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Bible
Commentary
REVELATION 10:1
AND I SAW ANOTHER MIGHTY ANGEL COME DOWN FROM
HEAVEN, CLOTHED WITH A CLOUD: AND A RAINBOW WAS UPON
HIS HEAD, AND HIS FACE AS IT WERE THE SUN, AND HIS
FEET AS PILLARS OF FIRE:
Introduction
 We have just finished studying about the seven
Trumpets. The Seventh Trumpet has shown that the
eternal kingdom of Christ will be established over
all the kingdoms of the earth (Rev. 11:15). The
Sixth Trumpet took us to the middle of the
nineteenth century, to be more exact to 1840. Then
we jumped over Revelation 10 and most of Revelation
11 to briefly mention the Seventh Trumpet. Now we go
back to see what happened after 1840. Chapter 10
tells of events that are now history.
And I saw another mighty angel come down from
heaven clothed with a cloud
As you read this verse, the description of the
mighty angel reminds us of the description of Christ
in chapter 1. Thomas Scott says, "This mighty
Angel must be either Christ Himself, or an
emblematical display of His glory" (Explanatory
Notes on Revelation). As Christ is the true leader
of the church, it would seem certain that He is the
mighty Angel spoken of here.
In the first chapter of Revelation, Jesus was
seen in heaven walking among the candlesticks or
churches. Here in chapter ten, He is seen standing
on earth and communicating details about His church
of the last days. So we have a mighty Angel,
bringing a mighty message from heaven. The Angel was
clothed with a cloud. To be clothed with a cloud
suggests that this message would be obscured, or not
understood at first. This is the only Angel in the
Book of Revelation to be clothed with a cloud.
And a rainbow was upon his head
The Rainbow is an everlasting reminder of God's
covenant promises, for the Rainbow is a symbol of
the Everlasting Covenant. Away back before man was
placed on this earth, God and Christ made a covenant
that in the possibility of Sin entering into this
world, and there was always that possibility, seeing
that man was made a free moral agent with the power
of choice, that Christ would be prepared to Redeem
mankind. The Rainbow above the throne is a token of
the mercy of God toward the repentant sinner.
And his face was as it were the sun
The Sun suggests brightness and power, also
righteousness. As a symbol of brightness this is
well described in Matthew 17:2, "And was
transfigured before them and His face did shine as
the sun and His raiment was white as the light."
As a symbol of righteousness, Malachi uses this
expression when speaking of Christ. Malachi 4:2
says, "But unto you, that fear my name shall the
sun of righteousness arise with healing in his
wings…" Zechariah speaking under inspiration,
prophesied of the coming Redeemer that He would
"give light to those who sit in darkness and in the
shadow of death..." (Luke 1:79). The Sun is a
very fitting symbol of power and righteousness.
And his feet as pillars of fire
Fire is a purifying agency, in the Scriptures a
symbol of cleansing. The special message of this
chapter was designed to purify and cleanse the
church.
REVELATION 10:2
AND HE HAD IN HIS HAND A LITTLE BOOK OPEN: AND HE
SET HIS RIGHT FOOT UPON THE SEA, AND HIS LEFT FOOT
ON THE EARTH.
And he had in His hand a little book open
The fact that this book was open suggests that
previously it was closed. There is only one book in
the Bible which was a closed book, that is at least
until the time of the end. We read about it in
Daniel 12:4, "Thou 0 Daniel, shut up the
words and seal the book, even to the time of the
end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall
be increased."
The Time of the End spoken of here began in 1798,
which was the close of the 1260 days or years
mentioned so often in the books of Daniel and
Revelation. Also at the Time of the End "many
shall run to and fro". These words suggest a
speeding up of travel and means of transportation.
There would be another important development,
"and knowledge shall be increased." And wonderfully this has
come true, for in every field of learning, amazing
discoveries have been made. However it is on the
closed book which is now open that the prophecy
focuses its attention.
By the way, not all of the book of Daniel was a
closed book, the first few chapters are mainly
historical. It was the prophetical part of Daniel
which was closed, that part dealing with the 2,300
days or years. Seeing that the book of Daniel was a
closed book till the Time of the End, then it would quite natural to expect
that at the Time of the End it would be opened. The
fact that the book is now opened, means that
Daniel's prophecies concerning last day events would
be understood.
