Rev 10:1-10 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Rev 10:1-11:14: 10:1–11:14 This interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets is divided into two parts: (1) the seven thunders and the small scroll (10:1-11 ), and (2) the two witnesses (11:1-13 ). The interlude ends with the announcement that the second terror is finished (11:14 ). 10:1 another mighty angel (see 5:2 ; 7:2 ; cp. 1:12-16 ): This angel appears similar to the huge bronze Colossus that stood as a symbol of human power in the harbor of Rhodes for several decades before it was toppled by an earthquake in the late 200s BC . The statue still lay broken at the time that John wrote Revelation. It was about 100 feet tall and represented the sun god, Helios. The angel was surrounded by a cloud , suggesting that he dwarfed the Rhodes statue and, by implication, all idols. The rainbow over his head is a reminder that the enthroned God is encircled by a rainbow (4:3 ), a biblical symbol of God’s covenant with humanity (Gen 9:8-17 ).

Summary for Rev 10:1-11:14: 10:1–11:14 ^a This interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets is divided into two parts: (1) the seven thunders and the small scroll (10:1-11 ^b), and (2) the two witnesses (11:1-13 ^c). The interlude ends with the announcement that the second terror is finished (11:14 ^d). 10:1 ^e another mighty angel (see 5:2 ^f; 7:2 ^g; cp. 1:12-16 ^h): This angel appears similar to the huge bronze Colossus that stood as a symbol of human power in the harbor of Rhodes for several decades before it was toppled by an earthquake in the late 200s BC. The statue still lay broken at the time that John wrote Revelation. It was about 100 feet tall and represented the sun god, Helios. The angel was surrounded by a cloud, suggesting that he dwarfed the Rhodes statue and, by implication, all idols. The rainbow over his head is a reminder that the enthroned God is encircled by a rainbow (4:3 ⁱ), a biblical symbol of God’s covenant with humanity (Gen 9:8-17 ^j).
Summary for Rev 10:2-3: 10:2-3 ^k Although the scroll is small, it is not unimportant. It reveals a small yet critical part of God’s purposes in events still to come before eternity begins.

• he gave a great shout: Cp. Job 37:2-5 ^l; Ps 18:13 ^m; 29:3-4 ⁿ.
10:4 ^o Revelation reveals God’s intentions in the world without eliminating the mystery of God’s ways. The martyrs did not receive an immediate answer to their cries (6:10 ^p), the meaning of the seventh seal is cloaked in silence (8:1 ^q), and here the seven thunders are kept secret (cp. Dan 12:9 ^r).
Summary for Rev 10:5-6: 10:5-6 ^s While raising one’s right hand is common in taking an oath today, it is rare in biblical literature (cp. Gen 14:22 ^t; 24:9 ^u; Dan 12:7 ^v).

• When making an oath, Jews were very careful not to swear lightly by God’s name (see Exod 20:7 ^w). Jesus also rebuked insincere oath-taking (see Matt 5:33-37 ^x; 23:16-22 ^y). When God swore an oath, he did so in his own name as the highest possible point of reference (see Gen 22:16 ^z; Ps 89:35-36 ^aa; Jer 22:5 ^ab; Heb 6:13-18 ^ac).
10:7 ^ad angel blows his trumpet: See 1 Cor 15:51-54 ^ae; 1 Thes 4:16 ^af.

• God’s mysterious plan for the world is no surprise; the prophets who served God in the past warned that the day of the Lord would come (see Joel 2:1-3 ^ag, 10-11 ^ah; Amos 5:18-20 ^ai; Zeph 1:14-18 ^aj).
Summary for Rev 10:8-10: 10:8-10 ^ak As in Ezekiel’s experience, the scroll tasted sweet in the mouth (Ezek 3:1-3 ^al; see Jer 15:16 ^am; see also Pss 19:10 ^an; 119:103 ^ao). The experiences yet to come for God’s people would be sweet, including the victory of God’s plan and the vindication of his people. John’s sour ... stomach resembles the effects of Ezekiel’s hard message for Israel (Ezek 3:8-9 ^ap). The process of bringing God’s plan to fruition involves hardship.