By Coty Pinckney

Read Revelation 8 to 10 once, and then chapter 10 at least two additional times, without referring to notes or commentaries. Also read Ezekiel 2:1-3:14, which has some interesting parallels with Rev 10.

(1) Consider the description of the angel that opens the chapter. What do the various elements of the description signify? For rainbow look at Gen 9:16, Eze 1:28; for his face, Daniel 10:6, Mt 17:2; for the clouds, Ps 97:2; for his straddling the sea and the land, Gen 1:9-10. In thinking about this angel, consider also the first phrase of verse 6 as well as Heb 6:13.

(2) In verses 3 and 4, the angel shouts like a lion's roar, prompting the seven thunders to speak. Recall that thunder accompanies hail in the Egyptian plagues (Ex 9). For more on roaring, see Jer 25:30, Amos 1:2 and 3:8, and especially Joel 3:9-17. For thunder, see also Ex 19:16-19, 1 Sam 2:10, Job 40:6-9, Ps 29, John 12:27-29. How is thunder used in these passages? What about roaring? Given these other uses of the words, what type of statement may have been spoken by the thunders? See also 2 Cor 12:2-4 for others words which a man was unable to repeat.

(3) Consider verse 6 and Exodus 20:11. What is the immediate context of the verse in Exodus? When the angel announces that there will be no more delay, what is he talking about? Is there a parallel between the end of the delay, and the passage in Exodus?

(4) In verse 7, what is the mystery of God? The verse itself contains some interesting evidence: the verb translated "as He preached to His servants the prophets" in the NASB and "as he announced to his servants the prophets" in the NIV could be rendered literally "as he gospelized," or "as he good-newsed." See also Romans 16:25-27, 1 Cor 4:1, Eph 3:2-12, Eph 6:19, Col 1:25-2:3.

(5) As you have seen, there is a close parallel between verses 9-10 and the Ezekiel passage you read at the beginning. See also Ps 19:10, 119:103, and Jer 15:15-21. What do you understand by the scroll being sweet in the mouth and bitter in the stomach? What is written in the scroll? Is there any indication in the other passages that some bitterness follows the sweetness of the word? How does this relate to some of the larger themes in Revelation that we have discussed previously?

Now read Stedman's sermon on chapter 10 as well as Wilcock pages 100-103. Revise your answers, if necessary, in light of the insights of these two commentators.

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