It is interesting to notice what one well known
writer says on this subject, "The books of Daniel
and the Revelation are one. One is a prophecy, the
other a revelation; one a book sealed, the other a
book opened."
And he set his right foot upon the sea, and his
left foot on the earth
It was at the close of the second Woe, in 1840,
that this angel with the open book of Daniel, set
one foot on the land and one on the sea. The fact
that the Mighty Angel stands upon both the sea and
the land, suggests that this message is of world
wide extent. In the Holy Scriptures, the sea and the
earth are used repeatedly to designate the world as
a whole.
Setting His right foot on the sea, and His left
upon the dry land, shows the part which He is acting
in the closing scenes of the great controversy with
Satan. This position denotes His supreme power and
authority over the whole earth. The controversy has
waxed stronger and more determined from age to age,
and will continue to do so, to the concluding scenes
when the masterly working of the powers of darkness
shall reach their height. Satan, united with evil
men, will deceive the whole world and the churches
who receive not the love of the truth.
REVELATION 10:3
AND CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE, AS WHEN A LION
ROARETH: AND WHEN HE HAD CRIED, SEVEN THUNDERS
UTTERED THEIR VOICES.
And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion
roareth
This angel appears to be identical with the first
angel of
Revelation 14. Both angels have a special
message to proclaim and with a loud voice. Both use
similar languagoe for they draw attention to the
Creator as the One who made heaven and earth, the
sea and the things that are therein. They both have messages concerning
time, one saying that time should be no more, and
the other proclaims that the hour of God's judgment
has come. By crying with a loud voice, the Mighty
Angel demands attention, for His message is a great
importance to mankind.
And when he had cried, seven thunders uttered
their voices
Berkeley's translation makes this a little
clearer, "And as he shouted, the seven thunders
raised their voices" (Rev 10:3). As we have
already noticed, the number 7 plays a very important
part in the Book of Revelation.
REVELATION 10:4
AND WHEN THE SEVEN THUNDERS HAD UTTERED THEIR
VOICES, I WAS ABOUT TO WRITE: AND I HEARD A VOICE
FROM HEAVEN SAYING UNTO ME, SEAL UP THOSE THINGS
WHICH THE SEVEN THUNDERS UTTERED, AND WRITE THEM
NOT.
And when the seven thunders had uttered their
voices, I was about to write
John understood the voices of the seven thunders
and their messages, and he was just going to write
down what he had heard when he was told not to. We
are not told just what the seven thunders represent,
most likely they are angel messengers. The four
Living Creatures with their strange symbolic
appearance were cherubims or angels, and possibly
the seven thunders could be similar.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me,
seal up those things which the seven thunders
uttered, and write them not
The fact that John was told to seal up the things
which the seven thunders utter, suggests that these
were messages which related to the future, and it
was just a little premature to be revealed at this
time. One Bible commentator mentions that they were
events which took place under the first and second
angels messages of
Revelation 14.
REVELATION 10:5
AND THE ANGEL WHICH I SAW STAND UPON THE SEA AND
UPON THE EARTH LIFTED UP HIS HAND TO HEAVEN.
In ancient times, when a person made an oath
they signified it by raising the hand.
REVELATION 10:6
AND SWARE BY HIM THAT LIVETH FOR EVER AND EVER,
WHO CREATED HEAVEN, AND THE THINGS THAT THEREIN ARE,
AND THE EARTH, AND THE THINGS THAT THEREIN ARE, AND
THE SEA, AND THE THINGS WHICH ARE THEREIN, THAT
THERE SHOULD BE TIME NO LONGER:
And sware by Him that liveth for ever and ever,
who created heaven, and the things that therein are,
and the earth, and the things that therein are, and
the sea, and the things which are therein
As the angel lifted up his hand, which was
customary in making an oath, he made it in the name
of the Creator, the Living God. The Scripture tells
us that there is no greater, to confirm an oath,
than God. Hebrews 6:13 says, "For when God made
promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no
greater, he sware by Himself…"
That there should be time no longer
The time mentioned here as being no longer, is
not referring to the end of this world's history
when time runs out. Neither does it refer to end of
man's probationary time mentioned in the Book of
Revelation. Rather it is prophetic time. The year
1844, the concluding date of the 2,300 years, is the
last and final prophetic date. There is no other
after it. God in His Wisdom has seen fit to leave
numbered time right there.
