Comments on Revelation 10 This chapter is an interlude explaining John's calling and mission. The imagery and rhetoric of this chapter is derived from Ezekiel 1-3. Verse 1 of this chapter distills Ezek. 1 and v. 2-11 distills Ezek. 2-3. v1-4 is apparently a continuation of the message from ch. 9, but we are left nonplused as to what the message is, except that the mystery is to be revealed/accomplished in the time that the seventh angel sounds, per v. 7. v1 From the imagery employed the reader would assume the Lord is being referred to give the similarity of the present description to that of 1:13-16. However, it states it is not the Lord, but "another mighty angel". The identity of the angel is a matter of speculation. The imagery used is derived from Ezek. 1, as follows: Phrase Verse from Ezek. 1 ------ ------------------ clothed with a cloud v. 4 rainbow was upon his head v. 28 face...as the...sun v. 13 feet as...fire v. 7 In using similar imagery John equates this "mighty" angel in power and glory with Ezekiel's cherubim. v2 "little book", a poor translation in the KJV. A better translation would be "tiny scroll". This is the same as is referenced in v. 8 and 9. D&C 77:14 explains the meaning of this tiny scroll. v5-11 is a parenthesis on John's calling, mission, and the purpose of this written book of Revelation. v5-7 is one huge run on sentence, is not translated well in the KJV, and as such is difficult to understand. Here is a paraphrase which hopefully clarifies what is happening: The mighty angel (from v. 1), who has one foot on the land and one foot on the sea, lifts up his hand into heaven (v. 5). He swears by the eternal Lord, who created all things, that there will be no more delay (v. 6). So, in the time that the seventh angel sounds will be the fulfilment of the Lord's mystery, as was predicted by the prophets (v. 7). v5 That the angel is touching all parts of Creation (the sea, the land, the heaven, cf. Philip. 2:10) indicates his oath affects all of Creation. v6 The oath sworn here is a paraphrase of the one appearing in Dan. 12:7, and is largely an authority statement. The Lord made all of creation and so can do with it as seems Him fit. "there should be time no longer", a poor translation in the KJV. A better translation would be "there should no longer be a delay". v7 God's mysteries, those things obscure to mortal man, will be accomplished and fulfilled in the seventh seal. At that point will all things be made manifest. v8-11 John is instructed to go an eat the tiny scroll in the angel's hand. The imagery is derived specifically from Ezek. 2:8-3:14, which also is related to Deut. 8:3. The scroll contains the word of God, and so it is sweet to the taste. But, what is says dooms mankind because of their rebellion, and so it makes John sick to his stomach, or as Ezekiel puts it "bitter". v11 In this case John's calling is different from Ezekiel's. John is called to preach to all nations, where Ezekiel was called to preach specifically to Israel (i.e., specifically Judah) only, cf. Ezek. 3:4-6. Why the difference? Because Israel/Judah has since been scattered to all nations. Copyright © 2001 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.