John Eats the Little Book

 

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Overview.

This chapter explains why we went through the 4th and 5th trumpets of the dark ages; light shines with new knowledge; God is telling His people to move forward (trumpet signal).1

 

 

• Revelation 10:1, 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:

 

10V1: Jesus as described in Revelation 1:13-15; Daniel 10:5-6; all points to a glorified being; Daniel 12:4-9 (1260 year prophecy from 538 to 1798 AD).

 

10V1: Clouds, Revelation 1:7; Rainbow = Revelation 4:3; Sun = Revelation 1:16 also in trumpets 4 and 5 it was a dark era or the dark ages and afterward as we’ve come out of the dark ages, light comes down and the book is opened to understanding to help the people; Feet = Revelation 1:15.

 

10V1: Face was as it were the sun = Brightness of God (Righteousness and His glory). Matthew 17:2 says, “And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.”, 2 Corinthians 4:6 says, “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”, 2 Thessalonians 2:8 says, “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming…”, Malachi 4:2 says, “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”, and Psalm 84:11 says, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

 

 

• Revelation 10:2, 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, 

 

10V2: Little book = This is the book of Daniel (specifically the time prophecies in Daniel chapter 8) that was sealed in Daniel 12:4, 9 which says, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” 

 

“In the Revelation all the books of the Bible meet and end. Here is the complement of the book of Daniel. One is a prophecy; the other a revelation. The book that was sealed is not the Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel relating to the last days. The angel commanded, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end.” (Ellen White, AA 585.1)

 

“The message itself sheds light as to the time when this movement is to take place. It is declared to be a part of the “everlasting gospel;” and it announces the opening of the judgment. The message of salvation has been preached in all ages; but this message is a part of the gospel which could be proclaimed only in the last days, for only then would it be true that the hour of judgment had come. The prophecies present a succession of events leading down to the opening of the judgment. This is especially true of the book of Daniel. But that part of his prophecy which related to the last days, Daniel was bidden to close up and seal “to the time of the end.” Not till we reach this time could a message concerning the judgment be proclaimed, based on the fulfillment of these prophecies. But at the time of the end, says the prophet, “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” (Ellen White, GC 355.3)

 

10V2: Foot upon the sea and the earth = This means it is a world wide message; see verse 3 where it says ‘loud voice’ - this indicates a world wide message similar to the three angel’s messages in Revelation 14:7, 9 and Revelation 18:2; in Daniel 12:6 this being was standing in the rivers which implied a more localized message because it was not proclaimed with a loud voice; Revelation 17:15 (sea = populated area); Revelation 13:1, 11 (sea beast in a populated area; the land beast in a sparsely populated area). The foot upon the sea and the earth represents a message for the populated and the sparsely populated areas of the world, which indicates a world-wide message for everyone. 

 

 

• Revelation 10:3, And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

 

10V3: Loud voice = A world wide message, see verse 2. 

 

10V3: Lion roareth = Refers to this angel (or messenger) as Jesus Christ returning as a lion during the second coming with wrath to destroy the wicked. Revelation 5:5 says, “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” and Proverbs 19:12 says, “The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.” 

 

10V3: Seven thunders = Coming from book of Daniel that was open in verse 2; the complete and perfect voice of God communicating to us from the book of Daniel. The book of Daniel was sealed in Daniel 12:4-9 until the time of the end. 

 

10V3: Voices = Voice of God, Ezekiel 43:2 (His voice was like a noise of many waters); Daniel 10:6 (voice of a multitude - waters represent multitudes or the sound of many voices speaking at once, Revelation 17:15). This can also represent a soothing voice as rushing waters is sometimes considered soothing, Jesus is attractive to those that seek Him. See Revelation 4:5.

 

 

• Revelation 10:4, 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.

 

10V4: John is excited about the prophecies but God tells him not to write them down because they’re already written in Daniel and not to write down the explanation because the book must be sealed; they must be sealed because they deal with events many years in the future and could not be understood completely until those times were reached (end of 1260 year prophecy which ends in 1798 AD).

 

10V4: Voices = Voice of God, See Revelation 10:3 and Revelation 4:5.

 

 

• Revelation 10:5, And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

 

10V5: Lifted up his hand to heaven = Same as in Daniel 12:7. 

 

10V5: Stand upon the sea and upon the earth = A message will be spread across the world. See verse 11, it is pointing to the three angel’s messages.  

