Revelation 10:1; Another Mighty Angel from Heaven
Revelation 10:1 And 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:
With the completion of the 6thtrumpet, also called the second woe, there is an interval before the 7th trumpet and again between the sixth and seventh bowls will come a brief interlude (Rev. 16:15). We saw in the first interlude in chapter 7 between the 6th and 7th seal how God sent 144,000 Jewish evangelists to preach the gospel to the salvation of countless multitudes. Here God sent 2 witnesses to preach the gospel having miraculous powers. Later, God will send an angel to preach the everlasting gospel for a final time.
There are 2 events that took place in this interval before the sending forth of the two witnesses where John was an active participant. The first even we saw eating the little book after he was given the vision of the 7-thunder judgments he was asked not to reveal. The second event in chapter 11 we shall see John being asked to measure the Temple. At the conclusion of the ministry of the 2 witnesses, the 7thtrumpet sounded saw the saints rejoicing in heaven and the scorners in great rage on earth.
The rainbow signifies God’s covenant mercy as the angel descended from heaven in a cloud. John saw the surpassing glory of this angel as the blazing sun. He described the angel’s feet and legs as firm, stable, immovable pillars of fire. That symbolizes his unbending holiness in stamping out his judgment on the earth, pictured here as fire that consumes the ungodly (cf. Mal. 4:1).[1]
He had a little book in his hand and John saw the vision of the 7-thunder judgment. But he was told not to reveal it – Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of the law. The secret things are things hidden, concealed, not to be made known. Deuteronomy 29:29 teaches us there are those closed doors of knowledge known only to God and not unlocked to man. But there is that knowledge that is revealed to man, these are providentially written and perfectly preserved in God’s Word. God uncovers the secret for us in His Word and it is for God’s children to unravel that mystery by the deep study of His Word. This term “mystery” refers to that which has been kept secret by God in the past, but which He has now chosen to make plain. Herein is the difference between secrets and mysteries, biblically speaking. Deuteronomy 29:29 is a warning to God’s children not to rebel against God’s boundary of revelation, not to venture beyond. It is in His pleasure, to withhold it for our good. The “secret things” refer to “things hidden.” Although these things are secret to us, they are not secret to God, thus the phrase “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God.”
The little scroll contains God’s prophetic word and the eating of the book. MacArthur agrees and rightly said with scriptural support, “The act of eating the scroll symbolized the absorbing and assimilating of God’s Word (cf. Ps. 19:10; Jer. 15:16; Ezek. 3:1-3). When John took in the divine word concerning the remaining judgments as the Lord took possession of the universe, he found the words written on the little book both sweet as honey and bitter. Sweet because John, like all believers, wanted the Lord to act in judgment to take back the earth that is rightfully His and be exalted, honoured, glorified as He deserved. But the realization of the terrible doom awaiting unbelievers turned that initial sweet taste into bitterness. [2]
Psalm 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
Ezekiel 3:1-3 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. 2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
Indeed, we cannot bear to see loved ones perishing, so the scene before us of the long-suffering of God, not willing that any should perish. Amen.
[1] MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1999). Revelation 1–11 (p. 280). Chicago: Moody Press.
[2] Ibid.