10:1 I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with
a cloud.
A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet
like pillars of fire.
10:2 He had in his hand a little open book.
He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land.
10:3 He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars.
When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.
10:4 When the seven thunders sounded, I was about to write
; but I heard a voice from the sky saying,
"Seal up the things which the seven thunders said, and don't write
them."
10:5 The angel who I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted
up his right hand to the sky,
10:6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven
and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it,
and the sea and the things that are in it,
that there will no longer be delay, 10:7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he
is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared
to his servants, the prophets.
10:8 The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said,
"Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on
the sea and on the land."
10:9 I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. He
said to me, "Take it, and eat it up. It will make your stomach bitter,
but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." 10:10 I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up.
It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was
made bitter.
10:11 They told me,
"You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages,
and kings."
Comments
vs 4 This is curious. Why would God, on the one hand, reveal this
vision to John to pass on to the churches, but then on the other hand tell
him to withhold part of the vision? Why didn't he simply not have the seven
thunders speak? This reminds me of an experience the apostle Paul mentioned
in 2Cor 2:2-4 "I know a man in Christ who
fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in
the body or out of the body I do not know— God knows. And I know
that this man— whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know,
but God knows— was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible
things, things that man is not permitted to tell." But should
Christians attempt to investigate or speculate concerning such hidden things?
Afterall consider the parable of the hidden treasure of Matt 13:44.
It seems Jesus was encouraging people to investigate the hidden things.
But then again it says, "The secret things belong
to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children
forever, that we may follow all the words of this law." Deut
29:29 Also concerning "sealing up" the vision, there are cross
references in Daniel 8:26;9:24;12:4
vs 5, 6 Consider what the New Testament teaches concerning swearing
an oath. James 5:12; Matt 5:34-37; Heb 6:13
vs 7 What mystery is accomplished when the 7th angel sounds?
The mystery to be accomplished is the revealing of the sons of God as in
the resurrection and rapture (1Cor 15:51) and the return of Christ
- the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth. It it is the end of
the 70th week of Daniel the prophet - Dan 9:27
vs 9-11 Notice the similarity with Ezekiel: (Read Eze 1:25-3:14)
"Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest;
eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened
my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me,
Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll
that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for
sweetness." Eze 3:1-3
Bitterness is then mentioned in
"So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I
went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD
was strong upon me." Ezekiel 3:14
The Word of God, while sweet to us, can make us angry at the world for
it sinfulness.