Revelation 10:1-11
In verse 1 John gives a description of an Angel. We know it is an Angel by the descriptive terms he uses, such as; mighty, clothed with a cloud, rainbow upon his head, face shown like the sun, feet as pillars of fire. These terms have been used throughout the Bible to describe Angels as well as Jesus.
In verse 2 John sees this Angel with a little book “open,” which could be a reference to this book of Revelation being revealed. The Angel has one foot on the sea and the other foot on the earth, which would describe a supernatural being. We will discuss the “little book” later.
In verse 3 John hears “Seven Thunders” speaking; then in verse 4 he is instructed to “seal up” and is forbidden to write down what was spoken to him by these seven thunders. So John hears something of a secret or hidden thing. We really do not know the timing of this scene as this is one of those informational chapters that do not necessarily fit a timeline.
Just as the prophet Daniel was instructed in Daniel 12:4 to ‘seal up the book until the time of the end,’ John is now being instructed something similar and most likely it is for the end times as well. In fact, some believe it may relate to the seventh vial Judgment found in Chapter 16.
There have been those that have said they have the revelation of the seven thunders and know what they refer to. It is my perception these will not be revealed until the appointed time, so we shall see.
In verses 5-7 John sees this enormous Angel worshiping and praising God. He swore an oath to Him Who lives forever. This could possibly be an oath or pledge of allegiance to God Almighty. That should be a comfort to us who are Born Again for we too will live with Him forever!
The Angel describes all the things that God has created; he then proclaims that ‘time will be no more.’ For us who live in such “time constraints” and have not known anything different, this could be a little difficult to wrap our minds around, however this is something that we have to look forward to. All the mysteries throughout the ages as He revealed them to His prophets will come to completion at the sound of the Seventh Trumpet.
In verses 8-11 John again hears a voice and is instructed to go to the Angel with the little book and take it from him. John does what he is told and the Angel gives it to John saying ‘eat it up.’
What is this little book discussed earlier? It is the Word of God which we are instructed to meditate. This is our spirit’s way of eating the Word. Our spirit gets nourishment as we mediate on the Word. Psalms 34:8 and 119:103 speak of ‘tasting the Word of God.’ Hebrews 5:13-14 states that ‘the Word is milk and meat.’
John is also told that it will taste sweet in his mouth. The references in Psalms also state that ‘the Word is sweet as honey to the taste;’ however John is also told that it will be bitter in his belly.
The purpose of the Word is to cleanse us from sin, corruption, unforgiveness, pride, etc. If we will allow it to do the work it is designed to do there are going to be some unpleasant experiences until the work is complete in us and we are free of these types of things. The flesh does not give up easily so it can seem like the Word is bitter in our belly.
John is then told that he is to prophesy again to peoples and nations. That must have been good news to John for he had just received revelation that he was not to die on the Isle of Patmos but would return to the mainland again. John was released from the Isle of Patmos after the death of the Caesar that had him placed there. He continued in ministry up to his death and was most likely the one to deliver the letters to the Seven Churches.
