The angel has his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land (v2). The land can be considered to be Israel and the sea the nations. The next phase of the Book relates to them both and the way they interact in the future.

The angel was �clothed with a cloud :� and a rainbow was upon his head� (v 1). This calls to mind the promise that when Yahweh brings �a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud ; ... and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh" (Genesis 9 v 14, 15). This promise is kept in the events described in Revelation 12 v 15 (see notes on that chapter).

Seven thunders utter their voices (v 3). The fact that these are sealed and not written by John, indicates that they have been written already (in the little book of verse 2, 8, 9). A possibility is that Revelation 14 contains a description of the 7 thunders. (The angel speaks with a loud voice in Revelation 10 v 3, which is the way that events in Revelation chapter 14 are proclaimed - e.g. Revelation 14 v 7).

Verses 5/7

In verse 6,� the angel says "there will be time no longer". This sounds dramatic, but is clarified by verse 7 which says �in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished�. The term mystery is often used of the gospel and the fact that it applies to non Jews as well as Jews. Verse 7 indicates that the seventh angel belongs to a time when God's purpose in allowing the gentiles to be saved is completed, and the time leading up to the kingdom runs out. The seven thunders seem to belong to this later time as well, in that they are sealed up as in Daniel 12 v 4, where Daniel is told to �seal the book, even to the time of the end�. It is possible that the first 6 trumpets preceding chapter 10, describing the suffering of Israel and Jerusalem, are fulfilled in John�s day (i.e. events surrounding AD 70) when the mystery is not yet finished, and that there is a large period of time between the end of the sixth trumpet and the beginning of the seventh trumpet. A time gap between the sixth and seventh trumpets would be similar to the last part of Daniel, where there seems to be a large gap in time between Daniel 11 v 35 (which deals with the Romans) and verse 36 onwards which deals with the time of the end. The time gap in Revelation chapter 10 could similarly be between the time of the Romans and the time of the end.

There are further links between Revelation chapter 10 and Daniel 12, which deals with the time of the resurrection:
�
10 v 4���� Seal up those things����������������������� Daniel 12 v 4
10 v 5���� Lifted up his hand to heaven����������������� "�� 12 v 7
10 v 6���� Sware by him that lives for ever������������ "�� 12 v 7.

�[Additionally, the reference to events happening at the end or finishing point of the mystery of God, picks up Daniel 12 v 4 and 9.]

Revelation 10 v 3, 7 quotes from Amos 3 v 7, 8 (�a lion roareth� (v 3) ; �the mystery of God should be ... as he hath declared to his servants the prophets� (v 7). In addition, Amos 3 v 6 makes reference to �a trumpet� being �blown in the city�, fitting in with the context of Revelation 10 v 7 which makes reference to the seventh trumpet. Given the link to Amos 5 in Revelation chapter 7 and its direct quotation in Revelation chapter 8, it is perhaps not surprising to see another reference to Amos here. The context of Amos chapter 3 is the punishment of Israel (v 2) by the surrounding nations (v 9), because of their transgression at Bethel (v 14 - see notes on chapter 7).

Verses 8/11

Ezekiel 2 v 9 - 3 v 1 - 3 describes the word of God coming to Ezekiel, which he was to speak to Israel. Revelation 10 v 8 - 10 quotes from here when describing the word of God coming to John. John�s prophecy was concerning �peoples, and nations, and tongues and kings� (v 11), which is a description of non Jews, however it will be seen that the prophecy describes their relationship with Israel in the last days prior to the return of Christ.

Revelation 10 v 11 draws on the language of Daniel 3 v 4 ("many peoples ... and nations, and tongues"), when describing who should hear John's prophesying. In Daniel 3 v 4, the expression was used when describing those who were under the sway of Nebuchadnezzar and who were being commanded to worship the image he had made. It will be suggested in the notes on chapter 13 that the beast is a re-emergence of the kingdom of Babylon, and as such a description of its subjects as �peoples, nations and tongues� is appropriate.

It is suggested that a better translation of Revelation 10 v 11 is �Thou must prophesy over (gk epi - see similar use in Revelation 11 v 10 - as opposed to �before� as in the AV) many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings�, i.e. John�s prophecy was concerning these groups and not to them. Peoples, nations, and tongues are mentioned in Revelation 11 v 9 and represent those who will not allow the burial of the two witnesses, also the gospel is preached to them in Revelation 14 v 6 when the angel warns them to �fear God and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgement is come�. The refusal to bury the witnesses seems to indicate sympathy� with the beast who makes war against the witnesses (11 v 7). The reference to peoples, nations and tongues in Revelation 14 v 6 comes before the first of the �loud voice� statements in Revelation 14, which possibly describe the thunders.

The kings that John is to prophesy about are the kings of the earth, which are referred to in the later chapters of Revelation (e.g. 16 v 14).

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