Day 17 of Revelation Study: Chapter 10

The Mighty Angel & the Little Scroll

The previous chapter ended with mankind still refusing to repent. As a result, chapter ten begins with John seeing a mighty angel coming down from Heaven and landing upon the earth. It is interesting to note that his right foot is on the sea while his left foot is on the land. This angel is not standing in the sea, like we would expect, but on the sea. Therefore, either he chooses a location where he can have one foot on the water and the other on a rock, or he is indeed a mighty angel — specifically in height it would seem.

Some have viewed this angel to be Jesus since he is seen as standing on the water, which was a miracle that our Lord performed in Matthew 14:22-33. I, however, am still of the mindset that this is not the Christ, but only a mighty angel. Though there are certain similarities in appearance, as is reflected back in chapter one, I do not see the evidence for such a belief to be sufficient. Also, since this is still within the Great Tribulation period, I am further persuaded that this is not the Lord because this is before His triumphal return. The second coming of Christ does not take place for another nine chapters.

Nevertheless, after describing his outward appearance, John sees a little scroll in the angel’s hand. It is possible that the angel read from this scroll, but we are not made aware of what it said. Apparently, John was told not to write down for us exactly what the angel proclaimed, but it must be noted that the “seven thunders” which were sounded by the angel were intelligible statements or forms of communication [i.e. John understood what the angel said]. The seven thunders are likely seven statements the angel made which are thunderous in sound because of his voice and dreadful meaning.

In 10:6, the angel “swore…that there would be no more delay….” This seems to imply that the angel is the one who is planning on carrying out the judgment at the seventh trumpet call. He also states that whatever is included in the seventh trumpet is a revealed mystery. It is mysterious because it has not happened yet, and our eyes have not seen it; and it is revealed in the sense that this is the fulfillment of what God announced to the prophets long ago.

After this, John was directed to go and take the little scroll from the mighty angel. Upon receiving the scroll, the angel told him to eat it so that he would experience the bitter sweet reality of what it contained. This passage ends with the angel informing John that there is still much more to write about.

Continue on to read about chapter 11.

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