Revelation 10

A.M. 4100. A.D. 96.

This chapter contains a solemn preparation for the sounding of the seventh trumpet.

(1,) It represents a mighty angel coming down from heaven with a little open book in his hand, and on his crying aloud, seven thunders utter their voices, but John is forbidden to write what they uttered, Revelation 10:1-4 .

(2,) The angel solemnly swears by the eternal God, the Creator of all things, that the mysterious dispensation of Providence in time should end with the seventh trumpet, Revelation 10:5-7 .

(3,) John is commanded to take and digest in his mind the contents of the open book, as a preparation for his uttering further predictions concerning the future state of the church and of the world, Revelation 10:8-11 .

The foregoing chapters have given us a prophetic description of the first two periods, or of the state of the world and the church under the persecutions of Rome heathen; of the troubles occasioned by the invasions of the northern nations, which broke the power of the Roman empire, and divided it into several new governments; and finally of the rise and progress of the Mohammedan religion and empire, which caused so many evils throughout the greatest part of the world, both in the eastern and western empires. This tenth chapter seems to be an interval between the second and third periods, in which the scene of the vision alters, and preparation is made for a new prophecy, representing a new state of the world and church, for a new period of forty-two months, a time, times, and half a time, or twelve hundred and sixty days; being the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when the mystery of God shall be finished. The scene of the vision is represented to be different from that of the foregoing: it is not now before the throne of God in heaven, as in the fourth chapter, but on earth, as is the first scene, chap. 1.