Revelation Chapter 10

Updated: September 14, 2025

The Angel and the Small Scroll

1And 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: 2And 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, 3And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4And 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. 5And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6And 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: 7But 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.

8And 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. 9And 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. 10And 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. 11And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Angel and the Small Scroll
(Ezekiel 3:1–15)

1 I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land. 3 He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 When the seven thunders sounded, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from the sky saying, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders said, and don’t write them.” 5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, 6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, 7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets.

8 The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” 9 I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. He said to me, “Take it, and eat it up. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” 10 I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. 11 They told me, “You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

The Angel and the Small Scroll
(Ezekiel 3:1–15)

1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire. 2 He held in his hand a small scroll, which lay open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. 3 Then he cried out in a loud voice like the roar of a lion. And when he cried out, the seven thunders sounded their voices.

4 When the seven thunders had spoken, I was about to put it in writing. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”

5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it: “There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, just as He proclaimed to His servants the prophets.”

8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the small scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel standing on the sea and on the land.”

9 And I went to the angel and said, “Give me the small scroll.”

“Take it and eat it,” he said. “It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” a

10 So I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it; and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter.

11 And they told me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”

Footnotes:

9 a See Numbers 5:24 and Ezekiel 3:3.

The Angel and the Small Scroll

1And I saw another strong messenger coming down out of the heaven, arrayed with a cloud, and a rainbow upon the head, and his face as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire, 2and he had in his hand a little scroll opened, and he did place his right foot upon the sea, and the left upon the land, 3and he cried with a great voice, as a lion doth roar, and when he cried, speak out did the seven thunders their voices; 4and when the seven thunders spake their voices, I was about to write, and I heard a voice out of the heaven saying to me, 'Seal the things that the seven thunders spake,' and, 'Thou mayest not write these things.' 5And the messenger whom I saw standing upon the sea, and upon the land, did lift up his hand to the heaven, 6and did swear in Him who doth live to the ages of the ages, who did create the heaven and the things in it, and the land and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it -- that time shall not be yet, 7but in the days of the voice of the seventh messenger, when he may be about to sound, and the secret of God may be finished, as He did declare to His own servants, to the prophets.

8And the voice that I heard out of the heaven is again speaking with me, and saying, 'Go, take the little scroll that is open in the hand of the messenger who hath been standing upon the sea, and upon the land:' 9and I went away unto the messenger, saying to him, 'Give me the little scroll;' and he saith to me, 'Take, and eat it up, and it shall make thy belly bitter, but in thy mouth it shall be sweet -- as honey.' 10And I took the little scroll out of the hand of the messenger, and did eat it up, and it was in my mouth as honey -- sweet, and when I did eat it -- my belly was made bitter; 11and he saith to me, 'It behoveth thee again to prophesy about peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings -- many.'

The Favor of God paraphrase

The Angel and the Little Scroll

¹ Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. ² He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, ³ and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. ⁴ And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”

⁵ Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. ⁶ And he swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! ⁷ But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as He announced to His servants the prophets.”

John Eats the Scroll

⁸ Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “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 and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it! It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’” ¹⁰ I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. ¹¹ Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

Footnotes:

1.The “mighty angel” (verse 1) is described with imagery reminiscent of God’s presence—clouds, a rainbow, and a face shining like the sun. This suggests he carries divine authority and brings an important revelation.

2.The “little scroll” (verse 2) lying open in the angel’s hand signifies God’s message, ready to be delivered. It contrasts with the sealed scroll from earlier chapters, indicating this revelation is meant to be taken in immediately.

3.The “seven thunders” (verse 3) refer to a mysterious, divine utterance. Though John hears it, he is commanded not to write it down, reminding us that some aspects of God’s plans remain hidden.

4.The angel’s oath (verse 6) invokes the Creator, emphasizing the authority of God’s eternal power. The declaration that “there will be no more delay” signals the imminence of the final stages of God’s plan.

5.The “mystery of God” (verse 7) refers to the unfolding of God’s redemptive plan, revealed progressively throughout history but culminating in the events that John witnesses. The prophets had spoken of this day, but its full realization is now at hand.

6.Eating the scroll (verse 9) is a symbolic act, reflecting the internalization of God’s word. The sweetness signifies the joy of receiving divine revelation, while the sourness represents the bitterness of its judgment or the difficult truths it contains.

7.John’s task to “prophesy again” (verse 11) suggests his mission isn’t over. He must continue to declare God’s message, not just to the church but to the whole world—nations, peoples, and rulers—signifying the global scope of God’s unfolding plan.

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The F.O.G Commentary

The Angel, The Book, and The Bittersweet Truth

What’s Revelation 10 about?

This is the chapter where everything pauses – right in the middle of cosmic chaos, a mighty angel descends with a little scroll that’s sweet in your mouth but bitter in your stomach. It’s John’s commissioning for the final act of God’s story, and it changes everything about how we read what comes next.

The Full Context

Picture this: we’re halfway through the trumpet judgments, and suddenly the narrative hits the brakes. After six devastating trumpets that have unleashed unimaginable destruction upon the earth, Revelation 10 opens with what feels like an intermission – but it’s actually the calm before the ultimate storm. John, exiled on Patmos around 95-96 AD during Emperor Domitian’s persecution, is receiving these visions for churches facing their darkest hour. They needed to know that God’s plan, however mysterious and painful, was still unfolding according to His sovereign will.

