요한계시록 Chapter 10

Translation: ESV

1

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.

Key Message

The mighty angel's majestic appearance indicates that the message he carries is of universal cosmic importance.

▸Between the sixth and seventh trumpets another interlude scene is inserted (chapters 10–11).

Between the sixth and seventh trumpets another interlude scene is inserted (chapters 10–11). A 'mighty angel' is described with great majesty. The cloud, rainbow, sun-like face, and pillar-of-fire legs all evoke the glorious presence of God. Some scholars identify this angel with Christ, but in 11:3 he is distinguished from the Lord.

Related Verses

Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.
2

He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land,

Key Message

The angel standing on sea and land declares that this revelation is directed toward the whole world.

▸The 'little scroll (βιβλαρίδιον)' is distinguished from the great scroll of chapter 5.

3

and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded.

Key Message

God's proclamation is as powerful and certain as a lion's roar and seven thunders.

▸The angel's proclamation is as intense as a lion's roar.

4

And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down."

Key Message

God does not reveal all His plans, and His mysteries transcend human understanding.

▸A command is given not to write the content of the seven thunders.

5

And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven

Key Message

God's declaration is confirmed by oath, and its certainty cannot be shaken.

▸The angel raises his right hand toward heaven — the posture of an oath (Deuteronomy 32:40; Daniel 12:7).

6

and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay,

Key Message

The Creator God swears in His own name that the end will come without delay.

▸The object of the angel's oath is 'the Creator God who lives forever and ever.

7

but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.

Key Message

The seventh trumpet is the moment when all the saving mysteries of God foretold through the prophets are completed.

▸When the seventh trumpet sounds, 'the mystery of God will be fulfilled.

8

Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, "Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."

Key Message

God's word must not merely be heard and known — it must be taken and consumed, internalized.

▸The voice from heaven commands John to take the scroll.

9

So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, "Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey."

Key Message

God's word is sweet in its truth, but proclaiming it to the world inevitably brings suffering.

▸The command to eat the scroll comes with a predicted experience: 'It will be sweet as honey in your mouth but bitter in your stomach.

10

And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter.

Key Message

Receiving God's word is sweet, but the calling to proclaim it inevitably involves suffering.

▸The angel's prophecy is exactly fulfilled.

11

And I was told, "You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings."

Key Message

One who has internalized God's word receives a commission to proclaim it to all nations and kings.

▸The command 'you must again prophesy' means John must deliver the revelation he has received to the world.