Revelation 10
DOYLYRevelation 10:4
- — saying—Seal up those things] As we know not the subjects of the “seven thunders,” so neither can we know the reasons for suppressing them: but it may be conceived that some things were proper to be revealed to the Apostle, and yet not to be communicated to the church. It would savour rather of vanity and presumption, than of wisdom and knowledge, to pretend to conjecture what these things are, when the Holy Spirit has purposely concealed them. Bp. Newton.
Revelation 10:5
- — lifted up his hand] An ancient form of taking an oath. See Gen. xiv. 22; Deut. xxxii. 40. This mode of swearing has descended even to our own times and nation, being still used in Scotland. Dean Woodhouse.
Revelation 10:6
6, 7. — that there should be time no longer: But in the days &c.] The expression translated, “that there should be time no longer,” does not mean that time itself should be no more; but more literally, ’the time shall not be yet.’ Some understand by it, that the time of fulfilling the prophecy should be no longer delayed; or, as Grotus says, it shall not be long before the secret purpose of God is fulfilled. But both the intention of the prophecy, and the more literal meaning of the expression, better agree with the interpretation of Daubus, who says, The angel in the vision declares with an oath, that the glorious state of the church shall not be as yet, but that, however, it should not be long to it; for in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall sound, (that is, in the period of prophecy to which the remainder of the book yet unrevealed relates, under the seventh trumpet,) the mystery of God shall be perfected, as He had declared to His Prophets. This was a consolation proper to the general design of the prophecy. Lowman.
Revelation 10:9
- — Take it, and eat it up:] That is, thoroughly consider and digest it. What St. John is ordered to do here, Ezekiel did on a similar occasion, Esek. iii. 3. Bp. Newton.
Eating and drinking signify acquiring and possessing; and eating the book is becoming inspired with the prophecy contained in it. It implies being inspired in a vigorous and extraordinary manner with the prophecy of the whole book. Sir I. Newton.
— it shall make thy belly bitter, &c.] That is, thou shalt find, in the events it shall reveal unto thee, an occasion for comfort and joy, for grief and sorrow. Lowman.
The glorious promises thou wilt see made to the church of Christ, will please and delight thee; but, when thou comest to the sight of the corruptions, idolatries, and persecutions, which this same church will first undergo, before these days of glory are to come, thou wilt be astonished and confounded. Pyle.
— thy belly bitter,—sweet as honey.] Honey, when taken in excess, like other sweet things, is generally thought to produce bile, and to cause pains in the stomach. Harmer.
Revelation 10:11
- — Thou must prophesy again &c.] The angel tells him, that he was to consider that the prophecies contained in this book were not intended only for his private instruction and meditation; they were prophecies which concerned the publick, many nations, and people, which he was to publish in farther revelations for the publick use and benefit of the church. Lowman.
Chap. XI. ver. 1. And there was given me a reed &c.] After this, I beheld in the visions of prophecy a new representation of the future providence of God towards the church and world; for there was a measuring rod put into my hand, with which I was directed to measure the temple and the court in which the altar stood,