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Revelation Chapter Ten

 

I. Content of the Chapter

 

A Little Book in the Hand of the Mighty Angel

I. When the mighty angel who carried a little book cried out seven thunders uttered their voices (v.1-3)

II. The things which the seven thunders uttered should not be written (v.4)

III. The mighty angel declared that the mystery of God would be finished when the seventh angel was about to sound (v.5-7)

IV. John was asked to take and eat the little book and prophesy to all the people (v.8-11)

 

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

Rev. 10:1 “I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head his face was like the sun and his feet like pillars of fire.

   YLT: “And I saw another strong messenger coming down out of the heaven arrayed with a cloud and a rainbow upon the head and his face as the sun and his feet as pillars of fire ”

   Meaning of Words: “mighty”: powerful strong; “coming down”: descending falling down; “clothed”: arrayed put on.

   Spiritual Meaning: “I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven ” “I saw still” this chapter and v.1-13 in the eleventh chapter were the visions inserted between the sixth trumpet and the seventh trumpet. “Another mighty angel” symbolizes the Lord Jesus Christ. “Coming down from heaven” symbolizes that the Lord comes down Himself.

“Clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head ” “clothed with a cloud” is “arrayed with a cloud” in the original i.e. being in the cloud instead of on the clouds (See Matt. 24:30; 26:64). And therefore it does not refer to His public coming but the Lord’s secret coming. “And a rainbow was on his head” symbolizes that He remembers the covenant established by God when He carries out judgment (See Gen. 9:8-17) and He must keep it faithfully.

“His face was like the sun and his feet like pillars of fire.” “His face was like the sun” symbolizes that He is the Sun of righteousness (See Mal. 4:2). “And his feet like pillars of fire” symbolizes that He shall carry out the righteous and holy judgment unswervingly (See Exod. 19:18; Heb. 12:29; 2Pet. 3:10-11).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The glorious (cloud) Lord still does not forget to keep the covenant (rainbow) in His judgment of wrath because He is the faithful Lord (See 2Cor. 1:19-20).

2) When the Lord comes again not only He is manifested as the sun of righteousness (like the sun) but also it shows that He shall judge (pillars of fire) the world according to righteousness and holiness.

 

Rev. 10:2 “He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land

   YLT: “and he had in his hand a little scroll opened and he did place his right foot upon the sea and the left upon the land ”

   Meaning of Words: “a little book”: a little scroll; “open”: having been unfolded uncovered; “set”: place.

   Spiritual Meaning: “He had a little book open in his hand.” “Had a little book” This little book had been eaten by John the apostle and he was asked to prophesy after he had eaten it (See v.8-11) and therefore it must be the second half of the Book of Revelation (11-22). “Open” indicates that the contents of the Book of Revelation were open to men.

And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land ” “setting foot on” symbolizes possession. The sea and the land were of Him however they had been usurped by Satan and now He will come back to regain His original rights (See 11:15).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) There is the Bible (the little book) in the hand of the Lord and it is open. To us believers the Bible is unlocked and the word of God is printed in the papers. And the problem is whether our minds have been opened to know Christ in the bible (See Luke. 24:16 31).

2) The whole world is of the Lord (setting the foot on the sea and the land) and He shall come back to regain His possession. Believers are you willing to stand for the Lord and let Him have a place of footing upon you?

 

Rev. 10:3 “and cried with a loud voice as when a lion roars. When he cried out seven thunders uttered their voices.

   YLT: “and he cried with a great voice as a lion doth roar and when he cried speak out did the seven thunders their voices;”

   Meaning of Words: “cry”: croak scream.

   Spiritual Meaning: “and cried with a loud voice as when a lion roars.” “As when a lion roars” symbolizes that His judgment is with the wrath of king (See Prov. 19:12; 20:2).

When he cried out seven thunders uttered their voices.” “Seven thunders uttered their voices” symbolizes the complete wrath of God and the Lamb (See 6:16-17).

   Enlightenment in the Word: the Lord’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion and the seven thunders’ uttering of their voices and it is extremely terrible. Everyone should not be in accordance with their hardness and their impenitent heart and they are treasuring up for themselves wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God (See Rom. 2:5).

 

Rev. 10:4 “Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered and do not write them.’”

   YLT: “and when the seven thunders spake their voices I was about to write and I heard a voice out of the heaven saying to me `Seal the things that the seven thunders spake ' and `Thou mayest not write these things.'”

