Revelation 10

Haystack bible commentary

"Stacks and stacks of commentary...."

==revelation 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.

This passage serves as an interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpet judgments, providing insight into God's sovereignty and the nature of prophecy. The apostle John describes the angel with vivid, symbolic imagery:
Clothed with a cloud symbolizes divine majesty and God's presence, reminiscent of Old Testament accounts like the pillar of cloud that guided the Israelites. A rainbow upon his head recalls God's covenant and mercy, first seen after the flood in Genesis 9. Here, it represents God's faithfulness and enduring promises amidst judgment. A face shining like the sun suggests divine radiance and glory, echoing descriptions of Jesus in Revelation 1 and Moses after he encountered God. His legs were like pillars of fire symbolizes God's powerful presence, judgment, and the steadfastness of his will.
Scholars offer different interpretations of who this mighty angel is. Many believe the angel is a powerful celestial messenger, distinct from Jesus, who has been given great authority to deliver a specific message. The language used to describe the angel draws from divine imagery but does not explicitly name him as Christ. Other commentators argue that the description is so similar to that of Christ in other parts of Revelation that it is a direct appearance of Jesus. This view often relies on the idea that Christ appeared as "the angel of the Lord" in the Old Testament, though others contend that Jesus is never called "another" angel.
This interlude sets the stage for the final stage of God's plan and offers key themes for believers:
Divine Sovereignty is the image of the angel descending from heaven with authority over the earth and sea affirms God's ultimate power over all creation and all of history.
Imminent Fulfillment is the angel's oath that "there shall be no more delay" (Revelation 10:6) signals the imminent fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, foretold by the prophets.
The scene continues with John eating a scroll that is sweet in his mouth but bitter in his stomach. This symbolizes the dual nature of God's word—it is a joy to receive, but its message often includes difficult truths about judgment. Revelation 10:1 serves as a bridge, reminding readers of God's faithfulness and authority before the final trumpet is sounded and the culmination of his plan begins.

==revelation 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,

Revelation 10:2 describes a powerful angel holding an open "little scroll" (also called a book) in his hand. He then stands with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, an action symbolizing God's dominion over the entire world. This mighty angel's appearance and the scroll he holds are part of a vision where he is instructed by a voice from heaven to seal up the words of seven thunders and prophesy again to many nations.
A Mighty angel descends from heaven with immense power and authority. The angel holds the Scroll in his hand, and it is open, signifying its message is ready for all to see. The angel's posture of his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land shows his authority and the universality of his message, which encompasses all of creation. This verse sets the stage for a significant part of the vision in the Book of Revelation, where John is given a scroll to consume, taste its sweetness and bitterness, and then prophesy again.

==revelation 10:3:

and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.

Writer describes a mighty angel who cries out with a loud, authoritative voice "like the roar of a lion," which is then followed by the voices of seven thunders. This verse is part of an interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpet judgments, highlighting a moment of dramatic divine action in the midst of prophetic visions

==revelation 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."

John is commanded by a voice from heaven not to write down what he heard from the "seven thunders". An interlude occurs between the sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpets, where a mighty angel appears holding a small, open scroll. The angel roars like a lion, and in response, seven thunders speak, apparently conveying a message of divine judgment. When John is about to record what he hears, a heavenly voice orders him to "Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down".
The sealing of the seven thunders is the only time in the book of Revelation that John is forbidden to write down part of his vision. As a result, the exact meaning of the thunders has remained a mystery, with various interpretations:
Some suggest that the contents of the thunders were a message not meant for human ears at that time, emphasizing that not all of God's plans are revealed to us. The command to seal the message highlights God's authority and control over what is revealed and what is kept secret. This fosters humility and trust in God's timing. This is reminiscent of other moments in scripture where a prophet is told to seal up a vision or revelation, such as with Daniel and Paul. Ultimately, the sealing of the seven thunders reminds us that some mysteries are beyond human understanding, and believers must live by faith amid the unrevealed aspects of God's purposes. It reinforces the truth that what God has chosen to reveal in scripture is sufficient for salvation and godly living.

==revelation 10:5-6:

The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven
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,

The mighty angel standing on the sea and land raises his hand to heaven and solemnly swears that there will be no more delay before God's ultimate plan is fulfilled. This dramatic scene serves as a powerful interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpet judgments.
The passage describes a powerful angel descending from heaven, with attributes suggesting divine authority. The angel's stance, with one foot on the sea and one on the land, symbolizes dominion over the world. The angel then takes a solemn oath by God. The declaration that "there will be no more delay" signifies the imminent fulfillment of God's plans and can be seen as an answer to the martyrs' question about when judgment will occur.
This scene sets the stage for the final events, particularly the sounding of the seventh trumpet, which will bring God's mystery to completion with the establishment of his kingdom and final judgment. The angel's oath conveys a message of impending judgment but also offers hope for believers that their final salvation is not far off.

==revelation 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.

This verse indicates that the seventh trumpet will signal the fulfillment of God's hidden purpose and plan, ending the mystery of His kingdom and establishing His eternal rule on Earth.
The sounding of the seventh trumpet marks a specific point in time when God's plan will be completed. God's mysterious plan and purposes that were once hidden but will become fully known and accomplished at this time. The verse emphasizes that the completion of God's mystery which was foretold by the prophets, connecting it to earlier biblical prophecies. The angel's declaration, connected to this verse, assures that there will be no further delay in God's plan being put into effect once the seventh trumpet is sounded. The ultimate outcome is the accomplishment of the mystery of God's kingdom, leading to His eternal reign.
In essence, Revelation 10:7 marks a pivotal moment where the long-held mysteries of God are brought to a complete and public resolution with the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

==revelation 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.”

