Revelation Chapter 10

From The Open Bible Project

10:1 I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.

  • (1) Now John passes to the other prophetical history, which is of the Church of God, as I showed that this book should be distinguished (Revelation 4:1). This story goes from here to (Revelation 22:1). This whole chapter is a transition from the common history of the world to that which is particular of the Church. There are in this transition or passage, two preparatives as it were, to this Church story comprised in this whole chapter. One is the authority of Christ revealing his mysteries and calling his servant, to (Revelation 10:7). The other is John, his calling proper to this place, and repeated from before to the end of this chapter. Authority is given to this revelation, by these things: first, by the appearing from heaven in this habit and countenance, strong, ready glorious surveying all things by his providence, and governing them by his omnipotence (Revelation 10:1). Secondly, that he brought not by chance, but out of a book, this open revelation, set forth to the eye, to signify the same to the sea and land, as the Lord over all (Revelation 10:2). Thirdly that he offered the same not whispering or muttering in a corner (as false prophets do) but crying out with a loud voice to those who sleep, and with a lionish and terrible noise roused the secure: the very thunders themselves giving testimony to it (Revelation 10:3). Lastly, for that he confirmed all by another (Revelation 10:5-7).
  • (2) Christ Jesus, see (Revelation 7:2)

10:2 He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land.

  • (3) Namely, a special book of the affairs of God’s Church: For the book that contains things belonging to the whole world, is said to be kept with the Creator (Revelation 5:1) but the book of the Church, with the Redeemer: and out of this book is taken the rest of the history of this Apocalypse.

10:3 He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.

10:4 When the seven thunders sounded, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from the sky saying, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders said, and don't write them."

  • (4) A godly care is laudable, but must be married with knowledge. Therefore nothing is to be done but by the calling of God, which must be expected and waited for by the godly.
  • (a) Keep them secret.

10:5 The angel who I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky,

  • (b) This was a gesture used of one that swears, which men do now use.

10:6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay,

  • (5) Neither time itself, nor the things that are in time: but that the world to come is at hand, which is altogether of eternity, and beyond all times.
  • (c) There shall never be any more time.

10:7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets.

10:8 The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, "Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land."

  • (7) The other part of this chapter concerning the particular calling of John to the receiving of the following prophecy, which is enjoined him, first by sign, in three verses, then in plain words in the last verse (Revelation 10:9,10,11). To the setting forth of the sign belong these things: That John is taught from heaven to ask for the book of the prophecy in this verse: for these motions and desires God inspires that asking for the book, he is charged to take it in a figurative manner, the use of which is expounded in (Revelation 10:9) (as in) (Ezekiel 2:9) whence this similitude is borrowed: lastly that John at the commandment of Christ took the book, and found by experience that the same as proceeding from Christ, was most sweet, but in that it foretells the afflictions of the Church, it was most bitter to his spirit.

10:9 I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. He said to me, "Take it, and eat it up. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey."

10:10 I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.

10:11 They told me, "You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings."

  • (8) A simple and plain declaration of the sign before, witnessing the divine calling of John, and laying on him the necessity of it.
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