   Meaning of Words: “was about to”: shall; “seal up”: stamp set a seal.

   Literal Meaning: “Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices I was about to write;” it means that John the apostle had clearly heard and understood the contents of the wrath of God and the Lamb.

“But I heard a voice from heaven saying to me Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered and do not write them.’” It means that others are not allowed to know the contents.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Those who speak for the Lord do not need to report the revelation that they have received to believers in full detail because some revelation is only revealed to them themselves.

2) The things which are not clearly written in the Bible are the secrets of God. However many believers like guessing and even overly deduce what they have surmised and it is the course of development of heresies. We should merely commit the things that God does not let us know to Him with ease and we should never replace God.

 

Rev. 10:5 “The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven

   YLT: “And the messenger whom I saw standing upon the sea and upon the land did lift up his hand to the heaven ”

   Meaning of Words: “raise up”: carry lift up.

   Literal Meaning: raised up his hand to heaven” it is a gesture to take an oath (See v.6; Deut. 32:40; Dan. 12:7).

 

Rev. 10:6 “and swore by Him who lives forever and ever who created heaven and the things that are in it the earth and the things that are in it and the sea and the things that are in it that there should be delay no longer

   YLT: “and did swear in Him who doth live to the ages of the ages who did create the heaven and the things in it and the land and the things in it and the sea and the things in it -- that time shall not be yet ”

   Meaning of Words: “create”: build found; “live”: living lively.

   Literal Meaning: “and by Him who lives forever and ever who created heaven and the things that are in it the earth and the things that are in it and the sea and the things that are in it ” it means that God is the Creator and possessor of the whole the universe and all the living things that are in it.

“Swore…that there should be delay no longer ” it means that the longsuffering ends here and there should be delay no longer.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The heaven the earth the sea and all the living things that are in them were created by God and they were created for Him. We have everything since we have the Lord. Besides Him what else do we pursue?

2) Though God longsuffers towards us again and again (See 2Pet. 3:9) His longsuffering is limited. Once the hour is come He shall come quickly to carry out His judgment.

 

Rev. 10:7 “but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel when he is about to sound the mystery of God would be finished as He declared to His servants the prophets.

   YLT: “but in the days of the voice of the seventh messenger when he may be about to sound and the secret of God may be finished as He did declare to His own servants to the prophets.”

   Meaning of Words: “day”: a day; “finish”: accomplish end; “declare”: preach report.

   Literal Meaning: “but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel when he is about to sound the mystery of God would be finished ” it means that when the seventh trumpet was sounded----the seventh seal was completely opened----the eternal mystery that God had planed shall be perfectly finished. It also means that the scroll in which the rights and interests of the universe were recorded (See 5:1-2) has been carried out completely at this point.

    Please note that the seventh trumpet also included the woes of the seven bowels (See 16) just as the seven seals included the seven trumpets. And therefore the sound of the seventh trumpet shall continue until the seven golden bowels had been poured out.

“As He declared to His servants the prophets.” It means that the mystery of God recorded in the scroll had already been written in the Bible through all the servants of God i.e. the Old Testament and the New Testament.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) We have been made to see the mystery which from the beginning of the world had been hid in God who created all things through all His servants (See Eph. 3:5 9). Yet a little while and the mystery shall be finished.

2) To us God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery that has been hid from ages and from generations among men; which is Christ in us the hope of glory (See Col. 1:26-27).

 

Rev. 10:8 “Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said Go take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.’”

   YLT: “And the voice that I heard out of the heaven is again speaking with me and saying `Go take the little scroll that is open in the hand of the messenger who hath been standing upon the sea and upon the land:'”

   Meaning of Words: “speak”: say tell; “take”: accept receive take.

   Literal Meaning: “Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said” “The voice” is the voice that commanded John not to write what the seven thunders uttered (See v.4).

“‘Go take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.’” “The angel who stands on the sea and on the earth” refers to the Lord Jesus Christ.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The little book is in the hand of the angel and the Lord Himself has the key to open the word of God. We search the Bible however we seldom come to the Lord to have life (See John. 5:39-40).

2) The Lord said that “I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst.” (John. 6:35) For this reason He Himself was born in the manger (See Luke 2:7). This picture tells us that He became flesh in order to be our food and provide us with all our needs. 

 

Rev. 10:9 “So I went to the angel and said to him Give me the little book. And he said to me Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.’”

