A Mighty Angel with a Little Book

Revelation Chapter 10

Beginning with chapter ten there is a lull between the sixth and seventh trumpet blasts. This is similar to the lull that we found between the sixth and seventh seal judgments. In this chapter a mighty angel comes down to the earth with a little book in his hand.

In chapter nine we also see an angel come down from heaven having the key to the bottomless pit. In that chapter I said that there was no proof, or reason to say that the angel was anything other than just what the scriptures said it was, an angel. However in chapter ten I believe there is enough evidence to identify this angel. There is very little doubt that this angel is Christ. Let me mention a few proofs.

Many times in the scriptures Christ was referred to as an angel. Christ was the angel that wrestled with Jacob. He was the angel that walked with the Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace. There are many other examples we could give, but the point is that it is nothing new for the scripture to refer to Christ as an angel.

The description of this angel is very similar to the description of Christ found in chapter one. This angel is clothed in white, has a rainbow around his head, and his feet are like fire. No normal angel in the Bible was ever described in that manner.

When this angel cries out it is like the cry of a lion. John has referred to Christ as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” in chapter five.

The most substantial proof is actually found in the next chapter. In chapter eleven this angel refers to the two witnesses as “MY two witnesses.” Therefore this angel must be Christ.

Now that we have identified the angel let us see if we can identify the book He holds in his hand. Some claim that this “little book” is Christ’s title deed to the earth. I do not believe this to be the case. First of all why would Christ give His title deed to John? Secondly, if the seven sealed book mention in chapters five and six is the title to the earth then it would seem strange to describe it as a “little book”. The seven sealed book takes years to open so it must be a large book.  Lastly, a title deed would not have the kind of effect of John that this book does.

I believe that this book is the book of Daniel. As Daniel completed the writing of his book the Lord told him to seal up the book until the time of the end.

“But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”   Daniel 12:4, 9

We see this to be true in that this little book must contain something that will assist John in prophesying or in his work as a prophet.

We also note that the angel tells John that the book will be sweet as honey in his mouth, but bitter in his belly. As John begins to read the book of Daniel it is sweet in his mouth, for he sees the deliverance of his people and the reign of Christ in his kingdom and the final victory of the Lamb. But as John begins to study the book it becomes bitter, for he realizes that his people will have to suffer. They will suffer under the reign of Antichrist and under the judgment of God.

After John takes the book and reads it (digests it) we are told that seven thunders speak. John is forbidden to write what the thunders said; therefore it would be silly of us to speculate on this point.

As the chapter comes to a close John witnesses the angel proclaim that “time will be no longer.” This proclamation is that there will be no longer delay. The greatest of God’s judgments are about to be unleashed upon the earth. This will be the most terrible time in all of history to live. I’m glad I will not be here. How about you?