Revelation 10:1-3; As A Lion Roareth

Revelation 10:1-3 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: And 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, And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. 

Once again John relies on Old Testament prophets. The wording “roar as a lion” comes from Hosea 11:10, where the Lord God roars to tell the Israelites who are scattered in various countries to return from exile. And Amos 3:8 reads:

Amos 3:8 The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy? 

When the Lord roars from Zion, His people are warned of coming judgment should they fail to listen. Likewise, Jeremiah writes this word of prophecy:

Jeremiah 25:30 Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. 

Amos 1:2 And he said, The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither. 

But here the picture refers to the voice of a mighty angel who calls out with such volume that his voice is heard throughout God’s creation. In brief, the illustration of a roaring lion is a symbol of a sound that reverberates.

Romans 10:20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 

 Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Book of Revelation (Vol. 20, p. 310). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.