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

Bible Comments

The Little Book

Between the sixth and seventh trumpets, as between the sixth and seventh seals, is an episode consisting of two visions. The first vision is related in this c.
Another mighty angel (cp. Revelation 5:2), depicted as clothed with God's power and mercy, which he is commissioned to minister, comes from heaven (Revelation 10:1), holding a little book open in his hand. The book is different from that of Revelation 5, and contains a special revelation for St. John to make: cp. Revelation 10:11 (Revelation 10:2). Seven thunders utter their voices, apparently signifying that there will be a cycle of judgments not included in the seals, trumpets, and bowls (Revelation 10:3), but these St. John is forbidden by the herald angel (cp. Revelation 1:10) to record: cp. Daniel 12:4; (Revelation 10:4). The angel of Revelation 10:1 (Revelation 10:5) now declares (cp. Daniel 12:7) that the 'little time' of Revelation 6:11 shall be brought to an end (Revelation 10:6) in the days of the seventh trumpet, when God's eternal purpose of salvation, the revelation of which had gladdened the prophets of both dispensations (cp. Daniel 9:6; Daniel 9:10; Zechariah 1:6; Romans 1:1), shall be fulfilled (Revelation 10:7). At the command of the herald-angel, St. John takes the book (Revelation 10:8), and eats it. It is sweet in his mouth, but bitter in his belly (op. Psalms 119:103; Ezekiel 2:8.; Ezekiel 3:1.), signifying that it is sweet to him to receive God's revelation, but that its wrath and judgment fill him with sorrow (Revelation 10:9.). The two angels bid him announce the contents of this new revelation, which are, probably, to be found in Revelation 12 f. (Revelation 10:11).

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.