Offenbarung 10

1 Und ich sah einen anderen starken Engel aus dem Himmel herniederkommen, bekleidet mit einer Wolke, und der Regenbogen war auf seinem Haupte, und sein Angesicht war wie die Sonne, und seine Füße wie Feuersäulen;

2 und er hatte in seiner Hand ein geöffnetes Büchlein. Und er stellte seinen rechten Fuß auf das Meer, den linken aber auf die Erde;

3 und er rief mit lauter Stimme, wie ein Löwe brüllt. Und als er rief, redeten die sieben Donner ihre Stimmen.

4 Und als die sieben Donner redeten, wollte ich schreiben; und ich hörte eine Stimme aus dem Himmel sagen: Versiegle, was die sieben Donner geredet haben, und schreibe dieses nicht.

5 Und der Engel, den ich auf dem Meere und auf der Erde stehen sah, erhob seine rechte Hand zum Himmel und schwur bei dem,

6 der da lebt von Ewigkeit zu Ewigkeit, welcher den Himmel erschuf und was in ihm ist, und die Erde und was auf ihr ist, und das Meer und was in ihm ist, daß keine Frist mehr sein wird,

7 sondern in den Tagen der Stimme des siebten Engels, wenn er posaunen wird, wird auch das Geheimnis Gottes vollendet sein, wie er seinen eigenen Knechten, den Propheten, die frohe Botschaft verkündigt hat.

8 Und die Stimme, die ich aus dem Himmel hörte, redete wiederum mit mir und sprach: Gehe hin, nimm das geöffnete Büchlein in der Hand des Engels, der auf dem Meere und auf der Erde steht.

9 Und ich ging zu dem Engel und sagte ihm, er möge mir das Büchlein geben. Und er spricht zu mir: Nimm es und iß es auf; und es wird deinen Bauch bitter machen, aber in deinem Munde wird es süß sein wie Honig.

10 Und ich nahm das Büchlein aus der Hand des Engels und aß es auf; und es war in meinem Munde süß, wie Honig, und als ich es gegessen hatte, wurde mein Bauch bitter gemacht.

11 Und es wurde mir gesagt: Du mußt wiederum weissagen über Völker und Nationen und Sprachen und viele Könige.

Offenbarung 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

The Angel of the covenant presents a little open book, which is followed with seven thunders. (1-4) At the end of the following prophecies, time should be no more. (5-7) A voice directs the apostle to eat the book; (8-10) and tells him he must prophesy further. (11)

Verses 1-7 The apostle saw another representation. The person communicating this discovery probably was our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, or it was to show his glory. He veils his glory, which is too great for mortal eyes to behold; and throws a veil upon his dispensations. A rainbow was upon his head; our Lord is always mindful of his covenant. His awful voice was echoed by seven thunders; solemn and terrible ways of discovering the mind of God. We know not the subjects of the seven thunders, nor the reasons for suppressing them. There are great events in history, perhaps relating to the Christian church, which are not noticed in open prophecy. The final salvation of the righteous, and the final success of true religion on earth, are engaged for by the unfailing word of the Lord. Though the time may not be yet, it cannot be far distant. Very soon, as to us, time will be no more; but if we are believers, a happy eternity will follow: we shall from heaven behold and rejoice in the triumphs of Christ, and his cause on earth.

Verses 8-11 Most men feel pleasure in looking into future events, and all good men like to receive a word from God. But when this book of prophecy was thoroughly digested by the apostle, the contents would be bitter; there were things so awful and terrible, such grievous persecutions of the people of God, such desolations in the earth, that the foresight and foreknowledge of them would be painful to his mind. Let us seek to be taught by Christ, and to obey his orders; daily meditating on his word, that it may nourish our souls; and then declaring it according to our several stations. The sweetness of such contemplations will often be mingled with bitterness, while we compare the Scriptures with the state of the world and the church, or even with that of our own hearts.

Chapter Summary

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.