This chapter serves as a crucial hinge in the book’s structure, bridging the first six trumpets with the seventh trumpet that won’t sound until Revelation 11:15. It’s what scholars call an “interlude” – but this pause isn’t empty space. Instead, it’s where John himself becomes part of the vision, where the prophet is recommissioned for the final revelations about the beast, the bride, and the ultimate victory of the Lamb. The little scroll he must eat represents both the sweetness of God’s ultimate triumph and the bitterness of the judgment that must come first.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

The angel who appears in Revelation 10:1 isn’t just any messenger – he’s described as ischyros, meaning “mighty” or “strong.” This is the same word used for God’s mighty arm in the Old Testament, and when combined with his description as being “clothed with a cloud” and having “a rainbow upon his head,” we’re seeing divine attributes that make many scholars wonder if this is a theophany – an appearance of Christ himself.

Grammar Geeks

The phrase “his face was like the sun” uses the Greek word hēlios in a way that echoes Revelation 1:16 where Christ’s face shines like the sun. The parallel language is striking and intentional – John wants us to see the connection between this mighty angel and the glorified Christ.

But here’s where it gets fascinating: this cosmic figure holds a biblaridion – a “little scroll” or “little book.” The diminutive form is crucial because it distinguishes this from the sealed scroll of Revelation 5. This isn’t the book of God’s eternal purposes; it’s a specific revelation about what must happen in the immediate future.

When the angel cries out “with a loud voice, as when a lion roars” (Revelation 10:3), the Greek verb kraugasē suggests not just volume but authority. This is the roar of the Lion of Judah, and when he speaks, seven thunders respond. But then something unprecedented happens – John is told not to write what the thunders said. In a book that’s all about revelation, we encounter divine secrets that remain sealed.

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

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For John’s first-century readers, this scene would have triggered immediate memories of Ezekiel 2-3, where the prophet was commanded to eat a scroll that was “sweet as honey” in his mouth. But there’s a crucial difference: Ezekiel’s scroll was only sweet, while John’s becomes bitter in his stomach. This addition speaks to the dual nature of prophetic ministry – the sweetness of God’s word mixed with the bitter reality of judgment.

Did You Know?

In ancient Mediterranean culture, eating scrolls wasn’t just metaphorical. Magicians and oracle-givers would literally consume papyrus with written spells, believing this would give them power over the words. John’s audience would understand this as truly internalizing God’s message.

The angel’s posture – one foot on the sea and one on the land (Revelation 10:2) – would have communicated total dominion to ancient readers. In a world where sea represented chaos and land represented order, this mighty figure stands as sovereign over both realms. He’s not just delivering a message; he’s claiming the territory.

When the angel raises his hand and swears by “him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it” (Revelation 10:6), he’s using the most solemn oath formula possible. This echoes Daniel 12:7 and signals that we’re at a crucial turning point in salvation history.

Wrestling with the Text

Here’s what keeps me up at night about this chapter: Why would God reveal something to John through the seven thunders, only to immediately seal it up? Revelation 10:4 is the only place in Revelation where John is told not to record what he sees and hears. In a book literally called “The Revelation” – the unveiling – what could be so significant that it must remain hidden?

Wait, That’s Strange…

The seven thunders speak in response to the mighty angel’s roar, suggesting they have intelligence and purpose. Yet whatever they revealed was so sensitive that John was forbidden from recording it. Some scholars suggest these were judgments so severe that God chose mercy over revelation.

The timing element in Revelation 10:6 creates another puzzle. When the angel swears that “there will be delay no longer,” the Greek word chronos can mean either “time” or “delay.” Most modern translations go with “delay,” but this raises the question: delay of what? The context suggests it’s the delay of the final completion of God’s mystery mentioned in Revelation 10:7.

And then there’s the little scroll itself. Why is John told to eat it rather than simply read it? The act of consumption transforms the prophet from observer to participant. He doesn’t just receive the revelation; he becomes part of it. But the bitter aftermath in his stomach suggests that knowing God’s plan isn’t always comfortable – even when that plan is ultimately good.

How This Changes Everything

This chapter fundamentally shifts our understanding of prophetic ministry and God’s revelation. The bittersweet scroll teaches us that experiencing God’s truth isn’t always pleasant, even when it’s necessary. The sweetness represents the joy of knowing God’s ultimate victory and the privilege of being His messenger. The bitterness reflects the weight of proclaiming judgment and the cost of truth-telling in a fallen world.

“Sometimes the most important truths are the hardest to swallow – sweet in revelation, bitter in realization.”

The recommissioning of John in Revelation 10:11 – “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings” – marks a turning point in the book’s structure. Everything that follows deals with earthly powers, political systems, and the final confrontation between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world.

The angel’s oath that the mystery of God will be completed “as he announced to his servants the prophets” (Revelation 10:7) connects this moment to the entire prophetic tradition. This isn’t a new plan; it’s the culmination of everything God has been revealing since the beginning. The prophets spoke of this day, and now it’s about to unfold.

For us today, this chapter reminds us that God’s perspective on timing isn’t ours. When the angel swears there will be no more delay, it’s not because God was procrastinating, but because His patience has a purpose. The delay allows for repentance, for the gathering of His people, for the completion of His mysterious work in history.

Key Takeaway

God’s truth is both sweet and bitter – sweet because it reveals His ultimate victory and our security in Him, bitter because it exposes the reality of judgment and the cost of faithfulness. The prophet’s calling isn’t just to enjoy God’s revelation but to internalize it so completely that it becomes part of who we are.

Revelation Chapter 10

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