Revelation 10

Revelation 10:1-7

This chapter is an introduction to the latter part of the prophecies of this book. Here we have, 1. A remarkable description of a very glorious angel with an open book in his hand, ver. 1—3. 2. An account of seven thunders which the apoplics heard, at echoing to this voice of the angel, and communicated some discoveries, which the apoplics was not yet allowed to write. 3. The solemn oath taken by him who had the lead in his hand, ver. 5—7. 4. The charge given to the apoplics, and observed by him, ver. 8—11.

1. AND I saw another mighty angel ‘come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud,’ and a rainbow was upon his head,’ and his face was as it were the Sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. 2. And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth.’ 3. And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. 5. And the angel which I saw hand upon the sea, and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven.’ 6. And I were by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: 7. But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished,’ as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Another vision intervenes between the sixth and seventh trumpet, as before between the sixth and seventh feud.

1. A glorious angel, even the same divine personage whose voice was heard before, giving the angels their commission, (chap. vii. 2.) comes down from heaven clothed with a cloud, and around his head the rainbow glowed the token of his mind-faimed of his everlasting covenant, his countenance like the Sun, cheating the hearts of his people, and his feet as pillars of fire, firm to support the intereils of his church, and terrible to tread down but enemies. In his hand he held a little book, the last volume of the roll which he had opened, and was about to reveal the contents of it; and, letting one foot on the earth, the other on the sea, to intimate his universal dominion, loud as the lion roars he uttered his voice, and instant seven mighty thundering, the emblems of the judgments about to follow, echoed back the found. Being about to minute down the articulate denunciations uttered by these thunders, John is refrained by a voice from heaven, saying, Seal up those things, and write them not.

2. The angel that stood on the earth and sea then lifted up his hand to heaven, and, with a solemn oath, I were by the great Creator of all things, that there should be time no longer; but that when the time, and times and half a time (Dan. xii. 7.) are expired, the 1260 years of the reign of Antichrist, then an end should be put to the Antichristian tyranny for ever, and that, within the period of the seventh trumpet, the mystery of God should be finished, his designs of grace accomplished, and his great salvation spread from pole to pole. As of old had been shown to his prophets, (Dan. vii. 25—28. xii. 6, 7. Zsch. xiv. 9.)

3. And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go, and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which thunded upon the sea, and upon the earth. 9. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it; and eat it up; 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 ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. 11. And he said unto me, Thou must get—

phefy again before many peoples, and nations; and tongues, and kings.

Revelation 10:8-11

The same voice which he had heard from heaven.

1. Commands him to go and take the volume out of the angel’s hand who stood on the earth and sea, who gave it to him and hid him eat it up; digesting the awful contents therein revealed, telling him that though sweet in his mouth, it would make his belly bitter; desirable as it was to know the events of futurity, the awful defolations about to come upon the earth, and the sufferings of the church, could not but inwardly grieve and afflict him.

2. The apostle obeyed, and found the word true which had been spoken; sweet as the book was in his mouth, as honey, his belly was made bitter as gall, and the burdens he foresaw deeply affected him; but he must not conceal the secrets communicated to him; he is commanded to properly concerning the events which must successively come to pass before many people and nations, and tongues and kings. Now, Preachers must first themselves digest and be deeply affected with the truths which they deliver to others.