| In-Depth Study of The Book of Revelation Chapter 10 By Rabbi Esther Boucher |
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Before showing us the final bowls of the wrath of G-d contained in the seventh trumpet, John
presents 7 intervening scenes. He does so to teach important spiritual truths and to fill in certain
details that provide a clearer picture of what will take place before G-d's judgement is complete.
Verse 1-3
I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow
was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book
open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and cried
with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.
The vision shows the coming of a powerful angel.
Verse 4
Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from
heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write
them.”
The seven thunders here described, no doubt, are additional judgements from G-d upon those on
earth who stand fast in their rebellion against him. The number 7 shows that there is another
complete cycle of judgements awaiting the wicked, and the details have been sealed up and
hidden from us.
Verse 5-7
The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand[c] to heaven 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 should be
delay no longer, 7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to
sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.
These verses parallel Dan. 12:7, 10:4-6. Both Daniel and Revelation show resplendent angels of
great power. Both stand apparently by the water's edge claiming G-d's ownership and sovereignty
over His land and water creations. Both lift a hand to heaven and swear by G-d. But, where the
angel in Daniel declares that there are yet coming 3 1/2 years (times) to complete G-d's judgement
of this age, the angel in Revelation announces time no longer. At the blowing of the 7th trump we
reach the midpoint of the 7 year Tribulation. When G-d's plan for human history is completely
revealed, all prophecy will be fulfilled. Those who write or speak on G-d's prophetic portions of His
Word are sometimes referred to as Doomsday Prophets. For while many Christians like to sing
about Heaven and many Pastors choose to preach about every subject in G-d's Word except
prophecy never the less these judgements are there. And while the expectations of the millennium
and the New Heaven and New Earth are wonderful beyond words further study of prophecy shows
us that G-d's Word also tells of awful judgements. Many church groups preach a G-d of love but
forget to remind their congregations that G-d is also a G-d of judgement. How often have you
heard the question how can a G-d of love to this or that?
Verse 8-11
Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book
which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.” 9 So I went to
the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.” And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it
will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” 10 Then I took
the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But
when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 11 And he said to me, “You must prophesy again
about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”
The prophet Ezekiel had a vision in which he was told to eat a scroll filled with judgements against
the nation of Israel in Eze. 3:1. The taste was sweet in his mouth, but the scroll's contents brought
destruction just like the scroll John was told to eat. G-d's Word is sweet to us as believers because
it brings encouragement but it sours our stomach because of the coming judgement we must
pronounce on unbelievers.
John saw a mighty angel come down from heaven with a little book that lay open in his hand. The
mighty angel planted one foot on the sea and one foot on land, and shouted thunderous words that
John was forbidden to record. What John could tell us is that the angel invoked the name of g-d
and declared there should be delay no longer. This meant that the judgements would come in
rapid succession and quickly accomplish their goal. Then John was told to take the little book from
the hand of the angel and eat it. He was told that it would be sweet to his taste but bitter in his
stomach. The Word of G-d is pleasant to the taste, in that it tells us about the blessedness and
final victory planned for Christ and His people. But it is bitter, in that when we receive it we find
ourselves holding values that arouse the world's wrath and bring us persecution, suffering and
death. It is also bitter, in that it declares the terrible trouble G-d will bring on those who reject its
message. John was told that he must prophesy to many peoples. By his pen we are hearing the
prophetic Word of G-d that is applicable to many people, nations, tongues and Kings. It is a
message that we too will be held accountable for. By hearing and receiving it, we will be blessed.
If we should ignore or reject it, we will do so to our own harm and regret.
presents 7 intervening scenes. He does so to teach important spiritual truths and to fill in certain
details that provide a clearer picture of what will take place before G-d's judgement is complete.
Verse 1-3
I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow
was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book
open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and cried
with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.
The vision shows the coming of a powerful angel.
Verse 4
Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from
heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write
them.”
The seven thunders here described, no doubt, are additional judgements from G-d upon those on
earth who stand fast in their rebellion against him. The number 7 shows that there is another
complete cycle of judgements awaiting the wicked, and the details have been sealed up and
hidden from us.
Verse 5-7
The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand[c] to heaven 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 should be
delay no longer, 7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to
sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.
These verses parallel Dan. 12:7, 10:4-6. Both Daniel and Revelation show resplendent angels of
great power. Both stand apparently by the water's edge claiming G-d's ownership and sovereignty
over His land and water creations. Both lift a hand to heaven and swear by G-d. But, where the
angel in Daniel declares that there are yet coming 3 1/2 years (times) to complete G-d's judgement
of this age, the angel in Revelation announces time no longer. At the blowing of the 7th trump we
reach the midpoint of the 7 year Tribulation. When G-d's plan for human history is completely
revealed, all prophecy will be fulfilled. Those who write or speak on G-d's prophetic portions of His
Word are sometimes referred to as Doomsday Prophets. For while many Christians like to sing
about Heaven and many Pastors choose to preach about every subject in G-d's Word except
prophecy never the less these judgements are there. And while the expectations of the millennium
and the New Heaven and New Earth are wonderful beyond words further study of prophecy shows
us that G-d's Word also tells of awful judgements. Many church groups preach a G-d of love but
forget to remind their congregations that G-d is also a G-d of judgement. How often have you
heard the question how can a G-d of love to this or that?
Verse 8-11
Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book
which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.” 9 So I went to
the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.” And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it
will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” 10 Then I took
the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But
when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 11 And he said to me, “You must prophesy again
about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”
The prophet Ezekiel had a vision in which he was told to eat a scroll filled with judgements against
the nation of Israel in Eze. 3:1. The taste was sweet in his mouth, but the scroll's contents brought
destruction just like the scroll John was told to eat. G-d's Word is sweet to us as believers because
it brings encouragement but it sours our stomach because of the coming judgement we must
pronounce on unbelievers.
John saw a mighty angel come down from heaven with a little book that lay open in his hand. The
mighty angel planted one foot on the sea and one foot on land, and shouted thunderous words that
John was forbidden to record. What John could tell us is that the angel invoked the name of g-d
and declared there should be delay no longer. This meant that the judgements would come in
rapid succession and quickly accomplish their goal. Then John was told to take the little book from
the hand of the angel and eat it. He was told that it would be sweet to his taste but bitter in his
stomach. The Word of G-d is pleasant to the taste, in that it tells us about the blessedness and
final victory planned for Christ and His people. But it is bitter, in that when we receive it we find
ourselves holding values that arouse the world's wrath and bring us persecution, suffering and
death. It is also bitter, in that it declares the terrible trouble G-d will bring on those who reject its
message. John was told that he must prophesy to many peoples. By his pen we are hearing the
prophetic Word of G-d that is applicable to many people, nations, tongues and Kings. It is a
message that we too will be held accountable for. By hearing and receiving it, we will be blessed.
If we should ignore or reject it, we will do so to our own harm and regret.
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