Revelation 10:1. A STRONG ANGEL IS SEEN COMING DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN who is said to be ‘another.' Already, at chap. Revelation 5:2, we have met with a ‘strong angel' who is also introduced in connection with the book-roll spoken of in that chapter. It is reasonable to think, therefore, that this mentio... [ Continue Reading ]
It can hardly be doubted that the whole of chap. 10 and the first part of chap. 11 (Revelation 10:1-11) are episodical, after the same manner and with the same purpose as chap. 7. The sixth Trumpet, or the second Woe, seems obviously to close at chap. Revelation 9:21; the two visions contained in th... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 10:2-3. The action of the angel is next described. First, he SET HIS RIGHT FOOT UPON THE SEA AND HIS LEFT UPON THE EARTH, thus asserting his supremacy over the whole world; and then HE CRIED WITH A GREAT VOICE AS A LION ROARETH, thus intimating that something terrible was about to be reve... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 10:4. The thunders must not only have been in themselves intelligible, but they must have been understood by the Seer. Hence, thinking probably of the command in chap. Revelation 1:11, he was about to write them. A VOICE OUT OF HEAVEN, however, was heard SAYING, SEAL THE THINGS WHICH THE... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 10:5-7. Intimation is now made that though the thunders are sealed the judgments which they threatened will not be long delayed, and the solemn manner of making it corresponds to the great issues that are to come. THE ANGEL WHOM the Seer SAW STANDING UPON THE SEA AND UPON THE EARTH LIFTED... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 10:8. The Seer is commanded to TAKE THE OPEN BOOK-ROLL IN THE HAND OF THE ANGEL.... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 10:9. The command is obeyed, and the further instruction is given, TAKE IT, AND EAT IT UP. For a similar action comp. Ezekiel 3:1. The eating of the roll can hardly be anything else than a symbol of the complete assimilation of its contents.... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 10:10. The effect of eating the roll is next described. IT WAS, says the Seer, IN MY MOUTH SWEET AS HONEY, AND WHEN I HAD EATEN IT MY BELLY WAS MADE BITTER. The double character of this effect was not produced by different parts of the contents of the book, as if these were partly sweet p... [ Continue Reading ]
Revelation 10:11. The little book-roll has been eaten; and, in the midst of the judgments which it foretold, it has brought consolation to the Seer, for the only true consolation of the righteous is that all evil, whether in the world or in the Church, shall be put down, and that nothing but ‘righte... [ Continue Reading ]