Reading Revelation 10:1-11: The small scroll and the lion's roar
- Thad DeBuhr
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the news, like the world is spinning out of control and you're just a bystander? Or maybe you wonder if your faith really matters in the grand scheme of things? Today, we're diving into Revelation 10:1-11, a powerful passage that shows us God is firmly in control, and we have a vital role to play in His unfolding plan.
Setting the Scene:
Today, we're diving into Revelation 10:1-11, a fascinating break in the dramatic visions John is experiencing.
To quickly catch up, Revelation began with Jesus' messages to seven churches, guiding them in their faith. Then, the scene shifted to God's throne room in heaven, where Jesus, called the Lamb, was shown to be worthy of opening a special scroll with seven seals. Chapters 6 through 9 described the powerful events and judgments unleashed as these seals were broken and the first six "trumpets" blew, bringing widespread destruction and a call for people to turn back to God.
Now, between the sixth and seventh trumpets, a new and powerful scene unfolds.
A "strong angel" descends from heaven. His appearance is awe-inspiring: he's cloaked in a cloud with a rainbow over his head, his face shines like the sun, and his feet are like fiery pillars. This imagery isn't just for show; it echoes divine appearances found throughout the Old Testament, like the glory of the Lord seen by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 1:28) and the transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:2). The angel takes a powerful stance, with one foot on the sea and the other on the land, a vivid symbol of his authority over all creation. This isn't just any messenger; he stands sovereign, making it clear the message he brings is directly from God, the Creator of everything.
He then shouts with a loud roar, like a lion, and this powerful sound is met by the synchronized response of seven thunders. John, who is writing down these visions, is about to record what the thunders said, but a voice from heaven steps in, telling him to seal up their words and not write them down. This intriguing moment highlights that God's plan often contains elements beyond our full understanding, secrets held back for His perfect timing.
Next, the angel raises his right hand to swear an oath, a gesture we recognize today from courtrooms as a pledge to speak the truth. He declares that "there would be no more time." This doesn't mean the universe will just stop existing in some timeless void. Instead, it means that time will have run out for those who have ignored God's patience. Things are about to reach their intended goal. This also helps us understand that the sequence of events in Revelation, like the trumpets, seals, and bowls, isn't always a strict timeline where one thing happens after another. Instead, they offer different perspectives on the same unfolding divine story, all building towards the ultimate climax. When God's mystery is complete, it will be the fulfillment of creation, perfecting it, not destroying it. This imagery rules out any idea that the present world is just trash to be thrown away; God's plan is to bring it to its intended glorious completion.
RABBIT TRAIL: A Word About Oaths in the Bible
In the Bible, swearing an oath has a deep and complex history. In the Old Testament, oaths were often seen as a serious way to confirm truth or make a binding promise. People would swear "by the Lord" or "as the Lord lives," calling God as a witness to their sincerity. This meant that if they broke their word, they were essentially inviting God's judgment. For instance, the Law of Moses allowed for and sometimes even required oaths in legal matters to confirm innocence or commitment (Exodus 22:10-11, Deuteronomy 6:13). Even God Himself is described as taking oaths to confirm His promises to Abraham and David, emphasizing His unwavering faithfulness (Genesis 22:16, Hebrews 6:13).
However, by Jesus' time, people had often twisted the meaning of oaths. They would try to make distinctions between "binding" oaths (sworn by God's name) and "non-binding" ones (sworn by things like heaven or Jerusalem), using loopholes to avoid keeping their word. Jesus strongly challenged this practice in the New Testament. In Matthew 5:33-37 and James 5:12, He taught His followers to simply let their "Yes" mean "Yes" and their "No" mean "No." His point was that our everyday speech should be so truthful and trustworthy that we don't need to add a special oath to confirm it. Anything more than a simple, honest statement, He suggested, could come from a desire to deceive or an indication of a lack of integrity.
It's important to note that Jesus' teaching wasn't a blanket ban on all formal oaths, such as those taken in a court of law. Jesus Himself answered when put under oath by the high priest (Matthew 26:63-64), and the Apostle Paul sometimes called God as his witness to affirm the truth of his statements (Romans 1:9). The core message is about living a life of such integrity that your word is always your bond, making elaborate oaths unnecessary in daily interactions. The angel in Revelation 10, by raising his hand and swearing an oath, highlights the absolute certainty and divine authority of the message he is about to deliver.
NOW BACK TO REVELATION 10...
John is then given a little scroll by the angel and told to eat it. This act of consuming the scroll isn't literal digestion but a powerful symbolic act found elsewhere in the Bible (like in Ezekiel 2:8-3:3 and Jeremiah 15:16). It signifies internalizing God's word, making it a part of him, absorbing its essence. The interesting twist is that it tastes sweet in his mouth but turns bitter in his stomach. The sweetness represents the joy and privilege of receiving God's direct revelation, the delight of understanding His divine truths. However, the bitterness signifies the often difficult and challenging nature of proclaiming divine truth, especially messages of judgment and repentance, to a world that may not want to hear it. This experience perfectly captures the calling of a prophet. A prophet's job is to speak for God, to be His mouthpiece, regardless of the personal cost or the uncomfortable truths they might have to deliver. John is then commissioned to "prophesy again about many peoples and nations and languages and kings," reaffirming his role as God's chosen messenger for these profound revelations.
There's more to this Reading Revelation 10:1-11 STUDY GUIDE
BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN FURTHER FOR:
Questions to chew on and discuss (or for your journal)
A Journey Group Discussion Starter (use in your small group time)
Modern Day Application Ideas
Want to watch the video version of the Daily Bible Podcast Episode that corresponds to this blog post? Here you go!
Questions for You to Chew On and Discuss
What does the angel's stance—one foot on the sea and one on the land—communicate about the authority of the message he brings? How does this imagery reinforce the idea that God's ultimate plan is for the fulfillment of creation, not its destruction?
Consider the paradox of the scroll being sweet in John's mouth but bitter in his stomach. What does this teach us about the nature of receiving and proclaiming God's truth in our own lives?
The thunders speak, but John is told not to write their words down. What might be the significance of God withholding certain information from us, even in prophetic visions? How does this speak to our trust in His sovereignty and timing?
Journey Group Discussion Starter
In what ways do you find God's Word "sweet" in your personal walk with Him? Are there aspects of God's truth that you find "bitter" to accept or proclaim, and if so, how do you navigate those challenges?
Want to learn more about our Journey Groups (Small Groups online or in person)
Modern-Day Application: Go from "reading Revelation" to applying the lessons and principles:
For modern-day Christians, Revelation 10 reminds us that we are not merely spectators in God's grand cosmic narrative; we have a crucial role to play. Like John, we are called to ingest God's Word, allowing it to transform us from within. Then, we are commissioned to speak that truth, to prophesy (which simply means to speak forth God's message) into the world around us. This may involve sharing the Gospel, advocating for justice, or simply living lives that bear witness to the coming King. The angel's oath that "there would be no more time" should ignite a sense of urgency within us. It's a reminder that God's patience is not infinite, and His purposes will be brought to completion. We are to live with the expectation of His return, actively participating in His mission until that glorious day.
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU GROW AS A CHRISTIAN
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