 

“….the angel of Revelation 10 is represented as having one foot on the sea and one foot on the land, showing that the message will be carried to distant lands, the ocean will be crossed, and the islands of the sea will hear the proclamation of the last message of warning to our world.” (Ellen White, 2SM 107.3)

 

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• Revelation 10:6, 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: 

 

10V6: And sware by him = Same as in Daniel 12:7. Jesus swares by Himself the covenant, Hebrews 6:13-14. So here Jesus swares by Himself that there should be time no longer, see explanation below. 

 

10V6: This verse refers to the Creator which is Jesus Christ. John 1:1-3, 14 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”, Ephesians 3:9 says, “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ…”, and Colossians 1:15-17 says, “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” 

 

10V6: Time no longer = No more prophetic time (the time of the 1260 year prophecy has ended in 1798 and the 2300 year prophecy is the longest and last time prophecy in the Bible and ended in 1844, the time of cleansing of the sanctuary). The book of Daniel was opened (began to be understood fully) which resulted in a world wide revival in the 1830s and 1840s. The end of the 2300 year prophecy (see Annex C) was 1844 the time referred to as the great disappointment, see verses 8-11. Since the 2300 prophecy was the longest time prophecy in the Bible, there is no longer any time prophecies to be fulfilled which is why this verse says ‘time no longer’. 

 

“This time, which the angel declares with a solemn oath, is not the end of this world's history, neither of probationary time, but of prophetic time, which should precede the advent of our Lord. That is, the people will not have another message upon definite time. After this period of time, reaching from 1842 to 1844, there can be no definite tracing of the prophetic time. The longest reckoning reaches to the autumn of 1844.” (Ellen White, 7BC page 971)

 

 

• Revelation 10:7, 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.

 

10V7: This verse is a parenthetical statement that breaks the flow of thought. 

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10V7: In the days of the voice of the seventh angel = Seventh trumpet. This verse says that when this angel sounds (or when the seventh trumpet sounds in Revelation 11:15), then Jesus Christ will receive His kingdom.

 

10V7: Mystery of God = Jesus Christ, Colossians 1:26-28, Christ in you, the hope of glory is the mystery. There’s no more time prophecies, so now our focus should be on Christ in us and biblical perfection (having the character of Christ and living up to the light that we have); Colossians 2:2-3, The Mystery of God is Christ. Satan’s counterfeit of this is the Mystery of Iniquity which is the opposite of the teachings of Christ. It is the false system of worship which teaches false doctrines (The papal system of worship). 

 

10V7: Should be finished = This means when the work of Christ in heaven is complete (the pre-advent judgment and His work in the Most Holy of the heavenly sanctuary) He will return, see Revelation 11:15; Revelation 22:11-12 (in verse 11 probation closes and immediately in verse 12 Jesus returns at the second coming); Daniel 12:1-2 (describes Michael finishing the investigative judgment and then returning to earth at the second coming). 

 

 

• Revelation 10:8, 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.

 

10V8: Little book which is open = Book of Daniel.

 

“The book that was sealed was not the book of Revelation, but that portion of the prophecy of Daniel which related to the last days. The Scripture says, "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" (Daniel 12:4). When the book was opened, the proclamation was made, ‘Time shall be no longer.’ (See Revelation 10:6.) The book of Daniel is now unsealed, and the revelation made by Christ to John is to come to all the inhabitants of the earth. By the increase of knowledge a people is to be prepared to stand in the latter days.” (Ellen White, 2SM page 105)

 

 

• Revelation 10:9, 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.

 

10V9: Eat it up = To assimilate the Word of God, Jeremiah 15:16. The Christians in the 1800s were asked to assimilate what had already been written.

 

10V9: Eat it up and sweet at first = The reformation and revival in the 1830’s and 1840’s and the understanding of the prophecies in the Book of Daniel, specifically the 490, 1260, and 2300 year prophecies and that Jesus was coming back (or so they thought). At first these Biblical truths were sweet to the Christian church as light was given to them to understand the book of Daniel. 

 

10V9: Bitter in thy belly = This refers to the great disappointment of 1844 when they misunderstood what ‘cleansing of the sanctuary’ meant in Daniel 8:14. Daniel 12:10 explains the bitter disappointment. The Millerite movement believed that the ‘cleansing of the sanctuary’ meant that Jesus was returning in 1844, but they misunderstood that this referred to the heavenly sanctuary and not the earthly sanctuary. It was a great disappointment when Jesus did not return as they had predicted. 

 

“The waiting people of God approached the hour when they fondly hoped their joys would be complete in the coming of the Savior. However, the time again passed unmarked by the advent of Jesus. Mortality still clung to us; the effects of the curse were all around us. It was hard to take up the vexing cares of life that we thought had been laid down forever. A bitter disappointment fell upon the little flock whose faith had been so strong and whose hope had been so high. But we were surprised that we felt so free in the Lord, and were so strongly sustained by his strength and grace.” (Ellen White, LS page 189)

 

 

• Revelation 10:10, 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. 

