Revelation 10
New American Standard Bible
The Angel and the Little Scroll
10 I saw another (A)strong angel (B)coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the (C)rainbow was on his head, and (D)his face was like the sun, and his (E)feet like pillars of fire; 2 and he had in his hand a (F)little scroll, which was open. He placed (G)his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; 3 and he cried out with a loud voice, (H)as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the (I)seven peals of thunder [a]uttered their voices. 4 When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, (J)I was about to write; and I (K)heard a voice from heaven, saying, “(L)Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken, and do not write them.” 5 Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land (M)raised his right hand to heaven, 6 (N)and swore by (O)Him who lives forever and ever, (P)who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that (Q)there will no longer be a delay, 7 but in the days of the voice of the (R)seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then (S)the mystery of God is finished, as He announced to His servants the prophets.
8 Then (T)the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take (U)the scroll which is open in the hand of the angel who (V)stands on the sea and on the land.” 9 And I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little scroll. And he *said to me, “(W)Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” 10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. 11 And (X)they *said to me, “You must (Y)prophesy again concerning (Z)many peoples, nations, languages, and (AA)kings.”
Footnotes
- Revelation 10:3 Or spoke
Revelation 10
New English Translation
The Angel with the Little Scroll
10 Then[a] I saw another powerful angel descending from heaven, wrapped[b] in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun and his legs were like pillars of fire.[c] 2 He held[d] in his hand a little scroll that was open, and he put his right foot on the sea and his left on the land. 3 Then[e] he shouted in a loud voice like a lion roaring, and when he shouted, the seven thunders sounded their voices. 4 When the seven thunders spoke, I was preparing to write, but[f] just then[g] I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders spoke and do not write it down.” 5 Then[h] the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 6 and swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, and the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, “There will be no more delay![i] 7 But in the days[j] when the seventh angel is about to blow his trumpet, the mystery of God is completed,[k] just as he has[l] proclaimed to his servants[m] the prophets.” 8 Then[n] the voice I had heard from heaven began to speak[o] to me[p] again,[q] “Go and take the open[r] scroll in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” 9 So[s] I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He[t] said to me, “Take the scroll[u] and eat it. It[v] will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” 10 So[w] I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it, and it did taste[x] as sweet as honey in my mouth, but[y] when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 11 Then[z] they[aa] told me: “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations,[ab] languages, and kings.”
Footnotes
- Revelation 10:1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 10:1 tn Or “clothed.”
- Revelation 10:1 tn Or “like fiery pillars,” translating πυρός (puros) as an attributive genitive.
- Revelation 10:2 tn Grk “and having.” Because of the length and complexity of the Greek sentence, a new sentence was started here in the translation by supplying the pronoun “he.”
- Revelation 10:3 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 10:4 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Revelation 10:4 tn The words “just then” are not in the Greek text, but are implied.
- Revelation 10:5 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 10:6 tn On this phrase see BDAG 1092 s.v. χρόνος.
- Revelation 10:7 tn Grk “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel.”
- Revelation 10:7 tn The aorist ἐτελέσθη (etelesthē) has been translated as a proleptic (futuristic) aorist (ExSyn 564 cites this verse as an example).
- Revelation 10:7 tn The time of the action described by the aorist εὐηγγέλισεν (euēngelisen) seems to be past with respect to the aorist passive ἐτελέσθη (etelesthē). This does not require that the prophets in view here be OT prophets. They may actually refer to the martyrs in the church (so G. B. Caird, Revelation [HNTC], 129).
- Revelation 10:7 tn See the note on the word “servants” in 1:1.
- Revelation 10:8 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 10:8 tn The participle λαλοῦσαν (lalousan) has been translated as “began to speak.” The use of πάλιν (palin) indicates an ingressive idea.
- Revelation 10:8 tn Grk “with me.” The translation “with me” implies that John was engaged in a dialogue with the one speaking to him (e.g., Jesus or an angel) when in reality it was a one-sided conversation, with John doing all the listening. For this reason, μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ (met’ emou, “with me”) was translated as “to me.”
- Revelation 10:8 tn Grk “again, saying.” The participle λέγουσαν (legousan) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.
- Revelation 10:8 tn The perfect passive participle ἠνεῳγμένον (ēneōgmenon) is in second attributive position and has been translated as an attributive adjective.
- Revelation 10:9 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the instructions given by the voice.
- Revelation 10:9 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 10:9 tn The words “the scroll” are not in the Greek text, but are implied. Direct objects were frequently omitted in Greek when clear from the context.
- Revelation 10:9 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
- Revelation 10:10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of the instructions given by the angel.
- Revelation 10:10 tn Grk “it was.” The idea of taste is implied.
- Revelation 10:10 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.
- Revelation 10:11 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the vision.
- Revelation 10:11 tn The referent of “they” is not clear in the Greek text.
- Revelation 10:11 tn Grk “and nations,” but καί (kai) has not been translated here or before the next item since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
Revelation 10
New Living Translation
The Angel and the Small Scroll
10 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire. 2 And in his hand was a small scroll[a] that had been opened. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. 3 And he gave a great shout like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders answered.
