Revelation 10

After the relation of the plagues which under the sixth trumpet should come Christendom from the east and west there is related in the chapter that which should follow for the churches comfort under the same trumpet and first an angel is seen descending from heaven in great glory with a little book open in his hand 3 which crieth with a loud voice whereupon seven thunder claps follow 5 and he sweareth by him that liveth forever that time should be no more after that the seventh trumpet should have founded 8 after that he delivereth the book that was open to the apostle to eat it up 10 which was sweet in the mouth but bitter in the belly 11 after that he telleth the apostle that he must prophesy again.

1. And I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven [some conceive that this was angel Gabriel because this name signifieth the might of God but most other expositors understand by this angel the Lord Christ himself who appeareth here in a vision as descending from heaven for the comfort of his church not in his own human nature whom the heaven must continue until the restitution of all things Acts 3:21 but in respect of his working which are fitly expressed in this vision as is partly shewed chapter 1.13,15 and as h speaketh of his continual presence in his church Matthew 18:20 and 28.20 for before he appeared unto the apostle in the shape o a lamb and of a priest of heaven because he is considered in the former division as an advocate and intercessor with the father but henceforth he is sometimes manifested in his glory as an angel or ambassador f his father sometimes as king of kings and a conqueror of all sometimes as the bridegroom of his church because I the sequel he is brought in as an executioner of God decrees upon his church or upon the entries thereof] which was clothed with a cloud [namely as a token o his majesty as he went before the hosts of the Israelite in the cloudy pillars Exodus 13:21 etc. and appeared in the temple 2 Chronicles 5:13 and 7.1 and will also come at the last day with clouds as the judge of all as is testified before in this book chapter 1.7] and a rain bow was upon his head [of this and of the following properties see above chapter 1.15,16 and 4.3] and the face was as the sun and the feet as pillars of fire.

2. And he had on his hand a little book which was opened [some understand hereby God book of providence which was before sealed with seals which is now open in hand of Christ because none in heaven and earth was able to open it but the lamb which was lain as is testified chapter 5.3 which is therefore called a little book because there remained now yet but a part to be revealed before and because there remained now yet but a part to be revealed others take it to be meant of the book of the gospel which in those times when antichrist was at the highest was a closed book unto the church but from this very time that the Turks did break in against Christendom as was noted in the former chapter it was again more and more revealed and more nakedly propounded unto the church by some special men of God] and he set his right foot upon the sea and the left on the earth [namely to signify that from henceforth he took public possession of the earth and the sea of the continent and isles to propagate again his truth and the doctrine in both.]

3. And he [namely whom none was able to hinder from being heard] cried with a great voice as a lion roareth and when he had cried the seven thunder claps uttered their voices [namely certain mysteries or prophecies of things to come for these thunderclaps gave not only a sound but were also joined with a speaking voice as appeareth by the following verse see the like chapter 1.10,11.]

4. And when the seven thunder claps hath uttered their voices I should have written them and I heard a voice from heaven which said unto me the seven thunderclaps uttered [the like prohibition may be read Daniel 8:26 and 12.4 whereby the eight and concernment of the things which the thunderclaps hath uttered is set forth which ought rather to be known by the event thereof then the prediction in the church] and write it not [some books have and thou shalt write it afterwards therefore some are of opinion that which is sealed here , was first set down in writing in the fourteenth chapter and rather because chapter 1.1 it is said that the revelation was given to Jesus Christ to make the same known to his minister not to conceal it see also hereafter chapter 22.10.]

5. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven [namely according to the common course used by the ancient in swearing see Genesis 14:22 Daniel 12:7 yea God himself speaketh thus of himself Exodus 6:7.]

6. And he swear by him that liveth forevermore which created the heaven and that which therein is and the earth and that which therein is and the sea that which therein is that there shall be time no more [namely after the sounding of the seventh angel as the next verse sheweth which some understand by the time which by the course of heaven is measured out in days months and years which time will end with he and of the world others understand it of time of repentance which this time shall no more be given unto men which is therefore confirmed by the angel with such an oath that men might presently heed it persecution and oppression of the church of God by antichrist and the world and that the angel therefore so confirmeth it with an oath namely to assure the church thereof and to comfort here thereby as Christ also doth Luke 21:28.]

7. But in the days of the seventh angel when he shall sound [this according to the opinion of many shall be the voice of the arc-angel at the last day after which shall follow at the resurrection of the dead and the last judgment with the full deliverance and the glorification of Christ 1Corinthians 15.52 1Thessalonians 4.16] the mystery of God shall be fulfilled as he had declared to his servants the prophets [many understand this as shewed before of all that should befall the church of Christ in the world and of all that was foretold by the prophets which shall end with this trumpet others are of opinion that being it is foretold by the prophet that the house of Jacob shall be converted to the Lord that the whole church of Christ consisting of Jews and gentiles shall yet triumph over all her enemies even in this world and understand these words so that the same shall be in the beginning of the trumpet and that Christ shall not appear till after that to pronounce judgment upon all flesh continually in scripture concerning the church of Christ in this world because there is no where any settled rest promise unto the church of Christ in this world but a continual warfare against her enemies ye even then when the Jews shall be converted unto Christ which conversion some do place under the sixth trumpet but here shall be spoken more at large chapter 20.]

8. And the voice which I had heard from heaven spake with me again and said thy way and take thy little book [namely whereof was spoken verse 2 of this chapter whereof see also there the exposition] which is opened and is in the hand of he angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.

9. And I went my way unto the angel and said unto him give me that little book and he said unto me take it and eat it up [these words are taken out of Ezekiel 3 verse 1 where the like command is given to the prophet and thereby is meant that he was diligently to peruse ponder understand and ruminate upon that book] 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 I ate it up and it was in my mouth and it was as sweet as honey and when I had eaten it belly was bitter [hereby is signified that the knowledge of the mysteries of God indeed pleasant and delightful but that afterwards the operation that followeth thereupon are oftentimes bitter and grievous unto the children of God as for example the denying of ourselves and the affliction and persecution that thence befall them likewise the punishments which are threatened to the persecutors are also bitter and grievous to hear of unto the children of God as Ezekiel chapter 3.15 is troubled in his mind when he complaineth of the Jews obstinacy against his sermons and Paul of the obstinacy of Jews of his time Romans 9:2.]

11. And he said unto me thou must prophesy again before many people and nations and languages and kings [some understand this of John who should again be released from his banishments that he might everywhere preach the gospel freely and without control but sith here is spoken of prophesying under the sixth trumpet should again appear and come to light out of the persecution and thick darkness of anti-Christianism as shall be shewed in the next chapter whereunto this chapter is kind of introduction.]