   YLT: “and I went away unto the messenger saying to him `Give me the little scroll;' and he saith to me `Take and eat it up and it shall make thy belly bitter but in thy mouth it shall be sweet -- as honey.'”

   Meaning of Words: “eat”: eat up eat down; “stomach”: belly womb; “bitter”: make bitter.

   Spiritual Meaning: “So I went to the angel and said to him Give me the little book.’” “Went to the angel” refers to coming to the Lord (See John. 5:40). “Give men the little book” refers to asking the Lord to make him know the mystery of God (See Eph. 1:17-19).

And he said to me Take and eat it;” it symbolizes that the best way to understand the Bible is enjoying it instead of researching it.

“And it will make your stomach bitter but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.’” It symbolizes that believers will have two kinds of different experiences of the Bible----“sweet” and “bitter”.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) God won’t force us to receive His word. He only hands the word over to us and we have to stretch out our hands to receive it. Believers have to come to the Lord to receive the word of God every day.

2) Those who receive the word of God willingly shall feel the different tastes of the word of God----sourness sweet bitter and spiciness which will enrich our life.

 

Rev. 10:10 “Then I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it my stomach became bitter.

   YLT: “And I took the little scroll out of the hand of the messenger and did eat it up and it was in my mouth as honey -- sweet and when I did eat it -- my belly was made bitter;”

   Meaning of Words: “took”: carry receive get.

   Spiritual Meaning: “Then I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it ” it symbolizes finding the words of God and eating them (See Jer. 15:16).

“And it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.” It symbolizes that believers feel the words of God sweet and joyful when they enjoy them initially especially the part of God’s words that is like “milk” (See 1Pet. 2:2).

But when I had eaten it my stomach became bitter.” It symbolizes that we always feel bitter when experiencing the words of God especially the part of God’s words that is like “solid food” (See Heb. 5:12-14).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Those who are merely interested in the words of consolation in the Bible that their hearts may have comfort and encouragement probably stay in the stage of babies because they live on milk.

2) We have to grow up to a certain degree in the spiritual life that we read the Bible to know the will of God and are willing to devote ourselves to the will of God. In this way we will begin to feel that we suffer with the Lord and as a result we shall also be glorified with Him (See Rom. 8:17).

 

Rev. 10:11 “And he said to me You must prophesy again about many peoples nations tongues and kings.’”

   YLT: “and he saith to me `It behoveth thee again to prophesy about peoples and nations and tongues and kings -- many.'”

   Meaning of Words: “many”: abundant plenteous; “prophesy”: exercise the prophetic office speak in advance; “people”: the common people; “nation”: country; “tongue”: tongue dialect; “king”: sovereign.

   Literal Meaning: “And he said to me ” “he” is “they” in the original and therefore it refers to the angels.

“‘You must prophesy again about many peoples nations tongues and kings.’” “Prophesying again” refers to passing on the words in the eleventh chapter to the twenty-second chapter in the Book of revelation to all the people.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) God gives us His word that we can let His word dwell in us richly (See Col. 3:16) with the purpose of bearing witness to Him in the two aspects of our words and deeds.

2) In order to bear witness of the Lord in the first place we do not read the Bible for others but for us to enjoy the Bible and turn the Bible into our walkings. And naturally we will bear witness of the Lord before others.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

The Lord Is the Mighty Angel Who Had A Little Book

I.  The Lord is the mighty angel:

  A. mighty (v.1)----the incomparable power

  B. coming down from heaven (v.1)----He shall come again

  C. clothed with a cloud (v.1)----manifesting the glory

  D. a rainbow was on his head (v.1)----keeping the covenant faithfully

  E. his face was like the sun (v.1)----righteousness and brightness

  F. his feet like pillars of fire (v.1)----judging according to righteousness and holiness

  G. having a little book open in his hand (v.2)----the condition of His second coming has been written in the Bible

  H. setting his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land (v.2)----He shall come back to regain the whole land

  I. crying as when a lion roars (v.3)----the sound of wrath could be heard indistinctly

II. The little book in the hand of the Lord:

  A. go and take it from the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth (v.8-9)----we should come to the Lord and look upon the word of God

  B. take and eat it (v.9-10)----we should eat drink and enjoy the word of God

  C. it was as sweet as honey in my mouth (v.9-10)----the word of God is our joy

  D. my stomach became bitter (v.9-10)----we should pay the price to experience the word of God

  E. prophesy to men (v.11)----we should share the word of God with men

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Sharon Ren