Revelation 10: The Mighty Angel and the Little Scroll
The Angel and the Little Scroll
Chapter with Audio
10 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. 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, 3 and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. 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.” 5 And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 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, 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.
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.” 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.” 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. 11 And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”
Chapter Analysis
Revelation 10: The Mighty Angel And The Little Scroll
The Mighty Angel Comes Down From Heaven
📖 Revelation 10:1–4
¹ John saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was clothed with a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire.
² He had a little scroll open in his hand. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.
³ He cried out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he cried out, seven thunders spoke their voices.
⁴ When the seven thunders spoke, John was about to write, but a voice from heaven told him to seal up what the seven thunders said and not write it.
🔹 The Truth
The mighty angel comes with heavenly authority and glory.
His stance on the sea and land shows that God’s message concerns the whole earth.
Some things God reveals, and some things He chooses to keep sealed.
🔹 The Promise
God gives His people everything they need to know, even when He does not reveal everything they may want to know.
✅ Conclusion
Revelation 10 reminds us that God is not required to explain every hidden detail. His revealed Word is enough for faith and obedience.
There Will Be No More Delay
📖 Revelation 10:5–7
⁵ The angel standing on the sea and the land raised his hand to heaven.
⁶ He swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven, earth, the sea, and all that is in them, that there would be no more delay.
⁷ In the days when the seventh angel is about to sound, the mystery of God would be completed, just as He declared to His servants the prophets.
🔹 The Truth
God is the eternal Creator of heaven, earth, and sea.
His plan has an appointed time and will not be delayed forever.
The mystery of God will be completed according to what He spoke through the prophets.
🔹 The Promise
God will finish what He has declared. His purposes will come to completion.
✅ Conclusion
The delay of judgment and fulfillment will not continue forever. God’s plan will be completed in His perfect time.
John Takes The Little Scroll
📖 Revelation 10:8–10
⁸ The voice from heaven spoke again and told John to take the little scroll from the angel who stood on the sea and the land.
⁹ John went to the angel and asked for the little scroll. The angel told him to take it and eat it. It would be sweet as honey in his mouth, but bitter in his stomach.
¹⁰ John took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It was sweet as honey in his mouth, but when he had eaten it, his stomach became bitter.
🔹 The Truth
God’s Word is sweet because it is true, holy, and from God.
God’s Word can also be bitter because it contains judgment, sorrow, and warnings.
The servant of God must receive the message before declaring it.
🔹 The Promise
God’s Word is trustworthy, even when its message is difficult.
✅ Conclusion
The little scroll shows that God’s message is both sweet and serious. His truth must be received fully, not only the parts that are easy to hear.
John Must Prophesy Again
📖 Revelation 10:11
¹¹ John was told that he must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.
🔹 The Truth
John’s work was not finished.
The message of Revelation concerns many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.
God’s prophetic Word speaks to the whole world, not only to one small group.
🔹 The Promise
God will continue to speak His revealed message until His plan is complete.
✅ Conclusion
John must prophesy again because God’s message still needs to be declared. The world must hear what God has revealed.
Summary Conclusion
Revelation 10 pauses between the sixth and seventh trumpets. John sees a mighty angel, hears that there will be no more delay, receives the little scroll, and is told to prophesy again. The chapter teaches that God’s hidden purposes will be completed, His Word is both sweet and bitter, and His message reaches peoples, nations, languages, and kings.
Final Questions For You
- Why is it important to remember that God reveals some things and keeps other things sealed?
- What does it mean that God’s Word can be both sweet and bitter?
- How should the truth that “there will be no more delay” affect the way people respond to God now?