seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Revelation 10: 1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”
5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”
8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”
9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’[a]” 10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”
a. Revelation 10:9 Ezek. 3:3
This is from the easy English commentary.
John kept a record of all that he saw. He wrote what he heard. He listened to the *thunders. Then he started to write down their words. But a voice from heaven stopped him. What the thunders said must remain a secret. The message that they gave was for John alone.
Here is the angel’s promise. There will be no further delay. The final phase of history has come.
God has shown some of his plan to the prophets. His plan for the end times is in the scroll. This book of the Revelation tells what is in that scroll. Some of it remains secret, for example what the thunders said. And we do not yet understand many things that God has said.
The voice that John heard in verse 4 spoke to him again. He told John to go to the angel and to take the little book from him. The angel was still standing with one foot on the sea and the other one on the land.
We do not know what was in the little book. It was most likely a message to God’s people on the earth. It was like something sweet because the words came from God. But it was like something bitter because it told about troubles to come. God’s people would overcome in the end. But before that, people would suffer and there would be much pain.
The message that there would be no more delay was a pleasant (or sweet) message. The end for God’s people will be pleasant. But the time before that end would be unpleasant (bitter) for God’s people.
Once more, John must prophesy. He must show what is yet to happen. The end was not yet but it would come soon. The days of the seventh (7th) trumpet were ready to begin. This was a message to all the people in the world.
This is from bible-studys.org.
At no other time does Christ appear as an angel or created being after His resurrection. This angel is most likely Michael, Gabriel, or an angel equal to them who swears an oath by Jesus Christ, indicating something significant is about to happen. Angels play a prominent role in the Apocalypse, being mentioned sixty-six times.
A “rainbow … upon his head” reminds us of the covenant of God with man. This covenant has been fulfilled through Jesus . Perhaps God included this to remind John, that even in judgment, He will always remember His Noahic Covenant and protect His own.
“Feet as pillars of fire”: This angel’s feet and legs indicate the firm resolve with which he will execute the Day of the Lord.
The cloud, the rainbow, the sun, and the pillars of fire may refer to deity, but a parallel may also be drawn with the angel Gabriel.
It seems that John was attempting to write down everything as he saw it. This little book is not for the world to see. That is why Jesus spoke in parables. Only the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are supposed to understand what is in the Book, and then only through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and Bible study. This message then from these voices is not for the world in general. Jesus, or God the Father, stops John from revealing these things by telling him not to write this down.
It should be apparent to even the most casual of readers that this is the generation in which knowledge has increased to the level necessary to understand the differences between symbols and substance. This is the generation in which many will experience John’s eyewitness testimony, to their everlasting regret! This is the Generation of End Times.
John is told to eat the little book, and when he does, it becomes sweet in his mouth, but bitter in his belly. The act of eating represents the understanding and appropriation of prophetic revelation. The message is “sweet” because at last the kingdoms promises are about to be fulfilled. It is bitter because it can only be accomplished through more judgment and tribulation.
In Ezekiel chapters 2 and 3, we see that physical Israel refused the New Testament and its teaching of Jesus. This sweetness is the beautiful message received, but the bitterness is the disappointment when they refuse the message. This bitterness is the terrible judgment, as well.
But for those who would be tormented in hell for the rest of eternity which was about to happen, John then tasted the bitterness as He knew God was about to take back the earth which was rightfully His, and be exalted, honored and glorified as He deserved. John realized the terrible punishment that was about to be given to unrepentant unbelievers and that caused the sweet taste to turn to bitterness.
I'm just an old woman with an online Bible and online commentary. I've never been to seminary. If you think for one minute I know what I'm writing.... well you've been fooled. I'm reading this just like you.
Yes... I would bet..... that little rainbow is about what happened with Noah and the Arc.....
Yes... I would bet.... that little rainbow is about inclusion.... not exclusion.
God [our Father] used a flood to rid the earth of all the original humans except 8. One of those eight was cursed by Noah before their feet really got use to dry land again. The cycle had begun again. Ham said something to Noah.... Noah who's cousin Lot experienced Sodom first hand. Ham said something to Noah.... who's cousin's wife was turned to a pillar for looking back.
God knows our past.... God knows our present..... God knows our future. God controls our time..... and God knew that Ham would be cursed before their sea legs had passed. If God didn't want Ham around to be cursed by Noah.... He could have made Ham miss the boat..... He could have had an arrant wave toss Ham off the Arc..... He could have turned Ham into a pillar or something equally odd.... to make an example of Ham.... or stop what Ham was up to before it muddied the waters around the Arc.
I have no clue what will be revealed about this little scroll..... but I do see that everyone on earth today is welcome to become a Believer.
I hate skittles.... but I do see the rainbow in this chapter.....
Do you see the rainbow?
