Revelation 10 Verses With References

 

Revelation 10 Verses and References

Revelation 10 and up to chapter 11:13 is a parenthesis between the 6^th and 7^th trumpets. No new events are being shown.  The prophet is being recommissioned for his prophetic task. This is a deeper look into this time when the full number of the martyrs is being reached and the “delay” is wrapping up.

Verse 1 –  There is an angel referred to as the Angel of the Lord, who is an appearance of God in a form that does not lead to the immediate death of the humans who see/interact with Him.  (Genesis 16:10; 22:11-18; 24:7; 31:11-13; Exodus 3:2-12; 14:19; Judges 2:1; 6:22; 13:20-22 Zechariah 3:1-3)  We have already looked at the comparison of the cloud rider in Daniel 7:13 with Rev. 1:7,13.  The rainbow imagery also appears in Ezekiel 1:26-28 and that vision will also lead, like this one does, to a heavenly being holding a book which is taken and eaten by a prophet.  Legs like a columns of fire or a pillar of fire take us back to Exodus where God was manifested in a pillar of fire with the Hebrew people in the wilderness.  The same divine presence is here. The same fire that protected the Hebrew people was a judgment on the Egyptians who were pursuing them. In Revelation fire is metaphorical for judgment on unbelievers. Malachi 3:1,2

Verse 2 – The little scroll has a close connection to the scroll of chapter 5 that Yeshua was the only one worthy to take.  Chapter 5 revealed that persevering through suffering was the means by which Yeshua overcame, this same pattern will be taken up by His followers who will persevere and overcome through suffering in the “trumpet time” particularly.  The “mighty angel” having his feet on both the sea and the land indicates sovereignty over all things, the entire cosmos. (Job 11:9; Psalm 146:6; Proverbs 8:29; Psalm 72:8; Zechariah 9:10)  (Joshua 10:24-26)

Verse 3 – The lion-like roar of the angel again associates Him with Yeshua.

Verse 4 – The seven thunders speak but what they say is not to be written down.  This is the only thing still sealed in this book, everything else is opened and revealed. The only thing we know for sure is a voice with the authority of God told John not to write it down.  Daniel 12:4-9 is the reference and what was sealed there was sealed because it was not time yet.  Thunder is associated with judgment (Exodus 9:23-34; 1 Samuel 7:10; 12:17; Psalm 29:3; 77:17-18; 81:7; Isaiah 29:6). As you might imagine speculations and people who say they have been told what the seven thunders said are all over the place but no further insight is given to us in the scriptures and with all the other details that are given we should probably just trust the wisdom of God to know that this is not a piece that we need to know. Psalm 81:7; Deut. 29:29

Verse 5 – In Deuteronomy 32:40 God swears that He will judge the ungodly. In Daniel 12:7 “the man clothed in linen” gives a specific time 3 and ½ years and a specific goal the “breaking of the power of the holy people” which is also spoken of in that section of Deut. 32:36. Now hopefully the terrible beauty of the little scroll is becoming more clear, just like the Lamb was slain, those who follow the Lamb withersoever he goes will be walking through a time of suffering trusting in the One who is sovereign over all and will redeem all.  Yeshua got THE scroll and we get the “little scroll”. Deuteronomy 32 is invaluable in our study of scripture, it is a summary of God’s dealing with man in general and His covenant people specifically, it is well worth our time. Isaiah 42:5-25

Verse 6 – God swearing an oath (Gen. 22:16; Exodus 32:13; Isaiah 45:43; Jeremiah 49:13; Ezek. 20:5; Amos 6:8) Being the Creator of all is the source of His authority. (Nehemiah 9:6; Exodus 20:11; Psalm 146:6)  The “no more delay” indicates this is referring to a late period in the 6^th trumpet just before the 7^th. It is not that “time will be no more”.

 Verse 7 – This emphasizes the 7^th trumpet being the “quick” unfolding of God’s ending of this evil age just as he proclaimed to his servants the prophets. Israel is brought to a place of “no strength” and God will bring vengeance upon His enemies. (Romans 16:25-26; Amos 3:7)  The “good news” being announced as a verb only occurs here in Revelation. (What is the good news?) The mystery is usually associated with God becoming man, God indwelling man, the Kingdom of God coming to earth.

Verse 8 – The scroll is being held by One who is sovereign over all, so the scroll will apply to all.

Verse 9 and 10 – (Ezekiel 2:8-3:3)  The prophet’s eating of the scroll signifies his identification with its message. The sweetness represents the life-sustaining attribute of God’s word, which empowers the prophet to carry out his task with joy. (Psalm 19:7-11; 119:97-104; Proverbs 16:21-24; 24:13-14) The bitterness is in the judgment. (Jeremiah 6:10b-11a; 15:16-17)  There is no pleasure taken in the pain of punishment apart from the broader framework of justice.

Verse 11 – The contents of the scroll must now be prophesied. Apparently in comparing with Ezekiel the language to prophesy “about” is more like prophesy “against”.  After this point in the book, “peoples, nations, languages and kings” is used to describe those who will be judged. (16:12,14; 17:1-2, 10-12, 15-16, 18; 18:3, 9; 19:18-19)