Chapter 10
The Mighty Angel and the Little Scroll
1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.
We enter another parenthetic break before the seventh trumpet is blown. John sees a mighty angel appear, coming down from heaven. This is the second of three ‘mighty’ angels John reports about in Revelation. He is described as being wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above him, his face bright as the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire. This is not the same mighty angel from Revelation 5:2, as John uses the Greek word ‘allon’,[1] referring to being of the same type, but a different one. Many interpret this mighty angel as being Jesus since he is described with such majesty and that He was referenced several times in the Old Testament as the “Angel of the LORD.”[2] Plus, here in the book of Revelation we have already seen Jesus associated with clouds (see Revelation 1:7, see also Exodus 16:10; 19:9; 24:15; 34:5; Psalm 104:3; Matthew 17:5; Luke 21:27; Acts 1:9), a rainbow (see Revelation 4:3), face like the sun (see Revelation 1:16; see also Matthew 17:2), and feet of bronze (perhaps an appearance of being fiery, see Revelation 1:15). We also see in verse three Him roaring like a lion (compare with Revelation 1:15 and 5:5). But then we still have to deal with the word ‘allon’, that of being different but of the same type, Jesus is not the same type as another angel like Gabriel (suspected being the mighty angel in Revelation 5:2). We may not be able to answer this dilemma as to who exactly is this ‘angel’, but we can see that he is highly regarded and holds a prominent position before God.
2 He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, 3 and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded.
In contrast to his ‘might’, the angel had a little scroll (apparently smaller than the scroll with seven seals) and it was already open, but there is no mention of what this scroll contains. Some believe the scroll represents the Word of God in general (see commentary below verse eleven), while others believe it contains information regarding the seven bowls of wrath that are soon to be poured out.
John notes the stance of the angel, he stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, demonstrating authority in both realms. In a loud voice he called out, but John does not record what he says, just that the “seven thunders” responded.
4 And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”
John was about to write what he heard the seven thunders said, but was stopped by God who told him to “seal up” those words. This prophetic announcement was for John only, it was not for us at this time. God chose not to reveal the ‘thunderous’ announcement for readers of Revelation, but since it is mentioned it will likely be revealed to us in the future. We can only speculate as to what the seven thunders said. Even though God has revealed much, He still holds many ‘secrets’ regarding the end.
5 And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, 7 but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.
The angel raises his right hand and swears by Him who lives forever and is the Creator of all things, that there will be no further delay. The seventh trumpet is to be blown and the mystery of God, all of the events and judgments scheduled by Him during the end times will happen, just as the prophets prophesied. Once the final judgment events begin there will no longer be any delay as the time to repent would then be closed.
To some this oath to God is good evidence that the angel is not Jesus. But we need to remember when God made His covenant with Abraham, His oath was sworn to Himself, the highest authority (see Genesis 22:16, see also Hebrews 6:13-20). So, swearing to Him who lives forever and the Creator of all by God, is not unprecedented.
8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” 10 And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. 11 And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”
The same voice that John heard inviting him to come up to heaven (see Revelation 4:1), now tells John to take the little scroll from the angel. John approaches the angel and asks for the scroll. The angel tells him to take it and eat it, he is then warned that even though it will be sweet as honey in his mouth, it will be bitter to his stomach. John did as he was instructed, he took and ate the scroll, and it was indeed sweet in the mouth and then upset his stomach (see also Jeremiah 15:16-18; Ezekiel 2:8-3:3, 14). Then he was told that he wasn’t finished prophesying, which will be about many people, nations, languages, and kings.
Some point out that since there is no explanation in the text as to what the scroll is, nor give any reason as to why it was to be eaten, that it should be considered something commonly understood by readers (therefore no need to explain). The most often made comparison is to the Word of God as there are several examples of God’s Word being compared to food in the Bible. For example: bread (see Deuteronomy 8:3; Matthew 4:4; John 4:34), milk (see 1 Corinthians 3:2; 1 Peter 2:20; Hebrews 5:12-13), and honey (see Psalm 119:103). The Bible must be studied, but equally important is that it must be digested and applied in our lives. Many believe that the source of the ‘sweet’ is a reference to the gospel message, but with the harsh reality that it will not be accepted by all, requiring judgment, punishment, and eternal condemnation, being the ‘bitter’ truth. Others prefer to relate the same gospel message as being sweet, but compares a believer’s life of trials, persecution, and other difficulties as being compared to the bitter upset stomach. Being told he is to further prophesy, knowing that more death and destruction is coming must have been truly bitter for John.
Considerations
There are a lot of mysteries in the Bible, several can be found referenced in the book of Revelation alone. As discussed earlier, most of these pertain to the revealing of something that was previously hidden. But here we read about the “mystery of God,” a rare phrase. The closest we can find in Scripture are, “mysteries of God” (see 1 Corinthians 4:1), “mystery of Christ” (see Ephesians 3:4, Colossians 4:3), and “God’s mystery, which is Christ” (see Colossians 2:2). Many believe that the mystery of God here in verse seven, relates to the problem of evil in the world (forces against God) and why it has been allowed to not only thrive, but grow. A problem that is fully eradicated in Revelation, and verse seven is God’s promise it will be done.
Referring to the end times, Paul wrote about the coming “man of lawlessness,” a title given to what most theologians call the ‘antichrist’. In his second epistle to the church in Thessalonica, he wrote, “Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12, emphasis added) Paul is pointing to the future when Jesus returns and puts an end to evil domination and the completion of the judgment of those who refuse Him as their Savior.
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[1] Strong’s Greek 243.
[2] See “Theophany” under "Before We Begin" section in the Introduction.