Revelation 10:1-8

The Mighty Angel and the Small Scroll

1 Then I saw another mighty angel[a] coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow[b] over his head.[c] His face was like the sun, his legs[d] were like fiery pillars,
2 and he had a little scroll opened in his hand. He put his right foot on the sea, his left on the land,
3 and he cried out with a loud voice like a roaring lion. When he cried out, the seven thunders spoke with their voices.
4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. Then I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders said,[e] and do not write it down!"
5 Then the angel that I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven.
6 He swore an oath by the One who lives forever and ever,[f] who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it: "There will no longer be an interval of time,[g]
7 but in the days of the sound of the seventh angel,[h] when he will blow his trumpet, then God's hidden plan[i] will be completed, as He announced to His servants[j] the prophets."[k]
8 Now the voice that I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."

Revelation 10:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 10

This chapter contains a vision of an angel of a wonderful appearance, the voices of the seven thunders, and an order to John to take the book in the hand of the angel, eat it, and prophesy. The angel is described by his strength, a mighty one; by his descent from heaven; by his attire, being clothed with a cloud; by a rainbow on his head; by his face being like the sun; by his feet, which were as pillars of fire, the one foot set on the sea, and the other on the earth; by having a little book open in his hand, and by the loud cry he made, like the roaring of a lion, Re 10:1-3, upon which seven thunders uttered their voices, which John was going to write, but was forbid, Re 10:4; next follows a solemn oath of the angers; the gesture he used, lifting up his hand to heaven; the person by whom he swore, the living God; what he swore to, that time should be no more, and that the mystery of God would be finished at the beginning of the seventh trumpet, Re 10:5-7; then several orders are given to John, as to take the open book in the hand of the angel, which he did, to eat it, as he accordingly did; when he found it to be as it was told him it would be, namely, sweet in his mouth, but bitter in his belly; and then to prophesy again before people, nations, tongues, and kings, Re 10:8-11.

Footnotes 11

Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.