Revelation Chapter 10 Explained: The Little Book and the Seven Thunders

Updated: 8-3-26

Revelation Chapter 10-Introduction

Revelation chapter 10 continues the events before the seventh trumpet judgment. After the terrible effects of the fifth and sixth judgments, this chapter, despite still being part of the “woe” judgments, is a bit more encouraging.

Revelation 10:1-The Mighty Angel

“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:” (KJV)

John saw a heavenly messenger of God, a “mighty angel,” and described him with heavenly attributes. The angel was wearing a cloud wrapped around his body, and on his head was a rainbow. His face glowed like the sun and so did his feet. The rainbow symbolizes God’s mercy. It seems with this description of this angel the message he brings from God is positive.

Some Bible scholars say this angel is Jesus Christ. But I disagree. The Bible expressly says it is an angel. Jesus is God. He is not an angel.

Revelation 10:2-The Little Book

“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,” (KJV)

This angel held a small, open book, which, contrasted with the closed and seven-sealed book introduced in Revelation chapter 5, reveals the open message of Jesus Christ. The position of the angel, with his left foot on the land and the right on the sea, shows the authority that Christ has over the entire planet Earth. The message from this angel is to be worldwide, both land and sea — no one will be exempted.

Revelation 10:3-The Angel’s Voice

“And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.” (KJV)

 The exact words of this angel, his exclamation, are not recorded. Maybe he will simply shout aloud to get the world’s attention. John did not record any specific words from the angel, only that he will speak in a loud voice, so loud that everyone in both heaven and Earth will hear and understand it. Then seven thunders will agree with the message of this angel. This is the first time the phrase “seven thunders” is recorded. These seven thunders are as mysterious as their unknown words. But these heavenly thunders will give credibility to the angel’s message.

Revelation 10:4-The Message of the Seven Thunders Sealed

“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.” (KJV)

As much as wondering minds would like to know what the seven thunders said, God, in His wisdom, allowed John to hear them, but not record them. This interesting verse shows that John, whether he personally penned the events of Revelation, or if he related them to a scribe, did so as he was seeing these events. John recorded the events of Revelation as they were revealed to him, not days or years afterwards.  

The seven thunders will have specific words, so the angel may just shout a noise with the focus being on the seven thunders words.

I don’t know why God did not allow John to record what the seven thunders said. One reason could be that what they said was too terrible to share. God, in His mercy, did not want people to know. This theory could be supported by Jesus’ words, “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:34

Revelation 10:5-He Lifted His Hand Up

“And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,” (KJV)

The action of this angel, when he raises his hand, could be interpreted as “raising holy hands,” a tribute of praise to acknowledge God in heaven.

Revelation 10:6-The Angel’s Proclamation

“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:” (KJV)

This herald angel, by the authority of Jesus Christ, will declare what the next major world event will be, and that it will occur immediately. The phrase “there should be time no longer” simply means this event will begin immediately with no waiting time.

Revelation 10:7-The Mystery of God

 “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.” (KJV)

The phrase “mystery of God” is a direct reference to the Kingdom Age — the Millennium, the 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ on Earth. This glorious, but mysterious, fact was something the Jewish prophets looked forward to but could not fully understand. Finally, at this time, the Kingdom of Heaven will begin.

Revelation 10:8-The Command Concerning the Little Book

“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.” (KJV)

God told John to take the book from the hand of the angel. The book that the angel held was to be given to John, and his message, which was in the little book, was not for the angel to convey. Rather, it was something for the Apostle John to tell. Since John was a human being, and the message, according to the stance of the angel, was to all the Earth, John, here again, is a symbol of the Christian. God’s people are to do His will, and His will is to spread God’s message to all the world.

Revelation 10:9-John Ate the Book

“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.” (KJV)

John obeyed and requested the book. The angel gave it to him and told John to eat the book, the message of God. But in eating this book, the sweet words of God, will give John internal discomfort.

Revelation 10:10-John’s Stomachache

“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.” (KJV)

Just as the angel said, the book tasted sweet, but immediately after swallowing it, John felt sick.

Revelation 10:11-The Angel Ordered John

“And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” (KJV)

The message of God to His people is sweet. But, so often, the act of sharing this sweet message with those who are unbelievers is bitter, and a tough challenge. The Apostle Paul addressed this fact when he said in 1 Corinthians 1:18 “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” (KJV) No one wants to be perceived as promoting something foolish. But God’s Word is true, and those sharing it know firsthand His power.

In Revelation chapter 11, the angel sounds the seventh trumpet.

Revelation Chapter 10-Personal Reflection Question

When did you feel like John when God’s Word was sweet, but you had butterflies in your stomach when you wanted to share it?

