Brit Chadasha Foundations-Concepts in Revelation-Chapter 10

Rev 10.1-11 describes a mighty angel coming down from heaven; John is told not to write about what the thunders said; no more delay; the book both sweet and bitter that John is commissioned to teach about.

v 1…And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven (John had not seen this angel before and this may be the angel Michael, whose name means “Who is like God” and is his direct representative here, reflecting his glory. In the last days he will stand up for Israel-Dan 12.1) clothed with a cloud (the cloud was the Shekinah, presence, of God); and the rainbow (the definite article “the” is used referring to the rainbow in 4.3, symbolizing covenant and mercy) was on his head, and his face was like the sun (the kivod of God) and his feet like pillars of fire (alluding to what guided Israel at night through the wilderness),

v 2… and he had in his hand a little book (little in comparison to the book in 5.1 because some of it has been revealed already and it contained only the portion John was now to see and use) which was open (to be revealed). And he placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the earth (claiming both as belonging to God before the beast with seven heads and the beast with two horns like a lamb come)

v 3… and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars (speaks for the Lion of Judah), and when he cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices (similar to the seven voices of God in Psa 29.3-9; Psa 77.19; Job 37.1-5).

v 4… And when the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write, and I heard a voice (a “bat kol” or “daughter of the voice” which is the Ruach Ha Kodesh, or Holy Spirit, which is feminine in Hebrew) from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken, and do not write them” thus concealing the terrible things said in God’s mercy).

v 5… And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven (taking a solemn oath),

v 6… and swore by him (Yehovah the Lord) who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and earth and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there shall be delay no longer (the appointed time had come),

v 7… but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery (John’s revelation is found within the “sowd” level of the prophecies, the “hidden” and mystical things concerning Israel’s return and restoration) of God is finished, as he preached to his servants the prophets (it was previously revealed to the prophets-Amos 3.7).

v 8… And the voice which I heard from heaven (the Ruach Ha Kodesh, or Holy Spirit), I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.”

v 9…And I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he said to me, “Take it, and eat it (an idiom meaning “remember it, consume it make it a part of you”-John 6.36. Like Ezekiel, he is entering the prophetic office), and it will make your stomach bitter (the reality of it will set in and make you sick, with much knowledge comes much grief. He see’s the false messiah and his deception of the people, the Abomination of Desolation and persecution, among other things), but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.”

v 10…And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was in my mouth sweet as honey (we all want God to act and take control) and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter (“embittered”..the deception was seen for what it is. That’s the way deception is, you receive something from God from his word and it is wonderful and exciting, but when you see the deception for what it is in comparison, there is a bitter taste as you see what is happening. Things may look like they are from God, but they aren’t, and people are deceived and many unbelievers will go to their doom. You need to know the Scriptures. John sees many deceived because they think they know God, but are sadly mistaken).

v 11…And they said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings (his prophecy is going to another level, and he must prophesy about the people of Israel, the city of Jerusalem and what is coming upon them).”

Posted in Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, Tying into the New Testament, Verse-by-Verse Bible Studies

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*