The Book of Revelation
Chapter Ten
Preface
Chapter 10 through chapter 11:14 is another parenthetical section embedded in the progressive account of God’s judgments, in this case between God’s 6th and the 7th trumpet-judgments upon earth. This parenthetical section is much like chapter 7, which fell between God’s 6th and 7th seal-judgments.
Parenthetical sections within the book of Revelation are designed to clarify and amplify the Tribulation period in so far as certain events transpiring during and resulting from it, as well as elucidating certain factors contributing to it. In so far as chronological determinations are concerned regarding matters that are illuminated during these parenthetical sections, none are made in this study; although possible and plausible time sequences may be advanced for the reader’s consideration.
As previously mentioned in this study, various Bible scholars hold differing views as to the chronology of the various judgments and events during this period of time. Some scholars hold to a strict sequential order of events, i.e., one right after the other; whereas others, such as the venerable Jack Van Impe, adheres to the view that certain passages run concurrently, e.g., chapters 5-11 with chapters 12-19:15. Either position, in this writer’s opinion, does no serious harm to the final glorious outcome for believers and the horrific and final judgment of unbelievers as they are clearly described in this book’s closing chapters. Nor do they diminish the terrible nature of God’s judgments upon a Christ-rejecting world during this most awesome period, which are so clearly depicted in this book.
Revelation 10:1
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.
During this portion (chapter 10) of this parenthetical (interlude or intermission) section, one personality is described; whereas, during the remainder of the section (11:1-14) two other notable personalities are introduced (two witnesses). In this verse we are familiarized with “another mighty angel.”
There has been widespread disagreement among fundamental Bible scholars as to the identity of this “mighty angel.” Hagee, Van Impe, Godet, Vincent, Pettingill, DeHaan, Ironside, Walter Scott, William Kelly and possibly Lindsey all identify this angel as Christ; whereas, McGee, Newell, Walvoord and LaHaye interprets this angel as simply an angel with great power and authority. This writer subscribes to the second view, but either interpretation will place you in a formidable camp.
Those who believe this angel is Christ do so based on unrelated scriptures that reveal an illuminated Christ in the clouds, but their determinations are largely based on inference and supposition. On the other hand, there is ample evidence that this angel is not Christ. Consider the following:
1. Although the preincarnate Christ does appear in the Old Testament as the “Angel of the Lord,” after His death, burial and resurrection; He only appears as Himself, such as to Paul on the road to Damascus or at the right hand of God in Heaven. Nowhere in the book of Revelation does He appear as an angel, present passage included. Since His incarnation, we never see Jesus as an angel again. When he was upon the earth, He was a man. In this last book of the Bible, which has as its theme the unveiling of the person of Christ, He appears as the glorified Christ - the postincarnate Christ. He now comes as the “Exalted One,” the One who comes in power and judgment.
2. The Apostle John states that he sees “another” mighty angel. The word “another” in this verse is the Greek word allos, which means “another of the same kind.” This is in contrast with the other Greek word for “another,” which is heteros and means “another of a different kind.” Therefore the usage of the word “angel” in this verse refers back to the other “mighty angel” (one of the “same kind”) in chapter 5:2, and there is no mistaking that angel as Christ. The next “mighty angel” appears in chapter 18:21, who definitely is not Christ. Should the “mighty angel” in 10:1 be Christ, it is the only time Christ is described as a “mighty angel.” It is doubtful that John meant anything other than what he clearly states, i.e., an “angel” (not Christ) came down from heaven.
3. Then in verses 5 and 6 this angel, by raising his hand toward heaven, declares an oath by someone higher than he, i.e., Jesus Christ; thereby, clearly demonstrating that he is not Christ. Yet well-meaning Bible expositors hold to the other view largely because of this angel’s appearance and his dress and a few other factors.
He is clothed in a cloud with a rainbow above his head, he shines like the sun and his legs were like pillars of fire. There is nothing in God’s Word, nor is there any rule of exegetical interpretation that would preclude God from revealing one of His special angels in such a manner. Although at Christ’s Second Coming He will come in the clouds (Mark 13:26; Luke 21:27) in great power and glory to establish His kingdom, this passage is not about His Second Coming; rather, this angel makes the announcement that Christ is coming soon. So this angel simply has a cloud as a uniform.
The rainbow placed above his head is once again God’s reminder of His covenant with man that even during these terrible judgments, He will never more destroy the earth by flood. So this angel simply has a rainbow as a cap for his uniform.
The angel’s face is shinning like the sun, and yours would be too if you just came from being in the presence of Jesus Christ at the right hand of God the Father. Just as the face of Christ shines like the sun (1:16), those who come from Him display this signature, much like what Moses experienced after being in the presence of God (Exodus 34:29). Also recall that the angels at the resurrection of Christ also brightly illuminated their surroundings (Luke 24:4), and you’ll find that the angel (who is definitely not Christ) of Revelation 18:1 also does the same. So this angel simply has a shining face.