 

10V10: Sweet, then bitter = Understanding the time prophecies and the soon advent of Jesus Christ was sweet to the Christian as light (understanding) was given to them, but when their prediction was wrong it turned bitter. 

 

 

• Revelation 10:11, And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

 

10V11: Prophesy again = This verse is pointing to the three angel’s messages of Revelation 14:6-12. Similar language is used in verse 6 of chapter 14, which is used in verse 11 here in chapter 10. This is to give hope to those that experienced the bitter disappointment when Jesus did not return in 1844 as predicted. God is telling His people that they must continue to preach the three angel’s messages to the world. 

 

As we start to come out of the dark ages there is a prophecy about the Antichrist in Daniel 7:25, that says the Antichrist will attempt to change times and laws; times refers to the 1260 time prophecy which points to the Papacy; council of Trent determines to come up with two new interpretations which are futurism and preterism to point the finger away from the Papacy. So they were in effect trying to change the times of the prophecies. 

 

So in 1798, scholars were waiting to see if a deadly wound would occur with the Papacy and it did; then God gave them the 1840 prophecy in Revelation 9:15; God then gives them the understanding of 1844 (Daniel 8:14).

 

Then the disappointment occurs in 1844 and doubt sets in; because they misunderstood the meaning of cleansing the sanctuary; the majority of Christians at this time gave up on the day equals a year principle and move towards futurism and preterism; 

 

Only one group or movement doesn’t give up (like the story of Gideon and his 300); 1844 identified God’s “300”; God points them to Revelation 10 and tells His people basically don’t worry, I told you there was going to be a disappointment, but you need to prophesy again (Revelation 10:11); God specifically told John not to write out the explanation; God withheld this one piece of critical information about the heavenly sanctuary to purify His church. Only those that searched their Bibles daily like the Bereans were given the answer about the sanctuary. 

 

Daniel 12:8-10, verse 10 explains the 1844 disappointment.

 

God purged His initial church as well; the disciples went through a sweet period where they proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah as He rode into Jerusalem on His donkey and then three days later they had a great disappointment, they forsook Jesus and were hiding in an upper room. God purged His church in the 1800s with the great disappointment and was left with a small group that became a movement (the Seventh-Day Adventist Church) but they initially had a sweet period where they thought Jesus was coming back as King similar to the disciples in the apostolic time.

 

Parallels continue; two men walking on the road to Emmaus in the dark because they didn’t want to be seen and Jesus appears and explains the prophecies to them; in 1844 after the great disappointment a few men were walking through a corn field because they didn’t want to be seen and Hiram Edson receives new light that the sanctuary mentioned in Daniel 8:14 is in heaven, not on earth.

 

Revelation 10:7: Mystery of God, Colossians 1:26-28, Christ in you, the hope of glory is the mystery; there’s no more prophecies, so now our focus should be on Christ in us and biblical perfection (having the character of Christ and living up to the light that we have). Colossians 2:2-3, The Mystery of God is Christ. 

 

John 14:6, I am the way; or Christ is the way; Psalm 77:13, thy way is in the sanctuary, the sanctuary points us to Christ; Exodus 25:8, dwell among them (or in them); 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, body is the temple of the Holy Ghost; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-7, mystery of iniquity is the opposite of mystery of God; the picture of God was changed during the dark ages; the mystery of iniquity took the place of the mystery of God (eternally burning hell, paying of indulgences…); a counterfeit took the place of God (false teachings and doctrines in opposition to Christ).

 

Because of this counterfeit distorting the character of God and His image, He brings up a movement in 1844 to learn and then prophesy again (Revelation 10:11) the truths of the Bible to re-establish the true character of God and His image.

 

During end time events, it won’t be the wicked against the righteous; it’s going to be the false righteous against the true righteous (the mystery of iniquity is not outwardly evil, it is a counterfeit) - even the very elect will be deceived (Matthew 24:24).

 

Counterfeits by Satan, 2 Corinthians 11:2-4, 13-15.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 10 Resources and Notes

1.  Pastor James Rafferty and Pastor Ivor Myers, Salvation in Symbols and Signs (Program on 3ABN’s Dare To Dream Network), video series can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i42C2tZ5yuI&list=PLZE9r6f37K0AJPuImVU9DX-Y1Ntikqv0R. The descriptions and explanations in this chapter are primarily from this series.

 

Ellen White references can be found here: https://beta.egwwritings.org.