This verse is part of a larger vision where the Apostle John sees a powerful angel descending from heaven with a small scroll. This angel stands with one foot on the sea and the other on the land, symbolizing his authority over the whole earth. The voice from Heaven is likely that of Christ, which previously spoke to John. It now gives John a direct command to go and take the scroll from the angel. Unlike the scroll in Revelation 5, this one is open, which signifies that its contents are ready to be revealed. John is instructed to eat the scroll. It tastes as sweet as honey in his mouth, but turns his stomach bitter. This is an experience similar to that of the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel. The act of eating the scroll, a symbol of internalizing God's word, is followed by the instruction for John to "prophesy again about many peoples and nations and languages and kings". Essentially, Revelation 10:8 marks the moment John receives his prophetic mandate to declare God's message, which holds both the sweetness of God's word and the bitterness of its prophetic implications.

==revelation 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.”

Revelation 10:9 describes the symbolic act of the apostle John eating a small scroll given to him by a mighty angel. The passage reads: "So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, 'Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey'". This vision illustrates the dual nature of God's prophetic word: it is both a source of great joy and painful grief. The sweetness represents the initial joy and delight of receiving a direct message from God. This is a profound privilege, akin to the joy expressed in Psalm 19:10 and Jeremiah 15:16, where God's words are esteemed more than necessary food. The subsequent bitterness represents the painful and distressing nature of the message itself. For John, this came from internalizing the terrible judgments and persecutions foretold in the scroll. The joy of receiving God's word is followed by the heavy burden of prophesying a message of judgment and woe.
This vision in Revelation directly parallels the experience of the prophet Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 2:9–3:3: Ezekiel was commanded to eat a scroll with words of "lamentations and mourning and woe" written on it.
Ezekiel 3:3: When he ate it, it was "as sweet as honey in my mouth".
In both cases, eating the scroll symbolizes the internalization of God's word, making it a part of the prophet before delivering it to the people.
Following this symbolic meal, John is told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings" (Revelation 10:11). This shows that eating the scroll was a commissioning for his renewed prophetic task. It's a reminder that truly embracing and understanding God's message involves both the delight of divine communication and the pain of its implications for a rebellious world.
For believers today, this passage serves as a powerful metaphor for engaging with God's word:
The sweetness is a source of hope, promises, and spiritual nourishment. Meditating on God's truth brings joy and satisfaction.
The bitterness is accepting God's full message also means grappling with the difficult and challenging parts, such as sin, judgment, and the call to self-denial. It reminds us that proclaiming God's truth to a fallen world will not always be easy or met with enthusiasm.

==revelation 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.

Revelation 10:10 describes the Apostle John taking a small scroll from an angel's hand and eating it. The scroll tastes sweet like honey in his mouth but turns bitter in his stomach. This "bittersweet" experience symbolizes the dual nature of God's message: the joy of receiving divine truth and the sorrow of its subsequent judgment and bitterness for the wicked.
"And I took the little book... and ate it up"signifies John internalizing God's message, making it a personal experience rather than just an observation. "It was in my mouth sweet as honey": The sweetness represents the initial joy and delight in receiving God's word. "And as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter": The bitterness symbolizes the solemn and sorrowful reality of God's judgment for the wicked, even as it is a source of hope for the righteous.
The act of eating the scroll is symbolic, similar to what happened to the prophet Ezekiel. It portrays the message of God's impending plan, a plan that is at once sweet in its divine promise and bitter in its implications of destruction for those who oppose God. This passage is part of a larger vision in Revelation 10, where John encounters a mighty angel standing over the sea and land. The angel gives John the open scroll with a command to "prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings," which he fulfills after his bittersweet experience.

==revelation 10:11:

And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

Revelation 10:11 says, "Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings”. This verse marks the end of the instruction given to the Apostle John, following his eating of a scroll that was both sweet and bitter, signifying his future prophetic mission regarding the world's diverse peoples and their kings.
John receives a direct command to prophesy again. This prophecy is to be directed to a global audience, encompassing "many peoples, nations, languages and kings". This verse follows the powerful vision of a mighty angel who instructs John to eat a small scroll. The scroll's sweetness in his mouth and bitterness in his stomach symbolize the profound and sometimes difficult nature of God's message. Revelation 10:11 sets the stage for the rest of the book, which details what will happen to the Gentiles and the people of Israel and serves as a testimony to all nations.

The command to "prophesy again" signals a new phase in John's prophetic mission, with a broader, more international focus than his earlier prophecies. The prophecy is not meant for a single group but for the entire world, including "many peoples, nations, languages and kings". This broad scope connects to the idea of the Great Commission, where the Gospel is to be preached to all nations. The inclusion of "kings" emphasizes that all earthly rulers are subject to God's ultimate authority and judgment. It reinforces the central message of Revelation that Jesus Christ is King over all. For Christians, this passage teaches that the Word of God is often a "bittersweet" experience. It is sweet because it is a source of life, grace, and eternal salvation. It is bitter because it carries the heavy truth of sin, judgment, and suffering. The passage ultimately serves as a call for believers to embrace the full, unfiltered message of God's Word and to be prepared to share it with the world, regardless of the difficulty.