I saw another mighty angel come down, &c.— St. John, in the conclusion of the last chapter, having touched upon the corruption of the Western church,proceedsnowtodeliversome prophesies relating to this lamentable event: but before he enters upon this subject, he, and the church with him, are prepared for it by an august and consolatory vision. Another mighty angel came down, described somewhat like the angel or Personage in the last three Chapter s of Daniel, and in the first chapter of this book. He had in his hand a little book; (Revelation 10:2.) this little book (βιβλαριδιον), or codicil, was different from the βιβλιον, or book, mentioned before, ch. Revelation 5:1 and it was open, that all men might freely read and consider it. It was indeed a codicil to the larger book, and properly comes under the sixth trumpet to describe the state of the Western church after the description of the state of the Eastern: and this is with good reason made a separate and distinct prophesy, on account of the importance of the matter, as well as for engaging the greater attention. The angel set his right foot upon the sea, &c. (Revelation 10:2.) to shew the extent of his power and commission; and when he had cried aloud, seven thunders uttered their voices. St. John would have written down those things which the seven thunders uttered, but was forbidden to do it, Revelation 10:4. As we know not the subjects of the seven thunders, so neither can we know the reasons for suppressing them; and to pretend to know either, is to be wise above what is written. Then (Revelation 10:5-6.) the angel lifted up his hand, &c. like the angel in Daniel 12:7 and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, the great Creator of all things, that there should be time no longer, or rather, that the time should not be yet; but it shall be in the days of the seventh trumpet, that the mystery of God shall be finished, and the glorious state of the church be perfected, agreeably to the good things which he promised to his servants the prophets, Revelation 10:7. This is said for the consolation of Christians, that though the little book describes the calamities of the Western church, yet they shall have a happy period under the seventh trumpet. St. John is then ordered to eat the little book, as the prophet did, Ezekiel 3:3 upon the like occasion: and he ate it up, (Revelation 10:10.) he thoroughly considered and digested it, and found it to be, as he was informed it would be, Revelation 10:9. Sweet as honey in his mouth, but bitter in his stomach. "The knowledge of future things at first was pleasant, but the sad contents of the little book afterwards filled his soul with sorrow." These contents, however, were not to be sealed up like those of the seven thunders; this little book was to be published, as well as the larger book of the Apocalypse; and as it concerned kings and nations, so was it to be made public for their use and information. Sir Isaac Newton observes, that this description of an angel coming down from heaven, Revelation 10:1 is in the form in which Christ appeared in the beginning of this prophesy; and it may further direct us to understand this mighty angel, of Christ; that he appeared having a little book open in his hand. He also observes, that by the earth the Jews understand the great continent of all Asia and Africa, to which they had access by land; and by the isles of the sea they understood the places to which they sailed by sea, or the several parts of Europe; and here in this prophesy the earth and sea are put, according to him, for the nations of the Greek and Latin empires.
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.