Verse 1
“And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow
was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:”
Here we have a mighty angel, there are 76 references to angels in the Book of Revelation, but many scholars acknowledge that this angel is Jesus.
Why?
Clothed with a cloud - Exodus Ch 16, 19, 24, Psalm 104, Matt 17, Luke 21, Rev 1;7
Rainbow upon his head - same as Rev 4;3
Face like the sun - Rev 1;16, Matt 17
Feet as pillars of fire - Rev 1;15
Jesus often appears in the Old Testament as the angel of the Lord.
Verse 2
“And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea,
and his left foot on the earth,”
What book is this talking about?
It is probably the book with seven seals that we have been dealing with.
His position is that of a conqueror, claiming the whole earth. (Deut 11;24, Psalm 8;6, Heb 2;8)
Verse 3
“And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.”
Here we are introduced to the seven thunders, which are a mystery to us.
Verse 4
“And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.”
So John has heard these thunderings and what they said, but at the last moment is told not to record them. There are many speculations about what they could be, but no-one can be sure.
Some expect that these are linked to Psalm 29;4-9, where 7 thunders are mentioned.
This is the only sealed thing in the Book of Revelation. The Bible is not complete, not until these thunderings are explained. So the Bible is still current. Some would say that it has been gathered together and is complete and therefore of no significance today.
Verse 5 & 6
“And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:”
The word ‘time’ here can also be interpreted as ‘delay’.
Remember that Jesus was there at creation, so He is swearing by Himself.
This is the only time that Jesus prays for the world, other times He prays for His own.
Verse 7
“But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”
Which mystery is this talking about? There are a range of mysteries in the Scriptures.
It could be the mystery of sin and God’s allowance of it to continue.
Verse 8 & 9
“And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.”
The word of God as food is used often in Scripture
● Matt 4;4 we see the bread of life
● 1 Pet 2;2 milk
● 1 Cor 3 meat
● Psalm 119;103 honey
Verse 10
“And 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 as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.”
Jeremiah 15;16 “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.”
Read Ezekiel 2;9 - 3;4
We have parallels again between the Old Testament and Revelation.
God’s words are good to hear, but when we try to do them, we find difficulties and often don’t obey due to this.
Verse 11
“And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”
This is the mid point of the book and John is told to continue with this prophesy.
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