Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
1. How does John describe the angel whom he saw? See Revelation 10:1 (printed below) How would you explain the meaning of the imagery used here?
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down out of heaven. He was robed with a cloud, and the rainbow was above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire. (Revelation 10:1)
In verse one we learn that John saw “another mighty angel coming down out of heaven.” Here is one of the few passages in Revelation where an angel is described in great detail: this angel has been clothed with a cloud (cp. Mark 14:61b-62 and Daniel 7:13-14), the rainbow was over his head (cp. Ezekiel 1:26-28 and Revelation 4:2b-3), his face was like the sun (cp. Matthew 17:2 and Revelation 1:16b), and his feet were like pillars of fire (cp. Ezekiel 1:27 and Revelation 1:15a). This great angel seen by the apostle John in Revelation 10 represents the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in His divine glory.
2. What does the angel hold in his hand? See Revelation 10:2a (printed below) What do you think this item represents?
He was holding a little scroll, that lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot upon the sea and his left upon the land (Revelation 10:2)
The angel “was holding a little scroll, that lay open in his hand.” This little book corresponds to the book the Lamb opened in Revelation 5, it is the gospel: the Good News of salvation through the blood of Christ, the Good News that the Lamb of God has conquered and opened the seals and thus has given us access to the kingdom of God.
3. What does John hear (see verse 3a printed below?) What do you think is the significance of this? Hint: Note such passages as Matthew 27:50 and John 19:30 (printed below)
…he cried out with a loud voice, like the roar of a lion. When he cried out, the seven thunders uttered their voices. (Revelation 10:3)
And Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit. (Matthew 27:50)
When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)
The great angel “cried out with a loud voice, like the roar of a lion.” Notice that it is a cry, a shout that John hears, it is not the proclamation of a message. In Scripture the roar of the lion is associated with the work of the Lord in the salvation of His people (cp. Hosea 11:10-11) and the judgment of His enemies (cp. Isaiah 31:4,8-9). We may also note such New Testament passages as Matthew 27:50 and John 19:30, passages describe our Lord’s final moments on the cross when He cried in triumph, “It is finished!” Thus the mighty angel’s great cry represents Christ’s exclamation of victory uttered upon the cross of Calvary.
4. In response to what he hears, what does John seek to do (see verse 4a printed below?) Is he permitted to do so (see verse 4b printed below?) Why do you suppose this is the case? Hint: The seven thunders uttering their voice represents the divine judgment of God.
And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up the things that the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them down.” (Revelation 10:4)
In response to the angel’s cry, “the seven thunders uttered their voices.” Here is portrayed the divine judgment of God. The fact that the seven thunders utter their voice at the same time that the angel cries out points us to Calvary: the righteous judgment of God was there poured out upon Christ the Savior. When the apostle John hears the seven thunders utter their voice, he is about to write, but he is forbidden to do so. John was about to write and make known what the thunders had said, he is about to proclaim it to the whole world; i.e.; the judgment that fell upon Christ at Calvary John is about to pronounce against the whole world. But he is prevented from doing so at this time; he is instructed, “Seal up the things that the seven thunders uttered.” That is to say, the judgment proclaimed by the seven thunders that fell upon Christ at Calvary is also reserved for a future revelation and fulfillment upon all those who are outside of Christ and remain in their state of sin and rebellion against God. At Calvary, God declared His judgment against sinful mankind (note John 12:31), but at that time God executed that judgment only against Christ. At the end of history, God will execute His righteous judgment against all of sinful mankind who are outside of Christ and remain in their state of sin and rebellion against God, while all those who are in Christ will be secure under “the divine umbrella of salvation.” In the meantime, the execution of divine judgment is suspended so that mankind may be warned, called to repentance, and come to Christ the Savior.
5. What is John told to do in verses 8-9 (printed below?) What assignment is he given in verse 11 (printed below?) How would you explain the meaning of these things?
Then the voice I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “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, telling him that he should give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take it, and eat it up. It will be bitter in your stomach, but it will be sweet as honey in your mouth.” (Revelation 10:8-9)
Then they said to me, “You must prophesy again to many peoples and nations and languages and kings.” (Revelation 10:11)
The voice of God commands John to take the little book out of the angel’s hand. Upon approaching the angel, John receives the following instructions: he is to take the scroll and eat it (as Christians, we are to “digest” the Word of God and assimilate it into our lives, so that our whole life becomes a living testimony to the gospel). In verse 11 we hear these words now addressed to the apostle John: “You must prophesy again to many peoples and nations and languages and kings.” Here is the voice of the Old Testament prophets urging the New Testament apostles and the New Testament church to carry on the ministry they began. Prophecy is the proclaiming of God’s Word; and the message of the entire Old Testament is summed up by the Lord Jesus as a proclamation of the gospel (cp. Luke 24:44-47). The assignment given to contemporary Christians is to work diligently to bring the gospel to the world.
