Revelation 10:1-6
10 I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”
5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 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 should be delay no longer,
St. John says in our text that he saw “another mighty angel.” The description here reminds us of Exodus and the description of God among His people. Also, the word “angel” simply means messenger, and Christ is the messenger of God, par excellence. Therefore, some take this to be a representation of Christ, even as many times in the Old Testament “the angel of the Lord” refers to the pre-incarnate Christ.
This messenger of God has a “little book open in his hand.” Previous scrolls were sealed, opened, and then the contents revealed. Here, however, even though this “little book” is open, the contents are not revealed at this time. Instead, John is told to “seal up” even what the seven thunders are saying. This is revelation for a later time.
The “seven thunders” is part of the apocalyptic language of the book of Revelation. Many places in Scripture, thunder is associated with God’s voice.
“5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 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 should be delay no longer.”
Here the messenger of God swears on oath, in John’s hearing (and ours) that there will be no delay any longer. At this point, God’s judgment is indeed coming—it is imminent. For the unrepentant, this means that the wrath of God and His judgement will be poured out on them. For the believer, who receives Christ’s forgiveness in faith, this means that our full salvation from this fallen world is at hand.
Christ has indeed triumphed over this fallen world, and He is about to share His triumph with us—we who receive Him in faith. Until then, we walk by faith, trusting in His Word: “33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (Jn 16:33).
Let us pray: Almighty God, grant that the new birth of your only Son in the flesh may set us free from our old slavery under sin; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
