Matthew Henry Commentary Revelation 10
Matthew Henry Commentary
Revelation 10
Matthew Henry Commentary
Revelation 10
"And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, arrayed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire; and he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left upon the earth; and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders uttered [their voices], I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. And the angel that I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his right hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein, that there shall be delay no longer: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then is finished they mystery of God, according to the good tidings which he declared to his servants the prophets." — Revelation 10:1-7 (ASV)
The apostle saw another representation. The person communicating this discovery was probably our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, or the representation was intended to show His glory. He veils His glory, which is too great for mortal eyes to behold, and throws a veil upon His dispensations. A rainbow was upon His head; Our Lord is always mindful of His covenant.
His awful voice was echoed by seven thunders—solemn and terrible ways of revealing the mind of God. We do not know the subjects of the seven thunders, nor the reasons for suppressing them. There are great events in history, perhaps relating to the Christian church, which are not noticed in open prophecy.
The final salvation of the righteous, and the final success of true religion on earth, are guaranteed by the unfailing word of the Lord. Though the time may not yet be, it cannot be far off. Very soon, for us, time will be no more; but if we are believers, a happy eternity will follow: we will from heaven behold and rejoice in the triumphs of Christ and His cause on earth.
"And the voice which I heard from heaven, [I heard it] again speaking with me, and saying, Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel that standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, saying unto him that he should give me the little book. And he saith unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but in thy mouth it shall be sweet as honey. 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 when I had eaten it, my belly was made bitter. And they say unto me, Thou must prophesy again over many peoples and nations and tongues and kings." — Revelation 10:8-11 (ASV)
Most people feel pleasure in looking into future events, and all good people like to receive a word from God. But when this book of prophecy was thoroughly digested by the apostle, its contents would be bitter; there were things so awful and terrible, such grievous persecutions of the people of God, such desolations on the earth, that the foresight and foreknowledge of them would be painful to his mind.
Let us seek to be taught by Christ and to obey His commands, daily meditating on His word so that it may nourish our souls, and then declaring it according to our respective roles. The sweetness of such contemplations will often be mingled with bitterness, while we compare the Scriptures with the state of the world and the church, or even with that of our own hearts.
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