The Book of Revelation – Chapter 10:1-11

The Angel and the Little Scroll

In the eighth chapter of the revelation, we learned about the opening of the seventh seal and seven angels each having a trumpet that they would blow.

The trumpets they would blow represents announcements that would be made.

In the eighth and ninth chapters, we learned about six of seven angels. We are not told about the seventh angel and his trumpet until the tenth chapter.

As you will see, this angel is different from the previous six.

John writes …

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. 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, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 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. (Revelation 10:1-4)

Notice that we are provided with a description of this angel. This was not the case with the previous angels. This angel is special. Different.

He is described as being robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head, his face being like the sun, his legs were like fiery pillars; he was holding a little scroll which lay open in his hand.

NOTE: In Revelation 5, we learn that “the lamb” was holding the scroll in his hand opened.

So, this seventh angel is the ascended Jesus Christ.

Continuing with the description of this angel, John tells us that he planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land (earth). What does this mean?

It means that Jesus Christ – at that time – is in his kingdom of 1000 years over the earth. (His kingdom has not arrived yet).

Previously, in Revelation 5:5, we learned that Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Here, John tells us that he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When a literal lion roars it resonates and commands attention

This angels trumpet blast will be loud, louder than the previous six angels and their trumpet blasts. So, whatever the announcement from his trumpet will be of utmost importance and will encompass all on the sea and land (earth).

I will show you later what the message from the seventh trumpet blast will be. (Hint: Matthew 24:14)

John goes on to mention that he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. What are the seven thunders?

In Revelation 4:5, we learned that …

From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.

And in Revelation 3:4, John tells us:

And when the seven thunders had spoken I was about to write, and I heard a voice out of heaven saying—Seal up the things which the seven thunders have uttered, and do not write them.

So, these thunders came from the throne of God in heaven.

It is a known fact that lightning comes first before thunder. This is because light travels faster than sound, so you see the flash of lightning before you hear the sound of thunder. The sound of thunder is created when the intense heat from lightning causes the surrounding air to expand rapidly, creating shock waves.

Thus, when this seventh angel loudly shouts – blows his trumpet – this is the proverbial lightning. Following the trumpet blast of this seventh angel, a thunderous message issues forth from the throne of God!

What is that message? (Hint: Matthew 24:14)

John heard the message from the seven thunders out of God’s throne! But he was instructed not to write down what that message is. Therefore today, no one on earth knows what the contents of that all important announcement is as it will not be entrusted to human beings to disseminate it. (Revelation 14:6)

Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 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! 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. (Revelation 10:5-7)

John goes on to tell us that this seventh angel raises his write hand to heaven and swore by him who lives fore ever and ever and who created the heavens and all in them. What is this?

Moses in Genesis 1:1 tells us that …

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

So the seventh angel – the ascended Jesus Christ – is swearing his allegiance to his God and Creator to carry out His work and to see it to a completion.

Notice the reference to “… in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet …” – this shows that this will be a time period perhaps spanning many decades or hundreds of years.

It is also important to note that the seventh creative day was not completed. As to that day, God rested. He did not say “And the evening and morning is the seventh day.” Why? Because we are currently in that unfinished day. God’s son will bring it to a completion as you will see!

When on earth Jesus said that he is the “Lord of the Sabbath” (seventh day). (Matthew 12:8)

His Father in heaven has chosen and authorized him to finish the day He rested from.

In John 4:34, Jesus said …

My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

And, that Jesus said that he is the “Lord of the Sabbath” – that is, the seventh creative day in which we are currently in, shows that the creative days in Genesis were not twenty-four hour days, but time periods each spanning many thousands of years.

We also told that in the days when seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the Mystery of God will be accomplished. What is this “Mystery of God” and it being” accomplished?

That this would be a “Mystery of God,” it would be any truth unknowable except by revelation of God.

Recall that John was not told to write down what the Seven Thunders said. What they would say would be a secret or mystery only known to God until such time He decides to reveal it.

So when we read “… in the days when seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the Mystery of God will be accomplished” means that by the time the seventh angel will sound his trumpet, what the message or announcement from seventh thunders from the throne of God will no longer be a secret or a mystery as it will have been revealed.

John continues.

8 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.”

9 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.’” 10 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. 11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” (Revelation 10:8-11)

The angel that was speaking with John since Revelation 1:9-11 and who tells him not to write down what the seven thunders said, now tells him to take the scroll from the seventh angel and eat it!

This is not a literal eating but reading it and digesting it.

NOTE: In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve did not eat literal fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Bad because the fruit on that tree was not a literal fruit, but rather the fruit was “the KNOWLEDGE of Good and Bad.” When the woman LISTENED to the serpent and accepted what he told her, she ate (digested) what he said. Likewise, when the woman passed on (spoke) what the serpent told her to her husband and when he LISTENED to her and accepted what she said – in spite of what told him – he ate (her words).

The Apostle John was to read the scroll and take in its contents and accept (digest) what he saw in it. Thus, when he ate the scroll, it tasted sweet as honey in his mouth, but as he digested it (in his stomach), it turned sour.

Later, John would prophesy again.

But wait! John has been dead for nearly 2000 years! So, how can he prophesy again?

When he is resurrected from the dead. Something he was well aware would occur in the future. (John 5:28-29)