Revelation

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Revelation 10 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Revelation 10 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment

1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

John is not allowed to write down what he heard, indicating that although much is revealed in this book, God's providence is still mysterious.

5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

(10:5-6) "The angel ... sware by him that liveth for ever."
Is it okay to swear?

See Matthew 5:34.

6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.

(10:9) "And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up."
An angel tells John to eat a book. He does, and it tastes as sweet as honey. But later it made his belly bitter.

This little book is the Bible, it is sweet when tasted, i.e. followed, Psalm 19:10, but the effects of it upon the lives of the believers are also accompanied with sorrows, as they now follow God, which puts them in opposition to those who do not.

9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.