter closes with instructions for John to continue prophesying about many nations, peoples, languages, and kings, preparing him for the unfolding revelations that follow.
Chapter 10 (BBE)
1 And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and an arch of coloured light was round his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire;
2 And he had in his hand a little open book: and he put his right foot on the sea, and his left on the earth;
3 And he gave a loud cry, like the angry voice of a lion: and at his cry the voices of the seven thunders were sounding.
4 And when the seven thunders had given out their voices, I was about to put their words down: and a voice from heaven came to my ears, saying, Keep secret the things which the seven thunders said, and do not put them in writing.
5 And the angel which I saw taking his position on the sea and on the earth, put up his right hand to heaven,
6 And took his oath by him who is living for ever and ever, who made the heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there would be no more waiting:
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when the sound of his horn is about to come, then will the secret of God be complete, of which he gave the good news to his servants the prophets.
8 And the voice came to me again from heaven, saying, Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who has his place on the sea and on the earth.
9 And I went to the angel, and said to him, Give me the little book. And he said to me: Put it in your mouth; and it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.
10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and did as he said; and it was sweet as honey in my mouth: and when I had taken it, my stomach was made bitter.
11 And they said to me, You are to give word again of what is coming in the future to the peoples and nations and languages and kings.
Important Verses
Verse 1 The powerful angel descends from heaven, symbolizing divine authority and the significance of the coming revelation.
Verse 3 and 4 The angel’s loud cry is followed by seven thunders, though John is told not to write down their message, highlighting a divine mystery.
Verse 6 The angel swears an oath declaring that there will be no more delay in God’s plan.
Verse 7 This verse announces that the mystery of God will be completed, fulfilling what was revealed to the prophets.
Verse 9 and 10 John eats the small scroll, finding it sweet in his mouth but bitter in his stomach, symbolizing the complex nature of prophetic revelation.
Verse 11 John is instructed to continue prophesying to many nations, peoples, languages, and kings, preparing him for future revelations.