The angel’s two legs that appear as pillars of fire denote God’s judgments; in this case they portray His soon-to-follow final judgments. They two are part of the angel’s uniform. So this angel simply has fiery legs.
To be fair to those who hold the other view, i.e., that this angel is Christ, they do so not only due to the angel’s attire, but also because they say (1) that nowhere does it indicate that Christ transfers the “scroll” (or even part of it) to an angel, (2) it is illogical to believe Christ would relinquish control of His final “bowl” judgments to an angel, (3) it could only be Christ who could place His feet on the land and the sea to claim the earth, (4) the use of the rainbow is only seen in this verse and round about the Throne of God and (5) Christ takes an oath by authority of Himself.
To these objections it may be said that (1) we are never given all the details regarding the events during the Tribulation and so at times we must “assume” or “conjecture” - what is important is that we don’t depend totally on assumptions and conjecture - also, if the scroll can be given to John “to eat,” it certainly can be given to a “mighty angel” to be given to John, (2) Christ clearly reveals and administers His will, to include His judgments, through His angels throughout the book of Revelation - 1:1; 5:2, 11; 7:2, 11; 8:2-9:15; 16:1-21; 18:1, 21; 19:17; etc., (3) it is doubtful that Christ leaves His position “in the center” of the Throne of God and “at the right hand of God” to come to earth in order to step on the land and the sea, (4) just as the rainbow is round about the Throne of God, so are angels round about the Throne of God and (5) if the angel is Christ and He is taking an oath by authority of Himself, there would be no need to raise His hand to heaven, i.e., indicating from where the authority originates - He would only need to proclaim the oath.
To put this matter to rest regarding this “mighty angel” the highly respected and fundamental Bible expositor J. Vernon McGee in his fourth volume of his Thru the Bible series speaking of this angel states it this way; “All of these features of identification are his credentials and connect him to the person of Christ as His special envoy. The Lord Jesus is running everything at this particular point. He is the Judge of all the earth.”
Revelation 10:2
He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,
This mighty angel is holding a “little scroll.” It can be safely assumed that Jesus Christ transfers this scroll to the angel. The Greek word for “scroll” (or “book” in the KJV) originally in the hand of God as seen in chapter 5:1 is biblion; whereas, the word for “scroll” in this verse is bibliaridion, which is a diminutive of biblos. But since biblion is used interchangeably with biblos in reference, for instance, to the “Book of Life,” this scroll may in fact be the same scroll (or book) that has been under an unveiling from chapter 5 on.
This may very well be a way of expressing “a portion of the otherwise complete” scroll, e.g., the final portion depicting the soon-to-follow and final judgments of God. It may also be a way of expressing that the remainder of the Tribulation Period will only be a short time. Since Jesus Christ has already opened the seals of the scroll first introduced in chapter 5, this remaining portion (“little scroll”) in the angel’s hand need not be opened any farther.
As mentioned previously, this scroll is believed to be the “title deed” to the earth by many fundamental expositors of God’s Word. In this study it is declared the scroll or book of judgments. In either case, it contains the judgments that God transmits to a Christ-rejecting world during the Tribulation Period.
The angel plants his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, which is a demonstration of God’s claim to the earth. The open scroll is the angel’s authority to demonstrate this claim to the earth. Actually, the earth has always belonged to the Lord, see Leviticus 25:23 and Psalms 8:6-8. But now the angel confirms by demonstration this claim to the entire earth for Jesus Christ, and in so doing confirms that the earth is the target for the coming last judgments.
Revelation 10:3, 4
and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down."
The angel gives a loud shout like the roar of a lion, which is to say he made a very loud shout. At this, the “voices of the seven thunders spoke.” This may well be a representation of God’s voice, since in Psalms 29; His voice is depicted in a seven-fold revelation. It is said that Israel spoke of thunder as being the voice of the Lord, the seven voices of God. In this case it is the voice of God, and someday we may even know what He says.
But now although John understood what is being said and is about to write it down, He is clearly instructed by a voice from heaven to “seal up” the message and “do not write it down.” It does us no good to speculate what God said. If He doesn’t want us to know, we have no business knowing.
Revelation 10:5, 6
Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay!
As mentioned previously, the angel declares an oath by Jesus Christ who is the person of the Trinity who created the heavens and the earth and all that are in them (John 1:3; Colossians 1:16); thereby, revealing concretely that he (the angel) is not Christ. A review of oaths made in the Old Testament and referred to in the New Testament (Hebrews 6:13) are all made by someone higher than the person making the oath, the only exception being the oath made by God because there is no one higher than Him. Although since the incarnate Christ, oaths are no longer permitted (Matthew 5:33-37; James 5:12) for man, they apparently will be authorized for angelic beings during the Tribulation Period.
The angel’s oath (or confirmation), which is based upon the authority of Jesus Christ, is that there will be no more delay. The Greek word chronos, used here, may be translated as “time” or “delay.” “Time” is not the appropriate meaning, since it is obvious that there is “time” after this event. The translation of “delay” is correct in this case. God’s people have been living in a state of delay too long. The martyrs under the altar and all other believers have been waiting for their complete deliverance. Since this utterance comes either near the middle of or later during the Tribulation Period, the time is now declared as short for the completion of what is introduced in the following verse.
