Seven thunders - Seven being a number of perfection, it may here mean many, great, loud, and strong peals of thunder, accompanied with distinct voices; but what was said, St. John was not permitted to reveal, Revelation 10:4 . read more
Lifted up his hand to heaven - As one making an appeal to the supreme Being. read more
By him that liveth for ever and ever - The eternal, self-existent Jehovah, the Maker of all things. That there should be time no longer - That the great counsels relative to the events already predicted should be immediately fulfilled, and that there should be no longer delay. This has no reference to the day of judgment. read more
And I saw . We have here the commencement of what many writers call an episode, or rather two episodes, which intervene between the sixth and seventh trumpets, just as Revelation 7:1-17 . occurs between the sixth and seventh seals. But as in the latter place we saw only a greater elaboration in the introduction to the seventh seal, and not a detached relation, so here Revelation 10:1-11 . and Revelation 11:1-14 form a gradual transition from the sixth to the seventh trumpet, and... read more
The mystery of God—finished! According to some historical interpreters, the close of the ninth chapter sets forth in symbol the inrush of the Turkish power and the downfall of Constantinople. Apparently necessitated by such a view, the angel of the first verse of the tenth chapter is the reality of which the dominant papal power was the mimicry—a messenger of heaven with new light piercing the gloom. His setting one flint on the sea and another on the earth indicates his taking possession... read more
The word of assurance and consolation. The Book of the Revelation is written for the comfort of the Church in presence of her oppressing foes. It is designed to sustain the faithful people in well doing, when the severities of cruel dealing make their lot hard and almost unendurable. Their patience is often severely tried; sometimes it has yielded under heavy pressure. Here is afforded another word of promise which is calculated to sustain the faint of heart. A vision is granted of" a... read more
And he had in his hand a little book open . ἔχων , "having," is read in א , A, B, C, P εἴχεν , "he had," in a few cursives, the Vulgate, Andreas, Arethas, Primasius. The meaning is the same. The word βιβλαρίδιον , "little book," is a diminutive of βιβλίον ( Revelation 5:1 ), which is itself a diminutive of βίβλος . This form of the word is found nowhere else; the corresponding usual form is βιβλιδαρίον . The book is probably little in comparison with that in ... read more
The little book; or, characteristics of revelation. "He had in his hand a little book open." Like as there was an interval between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals, so is there between the sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpets. The record of this latter interval, and of the events which took place in it, stretches through this tenth chapter down to verse 13 of Revelation 11:1-19 . This chapter is occupied with the account of the little book which St. John saw in the hand... read more
And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth; and be cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth (Revised Version). What the angel cried we are apparently not told. Probably the whole incident is intended merely to set forth the powerful and terrible nature of the messenger who is to deliver God's message. The figure is a very common one with the prophetical writers (cf. Isaiah 42:13 ; Jeremiah 25:30 ; Hosea 11:10 ; Joel 3:16 ; Amos 1:2 ; Amos 3:8 ). And when he had... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Revelation 10:2
A little book open - Meaning probably some design of God long concealed, but now about to be made manifest. But who knows what it means? His right foot upon the sea, and his left - on the earth - To show that he had the command of each, and that his power was universal, all things being under his feet. read more