The Scroll
Chapter 10 begins with another parenthesis in the chronology of Revelation (10:1 – 11:14). These visions apparently relate to the time period covered by the first six trumpets, and thus to the latter half of the Tribulation. The "Little Book" that was seen in heaven (in verse 2), has a similar mission as that given to (Ezekiel 3:1-3 and Jeremiah 15:16). The prophetic Word, which is what the "Little Book" is, contains the "sweet" message of God's wonderful plan for mankind including the coming of Christ, the Millennium Kingdom, and Heaven, but it also contains the Judgment of God on sinners who do not repent and come to Him, and their ultimate consignment to hell.
As believers, we are told to eat this book, just as John was told to eat it. This "little book", I believe, is the Word of God, the Bible. The Bible (Word), is alive. When we eat the Bible, it gives us the strength to live victorious lives before Him. Jesus is in dominion over everything. He is our source of power. Studying the Bible is more important to our life than our daily bread. Praise God, the Bible is of no private interpretation. God the Holy Spirit will teach each of us what the Bible is saying to us.
Thundering voices must come either from God or something very near Him. The voices that sound like seven thunders are a unique feature in the book of Revelation. John is prepared to write down what these thunder-like voices say when he hears another voice telling him to "seal up and not write down what he heard".
Revelation Chapter 10
1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like 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.
(The angel’s stance projects his authority over both land and sea. His authority is either direct (if the mighty angel is Jesus), or indirect (if this is indeed an angelic being as a messenger of God).
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. (Deliberate omission)
- 2 Corinthians 12:3 - And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.
(God is acting and working. This verse is a perfect example of this concept in action. God tells us what He wants us to know, and what we need to know. Just because we do not see, or do not understand, does not mean something is not happening.)
(Thunder is the voice of the Lord in judgment (I Samuel 7:10, Psalm 18:13.)
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven.
6 And sware 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 longe.
- 2 Peter3:9 - The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God (fullness of the Gentiles) should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
- Ephesians 3:6 - This mystery is that through the gospel, the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 11:25 - For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
- Acts 3:21- Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book (scroll) which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
- Ezekiel 2:9-10 - Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me, and in it was a scroll, which He unrolled before me. And written on the front and back of it were words of lamentation, mourning, and woe.
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.
- Ezekiel 3:1-3 - “Son of man,” He said to me, “eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the house of Israel.” So, I opened my mouth, and He fed me the scroll and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.
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.
(Bitter- terrible nature of the judgment)
11 And he said unto me, thou must prophesy again before (about) many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
(John was told he must again prophesy about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings. He had digested the prophecy—in the form of the little scroll—and now he must communicate it.)
- Matthew 24:14 - And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
The Kingdom of God has likewise been the focus of God’s people throughout the ages. Abraham “waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10), and Jesus instructs us to pray for this Kingdom to come (Matthew 6:9-10).
Additionally, Jesus said that seeking this Kingdom and God’s righteousness is to take priority in our lives (Matthew 6:33).