Revelation 10 The Seven Thunders

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

In Revelation 10:1 John has a vision of a strong angel. He gives a description. This description is reminiscent  of the Lord Himself. After all, Jesus is perfectly able to take on any form that He chooses. Remember in the garden after He resurrected? Mary didn't know who He was until he revealed it to her. Or the two disciples that were traveling on the road? They walked and talked with him all day until supper time when He broke bread with them at which point their eyes were opened to His true identity.

Look at the description of this strong angel. He is clothed with a cloud. In Revelation 1:7 we see Him coming in the clouds. The rainbow is the covenant of God which is about the throne of God and is now about the head. His face was as it were the sun. In Matthew we have the same description of Christ. He was transfigured before them and His face shone like the sun. His feet are like pillars of fire. In Revelation 1:15 His feet are like burnished brass having been fired in a furnace.

In verse two he had a scroll in his hand. Remember the scroll back in Revelation 5:1? No one in Heaven or earth was worthy to loose it's seals except for the Lamb. Now the scroll is open. The contents are revealed. John is instructed to devour the contents. It is quite delicious. Sweet as honey. Jesus is taking possession of the earth and what a glorious time it is. But what the earth has to suffer during this transition time is quite bitter. 

Rev. 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little scroll. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make your stomach bitter, but it shall be in your mouth sweet as honey.

In verse 3, the Lord cried with a loud voice as when a lion roars. When He had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. John was about to write when a voice from heaven said "seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered and write them not." So, we're not to know what the seven thunders uttered. Some things aren't revealed to us. The Lord, in His wisdom, chooses not to show us all things. It's better that way. For instance, if we knew exactly when the Lord would return, we  might not spend a lifetime following and serving Him. We might be tempted to wait until the last minute and to not be watchful. "Therefore watch; for you do not know what hour your Lord comes." Matthew 24:42.

Verse 5.. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, He swears by him that lives for ever, that there shall be no more time  Verse 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: Verse 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.

So the Lord, at this time, is taking possession of the earth. Time is up. That which we have been waiting for is happening. Jesus Christ is coming to the earth to claim that which He purchased.

Verse 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. John is commanded to take and eat the book

Verse 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. Verse 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. 

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