I want to focus on the meaning and message of chapter 10 today. We see John that saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. While this description sounds much like the description of Christ in 1:13-16, most likely, it is not Christ, for he is never called an “angel” anywhere else in Revelation. Also, he would not speak with an oath, as described in 10:6.
This angel is a very powerful, high-ranking angel who has come down from heaven to announce the final judgments on the earth. The cloud usually described the presence of God in the Old Testament (Exodus 13:21; 40:34; 1 Chronicles 5:13-14). The rainbow had been a promise to Noah that God would not destroy the earth again with a flood (Genesis 9:8-17). The angel’s face shone like the sun, much like the face of Christ at the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:2). The feet like pillars of fire could recall the pillar of fire in the wilderness (Exodus 14:20).
This powerful archangel was carrying a small scroll that he had unrolled. Two scrolls appear in Revelation. The first contains a revelation of judgments against evil and was unrolled by the Lamb (chapters 5 and 6). The contents of the second little scroll are not indicated, but it also may contain a revelation of judgment.
So large and powerful was the angel that he stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.
Many of John’s readers may have immediately pictured the Colossus of Rhodes, a statue built in Rhodes, an island between Crete and Turkey. The magnificent statue of Apollo, the sun god, was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It stood about 105 feet high—one foot was on the island and the other foot was on the mainland. It was the greatest statue ever built in the ancient world. Ships would sail in the waterway between the statue’s legs. It was destroyed by an earthquake in 227 b.c.
This angel standing on the sea and on the land indicates that his words would affect all creation, not just a limited part, as did the seal and trumpet judgments. The seventh trumpet would usher in the seven bowl judgments, which would bring an end to the present world. When this universal judgment comes, God’s truth would prevail.
10:3-4 The shout of this mighty angel sounded to John like the roar of a lion. When the angel spoke, the seven thunders answered. This is a picture of the awesome sight of God on Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:19). This thunderous reply was spoken by God and must have been understandable, for John began to write down what was said. He was stopped from doing so, however, by another voice that told him to keep these words secret (Daniel 12:4).
The angel lifted his right hand to heaven and swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever—referring to God. This description highlights the truth that God is eternal and controls all of time—what a comfort for persecuted believers. The oath declares that God will wait no longer. With the sounding of the seventh trumpet, God would bring about the end of history—God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. “Mystery” is a key word in the New Testament. The word is almost synonymous with the word “revelation.”
In the Bible, the word “mystery” refers to a divine secret. All of time has been pointing forward to this moment. All prophecy will be fulfilled—everything will occur just as God had announced to his servants the prophets. From the very beginning, God had promised that, despite the peoples’ sin, he would one day defeat evil. From the moment Adam sinned, all of history has been pointing toward this blowing of the final trumpet.
The time of final judgment has come. God would stop giving warnings and offers of repentance. All restraint would be removed, and the Antichrist would be revealed (2 Thessalonians 2:3). The forces of God and Satan would meet in final confrontation, as foretold by Daniel (Daniel 12:1).
The voice from heaven told John to go to the magnificent angel and take the unrolled scroll. So John obeyed. When he took it, the angel told him to eat the scroll.
Some think that this scroll is the word of God, but that is probably too general. More likely, the scroll represents the revelations of God as given to John in this book.
Like the prophet Ezekiel, John would eat this scroll that would taste like honey (Psalm 119:103; Jeremiah 15:16) but would make his stomach sour (Ezekiel 2:9–3:3). This could mean that the scroll was full of words of comfort, as well as gloom. Through the command to eat this scroll, God was confirming John’s prophetic role, as he did with Ezekiel. Receiving the word of God can be a pleasant experience, but it often results in the unpleasant task of speaking judgment on evil. Believers know that victory is sure, but they are pained by the difficulties they must endure and by many people’s stubborn refusal to repent.
John took and ate the little scroll, and it did just as the angel had said—tasted sweet but made his stomach sour. Then the angel gave John another command, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings”. John would prophesy about a world that had turned from God. There would be no distinctions among people—the message would be for all. The only distinction left would be those who had the mark of the beast and those who had been sealed by God. The following chapters contain these prophecies.
SO WHAT? (what will I do with what I have read today?)
Three things we must never forget:
1. God desires all to be saved. And God is willing to wait until the last person repents and comes to Him. I don't always have that particular viewpoint in mind when I am around non-believers. I think sometimes they deserve their judgment. But God doesn’t want that to happen. He says in 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness but is patient toward you not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” Sometimes I just need a change of attitude around non-believers. The fact that God desires for all to be saved and is waiting and waiting for the last one.
2. God holds back judgment for the last one to repent. “For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord God. “Therefore, repent and live.” If you notice Revelation 11:13 that many people were killed but a number of people repented and gave glory to God. This is probably one of the last moments in history when people will have the opportunity to repent and believe in God. One of the last moments of history before the bowl judgments and before the return of Christ. God waits until the very last minute for the last one to come before the final judgment.
3. I believe this passage is teaching us to keep on witnessing even in the midst of strong opposition. I don’t know where God has placed you but maybe like the witnesses you are finding yourself in a position of opposition. Maybe you’re finding yourself in a very difficult place, maybe a neighborhood, maybe the work situation, maybe it’s on a soccer field. I don’t know where God’s placed you right now. But I believe that God is calling us like the witnesses and like the true church, the true believers of Revelation 11, we are to continue on witnessing.
In Acts 4 Peter is told not to speak any more of this Jesus Christ. The Sanhedrins told him to be quiet. He says I'm going to continue on. Even in the midst of the persecution, God has me here for a purpose. God has me here for a reason and these are the people God wants me to share with.
I am praying for you. I am asking God to make you bold and courageous and obedient. I am asking God to break your heart with the lostness of your family and friends and neighbors and co-workers, so you will see the need to share with them the love of God.
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