INTRODUCTION TO REVELATION 10 This chapter contains a vision of an angel of a wonderful appearance, the voices of the seven thunders, and an order to John to take the book in the hand of the angel, eat it, and prophesy. The angel is described by his strength, a mighty one; by his descent from heave... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW ANOTHER MIGHTY ANGEL,.... Not any mere man, as Justin the emperor, as some have thought, who sent letters abroad in favour of the orthodox doctrine, against the Arians, which they suppose is meant by the little book open in his right hand; and still less the pope of Rome, whether in the se... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE HAD IN HIS HAND A LITTLE BOOK OPEN,.... By which is meant not the Bible, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament; or the book of the Gospel, the substance of which lies in a little room, and is no other than the preaching of Christ, and him crucified, as God's way of salvation; and which... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE,.... That all might hear, and to show earnestness and affection, and that it was a matter of great importance, as well as to denote the certainty of it; what he said is not expressed, but seems to be the book of prophecy, or what regarded the state of his church and kingd... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE SEVEN THUNDERS HAD UTTERED THEIR VOICES,.... Or declared all they had to denounce upon the enemies of Christ and his church: I WAS ABOUT TO WRITE; John taking particular notice of what they said, and believing it might be for the advantage, comfort, and support of the church of Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ANGEL WHICH I SAW STAND UPON THE SEA AND UPON THE EARTH,.... His right foot being on the one, and his left foot upon the other, as described in Revelation 10:2; LIFTED UP HIS HAND TO HEAVEN; the Oriental versions read, "his right hand"; and so some copies, and the Complutensian edition: the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SWARE BY HIM THAT LIVETH FOR EVER AND EVER,.... That is, by the living God, who is the true God: and is so described to distinguish him from idol gods, who have no life nor breath in them; and to assert the excellency and perfection of his nature, who has life in himself originally, and independ... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IN THE DAYS OF THE VOICE OF THE SEVENTH ANGEL, WHEN HE SHALL BEGIN TO SOUND,.... This is an exception to what the angel had said and swore to, that time should be no longer; "but", or "unless", or "except the time of the voice of the seventh angel", as the Ethiopic version renders it; when a new... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE VOICE WHICH I HEARD FROM HEAVEN,.... In Revelation 10:4; SPAKE TO 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; as John was to prophesy, Revelation 10:11; it was necessary that he should have a mission... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I WENT TO THE ANGEL,.... According to the order given him; he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision; and, indeed, whither should any go knowledge but to him who has the words of eternal life, and is the great prophet of the church? and to whom should John go to qualify him for prophesying,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I TOOK THE LITTLE BOOK OUT OF THE ANGEL'S HAND, AND ATE IT UP,.... As he was bid to do: AND IT WAS IN MY MOUTH SWEET AS HONEY; so is the Gospel in the mouth of a faithful minister of it, who has a spiritual knowledge, and a savoury experience of it; and so it is in the mouth of an understanding... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO ME,.... That is, the angel, from whom John received the little book; the Alexandrian copy reads, "they said unto me": both the voice of God the Father from heaven, that bid him take the book, and the angel that bid him eat it: THOU MUST PROPHESY AGAIN BEFORE MANY PEOPLE, AND NATION... [ Continue Reading ]