Revelation 10:7
But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as He announced to His servants the prophets."
What will now come without delay is the fulfillment of the “mystery of God,” just “as He announced to His servants the prophets.” What is this “mystery of God?” A careful reading of 1 Peter 1:3-12; Psalms 22:14-16; Isaiah 53:4-6 and Revelation 11:15 reveals it.
It is God’s Plan of Salvation for both the Jews and the Gentiles that eventually culminates in the establishment of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ upon this earth. The fact that it included the coming of Jesus Christ as the God-man, who would need to suffer and be executed as a substitute for all mankind and the subsequent establishment of the Church Age, was a mystery to the Old Testament prophets. They understood only that their Messiah would come to deliver them and set up a kingdom upon earth. Even though they declared the suffering of Christ in several Old Testament prophetic passages, they could not grasp it.
Furthermore, God’s Plan of Salvation remains a mystery to most of mankind still today. All around us are vast and massive religious throngs. They crowd synagogues, churches, mosques and other places of worship. Recent surveys reveal that the vast majority of people believe in God, i.e., intellectually believe that there is God. There is no shortage of religion. But still God’s Plan of Salvation remains a mystery. The reason is that religion is based on one system or the other on works. Christianity, on the other hand, is a “union” or “relationship” with Jesus Christ and is based solely on “faith,” which is by the “grace of God.” The world just doesn’t get it. Most so-called “Christians” don’t get it, either. Why? Because most will not go to God’s Word and learn Bible doctrine. It really comes down to that.
Religion is the primary tool of Satan, and it is always in conflict with and a contradiction to Christianity - God’s grace (unmerited favor toward man). Religion, no matter the ilk, would have a person achieving the approbation of God through his own works, religious practices and deeds. Christianity recognizes ONLY the sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the Cross of Calvary as the sole means of payment for man’s sins. It is only when a person realizes he can do NOTHING to gain God’s approval and eternal life, when he then turns (repents) from anything and everything promising access to God and when he then by FAITH alone turns to CHRIST alone for his own personal salvation will that person be saved and granted permanent eternal life. There is no particular church to go to, there is no particular church ritual or ordinance one must follow, there is no series of good deeds one must perform in order to obtain God’s salvation. There is only the act of a person’s will whereby he accepts by faith alone what Christ has already done for him on the Cross of Calvary. Once a person makes a conscience decision to place his faith (trust) in Christ alone for this, the matter is settled - he is saved and he can never be “unsaved.”
This wonderful Plan of Salvation and the subsequent Church Age, along with Christ’s eventual reclamation of the earth and the setting up of His Millennium Kingdom is the “mystery” that will now “without delay” come to pass.
Revelation 10:8-11
Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land." So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."
In these last verses John is instructed by the “voice from heaven” to take the open scroll that is in the hands of the “mighty angel” and to “eat it.” A careful review of various scriptural passages, such as Jeremiah 15:16; Ezekiel 3:1-3; Proverbs 16:24; Psalms 119:103 illustrates clearly that “to eat” is an expression of consuming God’s Word utilizing the principle of faith. Just as Christ declared that we must “eat His flesh and drink His blood,” which a careful study of John 6:52-65 shows that this is a consumption of His truth by faith, John is now instructed to take the remaining portion of God’s scroll and digest it by faith.
He is told that in doing so it will make a sweet taste in his mouth, but it will turn sour in his stomach. To some degree this is conjecture, but the following remarks of explanation are plausible. Often as we read God’s Word, i.e., eating it by faith; it brings us great pleasure to understand that God is in complete control and that we as believers will eventually settle in Heaven with Him. On the other hand, as we continue to digest it, we also experience sorrow (a sour feeling) as we contemplate God’s coming judgments on unbelievers, some of whom may be our friends and loved ones. John 3:18 creates both sensations in the believer, Whoever believes in Him [Jesus Christ] is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. Read it and you’ll experience the sweetness of your salvation; but as you contemplate the second part of the verse, you will also experience the sour feeling that comes as we realize the end result of the unsaved.
As John eats the open scroll and experiences the sensations prescribed to him, he is also told to continue to foretell the future “about many peoples, languages, nations and kings.” He is told that his work isn’t finished. Now he has the duty to relay what he has consumed by faith, i.e., the prophecy contained in the open scroll. This is what he continues to do. A charge similar to this was given to Timothy and in turn to all believers, In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:1,2). It is up to each of us to carry out this charge.
The final lesson from this passage is that before we can go forth and represent God and our Lord Jesus Christ, we must first learn Bible doctrine. Our priority as believers should be to first learn God’s Word and then to share it with others. Nothing, absolutely NOTHING takes the place of learning Bible doctrine. This means we are to daily read and study it - and, accept it by faith.
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