Revelation Chapter 10-Behind the Scenes Stuff

This chapter, which follows a set of terrible plagues, looks forward to, and hints at the glorious reign of Christ over all the Earth. I was teaching about Revelation and the Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ back in 2012, when the rumor of the world ending on December 31^st was going around. I had a girl in my class who was afraid of this phenomenon, so I used Scripture to comfort and allay her fears. I told her about the Rapture, the seven years of Tribulation, and finally the 1,000-year reign of Christ Jesus. I told her the world could not end in 2012. It didn’t.

Also, I assured her that if her personal world would end by her dying, since she had accepted Christ as her Savior, she would live forever in heaven. Therefore, she had nothing to be afraid of, the Mayan calendar or otherwise. It made me so happy to see the fear drop from her face. Such is the power of knowing what God has to say in His Word to a fearful world.

The Complete Revelation Bible Study Series

Chapter	Summary
Revelation Chapter 1: John’s Vision of Jesus Christ	John’s vision of the risen Christ standing among seven golden candlesticks on the island of Patmos; Christ identifies Himself as the Alpha and Omega.
Revelation Chapter 2: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos & Thyatira	Christ’s messages to four of the seven churches of Asia: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, and Thyatira.
Revelation Chapter 3: Sardis, Philadelphia & Laodicea	Christ’s messages to the remaining three churches: Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.
Revelation Chapter 4: John’s Vision of God’s Throne in Heaven	John is caught up to heaven and sees God’s throne room, the twenty-four elders, and the four living creatures.
Revelation Chapter 5: The Lion of Judah and the Lamb Who Was Slain	God holds a seven sealed book; but only Jesus Christ, Who is both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb Who was slain, is worthy to open it.
Revelation Chapter 6: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse	The Lamb opens six of the seven seals, releasing the Four Horsemen, the cry of martyrs, and cosmic disturbances.
Revelation Chapter 7: The 144,000 and the Great Multitude	An interlude: 144,000 are sealed from the twelve tribes of Israel, and a great multitude in white robes stands before God’s throne.
Revelation Chapter 8: Meaning of the Seven Trumpets	The seventh seal is opened, bringing silence in heaven, followed by the first four trumpet judgments.
Revelation Chapter 9: The Locusts of Abaddon and the 200 Million	The fifth and sixth trumpets release demonic locusts led by Abaddon and an army of 200 million horsemen.
Revelation Chapter 10: The Little Book and the Seven Thunders	A mighty angel gives John a little book; the words of seven thunders are sealed; the book is sweet, then bitter.
Revelation Chapter 11: Who Are the Two Witnesses of the Apocalypse?	The ministry, death, and resurrection of the two witnesses; the seventh trumpet sounds.
Revelation Chapter 12: The Woman, the Dragon, the Angel Michael and War in Heaven	A woman, a great red dragon, and a man child; war breaks out in heaven as Michael defeats Satan.
Revelation Chapter 13: The Mark of the Beast and 666 Explained	Two beasts rise — one from the sea, one from the land — introducing the mark of the beast, 666.
Revelation Chapter 14: The 144,000, the Three Angels, and the Harvest of Wrath	The 144,000 stand victorious on Mount Zion; three angels proclaim their messages; the wheat and grape harvests.
Revelation Chapter 15: The Sea of Glass and Song of Moses	Seven angels prepare the seven last plagues; the redeemed sing the song of Moses and the Lamb beside a sea of glass.
Revelation Chapter 16: The Seven Vial Judgments and the Battle of Armageddon	The seven vial (bowl) judgments are poured out; the Euphrates dries up, gathering the nations to Armageddon.
Revelation Chapter 17: The Woman on the Beast	A vision of “Mystery, Babylon the Great,” a woman riding a scarlet, seven-headed beast.
Revelation Chapter 18: The Fall of Babylon the Great	The sudden fall of Babylon the Great; kings and merchants mourn her destruction while heaven rejoices.
Revelation Chapter 19: The Marriage Supper of the Lamb and Christ’s Return	The Marriage Supper of the Lamb; Christ returns as King of Kings and defeats the beast and false prophet.
Revelation Chapter 20: The Millennium, Satan’s Doom, and the Great White Throne	Satan is bound for a thousand years; the Millennium; Satan’s final rebellion; the Great White Throne judgment.
Revelation Chapter 21: The New Jerusalem Described	A new heaven and a new earth; the heavenly city of New Jerusalem descends from God, adorned like a bride.
Revelation Chapter 22: The River of Life and the Bible’s Final Invitation	The river and tree of life; the Bible’s final invitation and the promise and warning; “Surely I come quickly.”

Download a printer-friendly PDF of this Revelation Bible study chapter by chapter summary here.

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