REVELATION 10:7
BUT IN THE DAYS OF THE VOICE OF THE SEVENTH
ANGEL, WHEN HE SHALL BEGIN TO SOUND, THE MYSTERY OF
GOD SHOULD BE FINISHED, AS HE HATH DECLARED TO HIS
SERVANTS THE PROPHETS.
But in the days of the voice of the seventh
angel, when he shall begin to sound
The sixth Trumpet has brought us down to the
middle of the nineteenth century, it finished in the
year 1840. It was at this time that the great Advent
movement had its beginnings. This is the story of
Revelation chapter 10. There is a pause between the
sixth and seventh Trumpets, just to remind us that
God's temple is still in heaven and despite the
terrible things transpiring on earth. God is still
there, and that He has those on earth who are ready
to do His bidding.
The seventh Trumpet, as in the case of the
Seventh church and the Seventh Seal, begins in time,
and extends into eternity. In this seventh Trumpet,
John was shown that Christ Himself will step in and
take over the rule of the nations.
It was in 1844 that the seventh angel began to
sound, and under this 7th Trumpet are included all
events from that time on right through the second
coming and on to the Millennium, the destruction of
the wicked and the establishment of the new earth.
It is a solemn thought to consider that we are
living in the time of the sounding of the 7th
Trumpet, we have come a long way down the stream of
time from the beginning of the last and final
Trumpet.
The mystery of God should be finished, as he hath
declared to His servants the prophets
As we studied the 7th Trumpet in earlier notes,
we noticed that the mystery of God is the Gospel.
Paul makes this clear in Ephesians 6:19, "And for
me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may
open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of
the Gospel." It is a mystery; how that God could
love fallen sinful beings to such an extent that He
is prepared to allow His Son to die for them. The
Gospel is a Mystery, there is no question about
that. God in His great love for mankind, is ready to
accept a man or woman into His heavenly family not
as servants, but as sons and daughters, a real blood
relationship. There is no closer tie than blood
relationship, and God is ready to bestow this honour
upon us if we accept His Son's sacrifice on our
behalf.
The word mystery means a secret but not in the
sense that it cannot be understood, but is one of
those heavenly secrets God has revealed to the
prophets to pass on to His people. That is why it
says in Amos 3:7, "Surely the Lord God will do
nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his
servants the prophets." According to this text,
the Gospel is going to come to its end, it will not
go on for ever, but when man's probation hour closes
then the doors of Salvation will close.
REVELATION 10:8
AND THE VOICE WHICH I HEARD FROM HEAVEN SPAKE
UNTO ME AGAIN, AND SAID, GO AND TAKE THE LITTLE BOOK
WHICH IS OPEN IN THE HAND OF THE ANGEL WHICH
STANDETH UPON THE SEA AND UPON THE EARTH.
And the voice which I heard from heaven spake
unto me again, and said
This most likely is the voice which had forbidden
John to write down what had been declared by the
seven thunders.
Go and take the little book which is open in the
hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and
upon the earth
As the representative of the Church on earth, it
is rather fitting that John should be involved. Also
John would be able to experience a little of the
bitter sweet experience of the great Advent
movement. Whether John fully comprehended the
meaning of all that he was asked to do might be a
little doubtful, however his reactions were typical
of those who would be involved in these situations.
REVELATION 10:9
AND I WENT UNTO THE ANGEL, AND SAID UNTO HIM,
GIVE ME THE LITTLE BOOK. AND HE SAID UNTO ME, TAKE
IT, AND EAT IT UP; AND IT SHALL MAKE THY BELLY
BITTER, BUT IT SHALL BE IN THY MOUTH SWEET AS HONEY.
And I went unto the angel, and said unto him,
Give me the little book
John is anxious to take the book from the hands
of the angel. Obviously he is quite impressed by now
that this little book has something of great value
to God's people. In this scene John is acting out
the part of those who would so earnestly study the
prophecies of Daniel at the setting of this
prophecy, that is, during the years of 1840 to 1844.