4 When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Keep secret[b] what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down.”
5 Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand toward heaven. 6 He swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay. 7 When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.”
8 Then the voice from heaven spoke to me again: “Go and take the open scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”
9 So I went to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. “Yes, take it and eat it,” he said. “It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!” 10 So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach.
11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”
Revelation 10
English Standard Version
The Angel and the Little Scroll
10 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with (A)a rainbow over his head, and (B)his face was like the sun, and (C)his legs like pillars of fire. 2 (D)He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, 3 and called out with a loud voice, (E)like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. 4 And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, (F)“Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.” 5 And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land (G)raised his right hand to heaven 6 and swore by (H)him who lives forever and ever, (I)who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, 7 but that (J)in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, (K)just as he announced to his servants the prophets.
8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, (L)“Take and (M)eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” 10 And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. 11 And I was told, (N)“You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”
Revelation 10
1599 Geneva Bible
10 Another Angel appeareth with a cloud, 2 holding a book open, 3 and crieth out. 8 A voice from heaven commandeth John to take the book. 10 He eateth it.
1 And [a]I saw [b]another mighty Angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, and the rainbow upon his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire.
2 And he had in his hand a [c]little book open, and he put his right foot upon the sea, and his left on the earth,
3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
4 [d]And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: but I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, [e]Seal up those things which the seven thunders have spoken, and write them not.
5 And the Angel which I saw stand upon the sea, and upon the earth, [f]lift up his hand to heaven,
6 And sware by him that liveth for evermore, which created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things that therein are, [g]that [h]time should be no more.
7 But in the days of the [i]voice of the seventh Angel, when he shall begin to blow the trumpet, even the mystery of God shall be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the Prophets.
8 [j]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.
9 So I went unto the Angel, and said to 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 as sweet as honey.
10 Then I took the little book out of the Angel’s hand, and ate it up, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey: but when I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
11 [k]And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again among the people and nations, and tongues, and to many Kings.
Footnotes
- Revelation 10:1 Now Saint John passeth unto the other Prophetical history, which is of the Church of God, as I showed that this book should be distinguished, Rev. 4:1. This story reacheth hence unto the two and twentieth Chapter. And this whole Chapter is but a transition from the common history of the world unto that which is particular of the Church. There are in this transition or passage, two preparatives as it were, unto this Church story comprised in this whole Chapter. One is the authority of Christ revealing his mysteries, and calling his servants unto the seventh verse. The other is Saint John’s calling, proper unto this place, and prepared from before unto the end of this chapter. Authority is given unto this Revelation by these things: First, by the appearing from heaven in this habit and countenance, strong, ready, glorious, surveying all things by his providence and governing them by his omnipotence, the first verse. Secondly, that he brought not by chance, but out of a book, this open Revelation, set forth unto the eye, to signify the same unto the sea, and land, as the Lord over all, the second Verse. Thirdly, that he offered the same not whispering or muttering in a corner (as false prophets do) but crying out with a loud voice unto them which sleep, and with a lionish and terrible noise roused the secure: the very thunders themselves giving testimony thereunto, the third Verse. Lastly, for that he confirmed all by an oath, Verses 5, 6, 7.
- Revelation 10:1 Christ Jesus, see the seventh Chapter and the second verse.
- Revelation 10:2 Namely, a special book of the affairs of God’s Church. For the book that containeth things belonging [unto] the whole world, is said to be kept with the Creator, the fifth Chapter and the first verse, but the book of the Church, with the Redeemer: and out of this book is taken the rest of the history of this Apocalypse.
- Revelation 10:4 A godly care is laudable, but must be joined with knowledge. Therefore nothing is to be taken in hand, but by calling: which must be expected and waiting for of the godly.
- Revelation 10:4 Keep them close.
- Revelation 10:5 This was a gesture used of one that sweareth, which men do nowadays use.
- Revelation 10:6 Neither time itself, nor the things that are in time: but that the world to come is at hand which is altogether of eternity and beyond all times.
- Revelation 10:6 There shall never be anymore time.
- Revelation 10:7 Whereof Rev. 11:15 and 16:17.
- Revelation 10:8 The other part of this Chapter, concerning the particular calling of Saint John to the receiving of the prophecy following which is enjoined him, first by sign in three verses, then in plain words in the last verse. Unto the setting forth of the sign belong these things: That Saint John is taught from heaven to demand the book of the Prophecy in this verse: for these motions and desires God doth inspire: that demanding the book, he is charged to take it in a figurative manner, the use whereof also is expounded, the ninth verse, (as in the second Chapter of Ezekiel and the ninth verse) whence this similitude is borrowed: lastly, for that Saint John at the commandment of Christ took the book, and found by experience that the same as proceeding from Christ was most sweet, but in that it foretelleth the afflictions of the Church it was most bitter unto his spirit.
- Revelation 10:11 A simple and plain declaration of the sign before going, witnessing the divine calling of S. John, and laying upon him the necessity thereof.
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