Revelation 10

Revelation 10 presents a brief interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets, often known as the "little book" chapter. It introduces a mighty angel with a small scroll and focuses on themes of prophecy and the task of John as a prophet. The chapter underscores the ongoing divine intervention in earthly affairs, a recurring motif in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 10:1-3 (NKJV)
1 I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.
2 He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,
3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.

This passage presents a mighty angel descending from heaven, clothed with a cloud, a rainbow on his head, a face shining like the sun, and feet like pillars of fire. His appearance signifies divine authority and a message of great importance. In his hand, he holds a little book open, indicating that it was once sealed but is now revealed. This parallels the angel in Daniel 12:4, 7-9, where Daniel is told to seal the book until the time of the end. The sealing in Daniel suggests that certain prophetic truths would remain hidden until a later time. However, in Revelation 10, the book is now open, implying that the time has arrived for its message to be understood. The angel in both Daniel and Revelation raises his hand to heaven and makes a solemn declaration, reinforcing the connection between the two visions. In Daniel, the angel speaks of a prophetic period that must be fulfilled before understanding is granted, while in Revelation, the angel stands on both land and sea, showing that this now-unsealed message is of global significance. The loud cry of the angel in Revelation, like a roaring lion, further emphasizes the urgency of this revelation, marking a key moment in prophetic history where God's plans are unfolding in a way previously hidden.

Revelation 10:4 (NKJV)
4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”

This verse describes John preparing to write down what the seven thunders uttered, but he is commanded to seal up their message and not write it. This parallels Daniel 12:4, 9, where Daniel is instructed to shut up the words and seal the book until the time of the end. In both cases, certain prophetic details are deliberately withheld, emphasizing that some aspects of God's plan are not meant to be revealed immediately. The sealing of the seven thunders suggests that there are divine mysteries related to end-time events that remain hidden until God's appointed time. While the little book in verse 2 is open, meaning a previously sealed prophecy is now understood, the seven thunders remain a mystery, indicating that not everything is meant to be known yet. This highlights God's sovereignty in revealing truth progressively, ensuring that His people receive understanding when it is most needed in His prophetic timeline.

Revelation 10:5-7 (NKJV)
5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven
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 should be delay no longer,
7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.

This passage describes the mighty angel raising his hand to heaven and swearing by the eternal Creator that there should be delay no longer. This means that the time for waiting has ended—prophecy that was once sealed is now being fulfilled. It parallels Daniel 12:7, where an angel similarly swears by God regarding a prophetic period. In Daniel’s time, understanding was delayed until the end, but now, in Revelation, that delay is over. The mention of the seventh angel refers to the final trumpet judgment in Revelation 11:15, which signals the completion of God's mystery—His plan of salvation and judgment. When the seventh trumpet sounds, it marks the final phase of human history, where God's purposes are fully revealed, and His kingdom is established. This passage highlights the transition from prophetic anticipation to fulfillment, emphasizing that God's plan is now unfolding as prophesied through His servants.

Revelation 10:8-10 (NKJV)
8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.”
9 So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little book. And he said to me, “Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”
10 So I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, it was bitter in my stomach.

This passage portrays John taking and eating the little book, which is sweet as honey in his mouth but turns bitter in his stomach. This represents an experience where God's people receive a prophetic message with great joy, only to later face deep disappointment. The event most clearly parallel to this prophecy is the Great Disappointment of 1844. During the early 19th century, a group of sincere Bible students, particularly those studying the prophecies of Daniel 8:14, believed that the cleansing of the sanctuary referred to Christ's return to earth. They calculated that this event would happen on October 22, 1844, based on their interpretation of the 2300-day prophecy.

The message was sweet as honey—it brought great hope, excitement, and urgency as believers prepared for what they thought would be the second coming of Jesus. Thousands across different denominations embraced the message, forsaking worldly pursuits and dedicating themselves to God, expecting to meet Christ. However, when Jesus did not return on the expected date, their joy turned into deep sorrow, fulfilling the bitter stomach experience described in Revelation 10:10.

The disappointment forced them to re-examine prophecy, leading to a deeper understanding that the event in 1844 was not Christ’s return but rather the beginning of His final phase of ministry in the heavenly sanctuary. This passage in Revelation highlights how prophecy unfolds in stages, sometimes involving misunderstanding before greater truth is revealed. It teaches the importance of persistent faith, deeper study, and trusting that God's plan is fulfilled in His perfect timing.

Revelation 10:11 (NKJV)
11 And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

This verse states, "And he said to me, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.’” This verse comes immediately after John experiences the bittersweet effect of the little book, symbolizing a prophetic movement that goes through great disappointment but is then given a renewed mission. The phrase "prophesy again" indicates that despite the bitter experience, God's people are called to continue proclaiming His truth.

Following the Great Disappointment of 1844, many believers initially felt disheartened, but instead of abandoning their faith, they were led to a deeper understanding of prophecy. They realized their mistake was not in the prophetic time but in the event they expected. Instead of Christ’s return to earth, Jesus had entered the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary to begin His final work of atonement and judgment (Daniel 7:13-14, Hebrews 8:1-2). With this new understanding, the call to prophesy again meant taking this truth to the world—explaining Christ’s ongoing work and preparing people for His second coming.

The mention of many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings emphasizes that this message is not for a small group but must go to the entire world. This verse highlights that setbacks in understanding do not mean failure; instead, they are moments where God refines and redirects His people to fulfill His greater purpose. It reinforces that God’s truth will continue to be proclaimed, even after disappointment, ensuring that His final message reaches every corner of the earth before Christ returns.