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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Rev_10:1-7
1I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire; 2and he had in his hand a little book which was open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; 3and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. 4When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them." 5Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, 6and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will be delay no longer, 7but 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 preached to His servants the prophets.
Rev_10:1 "I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven" Notice that John is back on earth after the vision of Revelation 4-5 (if John's call to heaven in Revelation 4 was the rapture of the church, is this the fall of the church?). This angel is described in terms which apply to YHWH in the OT and to Christ in Rev_1:12-20. Because of this, many have asserted that this is Christ Himself. However, this is doubtful for the following reasons:
1. Christ is never called an angel in Revelation
2. there are other mighty angels listed in Revelation (cf. Rev_5:2; Rev_18:21)
3. this angel will swear by God in Rev_10:6, which is inappropriate for Christ
4. there is an angel in Daniel 10 who is also described in similar terms.
This elaborate description may contrast this angel of light with the angel of the abyss in Revelation 9. As the angel in Revelation 9 was directed, this angel is self-directed. This may be an allusion to the powerful angel of Dan_10:5-6 or to Michael, the archangel of Israel in Dan_10:13; Dan_12:1.
▣ "clothed with a cloud" In the OT clouds were the unique transportation of deity (cf. Psa_97:2; Psa_104:3; Dan_7:13; Act_1:9).
▣ "and the rainbow was upon his head" Many see this as an allusion to Rev_4:3 and therefore another title of power and authority reminiscent of deity. The allusion may go back to Eze_1:28, where a rainbow is the portable throne/chariot of YHWH.
▣ "his face was like the sun" This follows the description of Christ found in Rev_1:16 (cf. Mat_17:2).
▣ "his feet like pillars of fire" This description is also similar to Christ in Rev_1:15.
Rev_10:2 "he had in his hand a little book which was open" There has been much discussion about this little book. Some see it as the little book of Rev_5:1, now opened, but two different Greek words are used (Rev_5:1, biblion; Rev_10:2, biblaridion). Others see it as related to Eze_2:8 to Eze_3:14. Since this is an angel and not Christ, Ezekiel is the best allusion.
▣ "He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land" The size of the angel speaks of a universal message. The rabbis (in the Talmud) discussed an angel named Sandelfon, whose enormous height was the same as the distance of 500 miles taller than other angels (cf. Hagigah 13b).
Rev_10:3 "he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars" This term "roars" (mukaomai) is usually used for the voice of oxen (a low bellow). However, it seems appropriate given that this is an allusion to the OT passages where God spoke as a lion (cf. Jer_25:30; Hos_11:10; Joe_3:16; Amo_3:8).
▣ "the seven peals of thunders uttered their voices" The identity of these seven thunders is disputed. This could be:
1. an allusion to the seven "voices" of God in Psa_29:3-9
2. parallel to the seven seals and seven trumpets, which were cycles of God's judgment on unbelievers (cf. Rev_8:5; Rev_11:19; Rev_16:18) for the purpose of redemption
3. a sound coming from God's throne (cf. Rev_4:5)
4. it may also relate to the seven spirits of God (cf. Rev_1:4; Rev_4:5; Rev_5:6 from Isa. 11:22)
Rev_10:4 "Seal up" There are several places in the Bible where someone has received a revelation from God but could not reveal it. Two of these are (1) Daniel (cf. Dan_8:26; Dan_12:4; Dan_12:9) and (2) Paul (cf. 2Co_12:4). However, this is a very surprising statement. John is told to write what he sees (cf. Rev_1:11; Rev_1:19; Rev_14:13; Rev_19:9; Rev_21:5). John is told in Rev_22:10 that the words of this prophecy are not to be sealed up. It must refer to this message alone!
Rev_10:5 "lifted up his right hand to heaven" This is a gesture for oath-taking (cf. Gen_14:22; Exo_6:8; Num_14:30; Deu_32:40; Eze_20:15; Eze_20:28; Dan_12:7). The form of this oath is very striking in its titles for God.
Rev_10:6 "Him who lives forever and ever" This characterization of God recalls His two most common OT names:
1. YHWH from the Hebrew verb "to be" (cf. Exo_3:14). "I Am that I Am" was the covenant name for deity; it emphasized God as Savior and Redeemer (cf. Gen_14:19; Exo_20:11; Neh_9:6; Psa_146:6).
2. Elohim, which was used of God in Genesis 1 as creator, sustainer, and provider of everything on earth (cf. Gen_14:19; Exo_20:11; Neh_9:6; Psa_146:6).
This oath is a way of asserting the trustworthiness of the angel's message.
▣ "there will be delay no longer" This may be a response to the question of the martyrs in Rev_6:10. It is literally "that time (chronos) no longer shall be." The concept of time is very fluid in this book for several reasons.
1. There are two different Greek words that express time
a. chronos, the passing of time (cf. Rev_10:6)
b. kairos, a special time, season, or event (cf. Rev_1:3; Rev_11:18; Rev_12:12; Rev_12:14).
2. There are several idioms used:
a. "the things which must shortly take place" (cf. Rev_1:1; Rev_22:6)
b. "the time is near" (cf. Rev_1:3; Rev_3:11; Rev_22:10)
c. "I am coming quickly" (cf. Rev_2:5; Rev_2:16; Rev_22:7; Rev_22:12; Rev_22:20)
d. "I will come like a thief" (cf. Rev_3:3; Rev_16:15)
All of these speak of immediacy (see Special Topic at Rev_1:3). However, some passages speak of a delay (cf. Rev_6:11; Rev_10:6; Rev_14:13). Another idiom is that the day of judgment and rewards has arrived, "it is done" (cf. Rev_16:17; Rev_21:6) or "the time has come" (cf. Rev_11:18; Rev_20:12).
This fluidity has been exploited by the differing interpretive systems to emphasize a certain aspect of time (first century, every age, or last generation). The solemn oath of the angel is that the end-time events must now begin. The prayers of the martyrs have been answered! Revelation must be interpreted in light of its first readers (see John Bray, Matthew 24 Fulfilled).
Rev_10:7
NASB "the mystery of God is finished"
NKJV "the mystery of God would be finished"
NRSV "the mystery of God would be fulfilled"
TEV "God will accomplish his secret plan"
NJB "the mystery of God will be fulfilled"
The term has several connotations.
1. Paul uses it often to refer to God's eternal plan of the redemption of Jews and Gentiles through faith in Christ (cf. Eph_2:11 to Eph_3:13, see Special Topic at Rev_4:1).
2. Revelation often refers to a mystery about part of a vision (cf. Rev_1:20; Rev_17:5; Rev_17:7).
3. In Rev_10:7 it refers to God's eternal plan of redemption, as Paul did in Rom_16:25-26 and Eph_2:11 to Eph_3:13.
It is possible that John took this term from Daniel, particularly chapter 2 (cf. Dan_2:18-19; Dan_2:27-30; Dan_2:47). If so, it refers to God's ability to reveal His actions. God is knowledgeable of and in control of all history.
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▣ "the prophets"
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