Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word
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⚙ Annotations & References ▾
Passage sections 1 ▾
The Seven Trumpets prophecy 8:6–11:19
Symbols 3 ▾
Rainbow cosmic 1 Scroll material 9 Honey natural 10
Theophanies 1 ▾
The Mighty Angel with the Little Scroll 1-3, 8-10
Historic voices 5 ▾
Commentary on the Gospel of John 1× 4, 9 Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible 1× 1-3, 5-11 John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible 1× 1-11 Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary 1× 1, 8 Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary 1× 2-11
Manuscript witnesses 4 ▾
Codex Sinaiticus Aleph c. AD 330-360 Codex Alexandrinus A c. AD 400-440 Codex Ephraemi Rescriptus C c. AD 450 Papyrus 47 (Chester Beatty III) P47 c. AD 250-300
Cross-references 67 ▾
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What is Revelation 10 about?

Before the seventh trumpet sounds, John sees a mighty angel come down from heaven clothed with a cloud, a rainbow upon his head, his feet as pillars of fire, holding a little book open in his hand. Seven thunders utter their voices, but John is forbidden to write them, and the angel swears that there should be delay no longer, for the mystery of God is about to be finished. John is then given the little book to eat, and it is sweet as honey in his mouth but bitter in his belly, after which he is told he must prophesy again before many peoples. The prophet is recommissioned for the message still to come, a word both sweet in its promise and bitter in its judgment, as the plan of God moves toward its appointed end.

Historical backdrop

Rome stands at the summit of its power, and Domitian rules an empire that rings the whole Mediterranean. In the wealthy cities of the province of Asia the imperial cult has its temples and its priesthoods, and Domitian is honored as lord and god, so that to withhold a pinch of incense is to court the sword. John writes from Patmos, a bare Aegean island where Rome sent its exiles, to seven churches strung along the roads that wind through Ephesus, Smyrna, and Pergamum, the last of which he calls the place where Satan's throne is. Against the visible might of Rome, he unveils the throne no legion can reach.

Matthew Henry on Revelation 10
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Revelation 10
The Church Fathers on Revelation 10

Revelation 10

Revelation Chapter 10
10

1And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, arrayed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire; 2and he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left upon the earth; 3and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.

4And when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. 5And the angel that I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his right hand to heaven, 6and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein, that there shall be delay no longer: 7but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then is finished the mystery of God, according to the good tidings which he declared to his servants the prophets. 8And the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard it again speaking with me, and saying, Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel that standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. 9And I went unto the angel, saying unto him that he should give me the little book. And he saith unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but in thy mouth it shall be sweet as honey. 10And 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 when I had eaten it, my belly was made bitter.

11And they say unto me, Thou must prophesy again over many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.

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What is Revelation 10 about?

Before the seventh trumpet sounds, John sees a mighty angel come down from heaven clothed with a cloud, a rainbow upon his head, his feet as pillars of fire, holding a little book open in his hand. Seven thunders utter their voices, but John is forbidden to write them, and the angel swears that there should be delay no longer, for the mystery of God is about to be finished. John is then given the little book to eat, and it is sweet as honey in his mouth but bitter in his belly, after which he is told he must prophesy again before many peoples. The prophet is recommissioned for the message still to come, a word both sweet in its promise and bitter in its judgment, as the plan of God moves toward its appointed end.