And he said unto me, Take it and eat it up; and it
shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy
mouth sweet as honey
To eat the Book means to digest its meaning and
to understand its massage. Notice the words of
Jeremiah in Jeremiah 15:16, "Thy words were
found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me
the joy and rejoicing of mine heart..." Yes the
little Book was sweet to the taste, but it was
bitter when digested. The sweetness of the Book was
the message of Christ's return. As the prophecies of
Daniel were studied and especially the 2,300 days,
there were many who were convinced that the Lord's
return was very close.
"Like the great Reformation of the sixteenth
century, the advent movement appeared in different
countries of Christendom at the same time. In both
Europe and America men of faith and prayer were led
to the study of the prophecies, and, tracing down
the inspired record, they saw convincing evidence
that the end of all things was at hand. In different
lands there were isolated bodies of Christians who,
solely by the study of the Scriptures, arrived at
the belief that the Saviour's advent was near"
(The Great Controversy by EG White, p.357).
REVELATION 10:10
AND I TOOK THE LITTLE BOOK OUT OF THE ANGEL'S
HAND, AND ATE IT UP; AND IT WAS IN MY MOUTH SWEET AS
HONEY: AND AS SOON AS I HAD EATEN IT, MY BELLY WAS
BITTER.
And I took the little book out of the angel's
hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as
honey
God's messages are often like that! David
testified that was how he found them. Psalm 119:103
says, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste!
yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" There
could not be a sweeter message than the Lord's
return and that is what those earnest believers
lived and hoped for.
And as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was
bitter
This verse pictures the bitter disappointment of
those Adventists when Christ did not return on
October 22, 1844. They had tasted the sweetness of
the message, the world had never before witnessed
such evidence of brotherly love, sacrifice and
devotion. God had raised up men like Joseph Wolff, a
Jew of Germany, who went forth as a missionary to
the world. Edward Irvinq and seven hundred ministers
of the Church of England began to preach prophecies
of Christ's near return. Lacunza, a Jesuit priest in
South America; Bengel, a minister of the Lutheran
Church in Germany; Gaussen of Switzerland; and
little children in Scandinavia: all united their
voices in proclaiming the message of a soon coming
Saviour. William Miller in America, a Baptist, who
became a leading expositor of the prophecies of
Daniel and Revelation.
To those who had so earnestly carried the
message, in many cases against very strong and
determined opposition, it was a bitter blow. Hiram
Edson, one of those who went through the great
disappointment wrote these words, "Our fondest
hopes and expectations were blasted, and such a
spirit of weeping came over us as I never
experienced before. It seemed that the Loss of all
earthly friends could have been no comparison. We
wept, and wept, till the day dawn" (The Midnight
Cry, pp, 247).
REVELATION 10:11
AND HE SAID UNTO ME, THOU MUST PROPHESY AGAIN
BEFORE MANY PEOPLES, AND NATIONS, AND TONGUES, AND
KINGS.
Though John's eating of the roll had ended in
bitterness, Christ's reassuring words to the prophet
are that he must prophesy again. The Disappointment
was a real bitter pill to swallow. In the days and weeks and months that followed,
the large majority of those who had been a part of
the Advent movement vanished like the morning mists.
The tens of thousands ardent Adventists were reduced
to small groups who met in barns, living rooms, and
wherever they could.
Thou must prophesy again before many peoples and
nations, and tongues, and kings
It is true that many of those ardent Adventists
renounced their faith and turned away from the Word
of God. But the disappointment drove others to a
deeper study of the Word of God. William Miller in
explaining Daniel 8:14, "Unto two thousand and
three hundred days, then shall the sanctuary be
cleansed", said that the earth was the sanctuary
and the cleansing of the sanctuary was purifying of
the earth by fire at the coming of the Lord. The
Adventists were mistaken in regard to the event that
was to take place at the close of the 2,300 days.
It may seem strange but the Disappointment was a
blessing. True there ware many who cast away their
confidence in God's Word, others who were moved by
fear, but were half hearted and quickly went back to
the lives they had been living before. But the test
revealed the real faith of those who were genuine
and really loved the Lord's appearing. As they
studied the Scriptures, once again they discovered
their error and the truth was brought home to their
hearts.
They must prophesy again
More and more they came to realise that it was a
message for the world. That it was to be proclaimed
'before many people'. How true! The Advent message
has spread out far and wide, from country to
country, bringing the good news that JESUS is coming
soon.
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