Revelation 10:1-11 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

The Vision of the Strong Angel and the Little Book.

Revelation 10:1. The strong angel. We have no means of identifying this angel. To suppose that he represents Christ is contrary to all analogy and precedent. coming down out of heaven: the scene of the previous visions is laid in heaven, whither the seer had been transported. Here he seems to be standing upon the earth and watching the descent of the angel.

Revelation 10:2. a little book: the Gr. word is an emphatic diminutive, a very small roll (or scroll). This book is supposed to contain a fragment of Divine revelation (cf. the book mentioned in Ezekiel 2:9).

Revelation 10:4. the seven thunders: suggests that another cycle of visions, like the cycles of the seals and trumpets and bowls, occurred to the writer's mind, but he dismisses the temptation to use them. seal up: the metaphor sealing is generally used to denote the ending of a document which has been written. Here it is applied to an unwritten utterance.

Revelation 10:6. time. no longer: (a) time now ceases, because eternity has begun, or (b) there shall no longer be any interval or respite before the commencement of doom. The latter is preferable because it helps us to see the connexion of this chapter with the rest of the book (e.g. Revelation 6:10 f.). It announces that the pause is at an end and the hour of Divine intervention at hand. That this is the true interpretation is clear from the allusion to the seventh trumpet in

Revelation 10:7. then is finished the mystery of God (2 Thessalonians 2:7 *): the revelation which God made to the prophets is now consummated.

Revelation 10:9. Take it, and eat it up: cf. Ezekiel 3:1. A bold metaphor indicating that the message of God was to be incorporated by the seer into his system; cf. the Prayer Book phrase, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest. bitter: in Ezek. the only effect of eating the roll was to induce the sense of sweetness. Here there is a twofold result, a sweet taste in the mouth, and internal pain. Every revelation of God's purposes, even though it be but a fragment, is - bitter sweet,-' disclosing judgment as well as mercy (Swete).

Revelation 10:11 indicates a fresh development in the movement of the drama, which is to involve many nations and kings.

Related Commentaries of Revelation 10:1

Revelation 10:1-11

1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.

9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.