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The angel with the little scroll
1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow was on his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. 2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot upon the earth. 3 And he cried with a loud voice as when a lion roars. And when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying to me: Seal up the things which the seven thunders have spoken; and write them not.
10:1 Most ancient commentators believed the reference to the angel to be the Lord. St. Andrew and Oecumenius on the other hand believed it was an angel. I think it probably was Gabriel since the text does say "mighty angel", which Gabriel is a Hebrew name meaning "strong man of God". (John Litteral) cloud: symbolizes incorporeality and invisibilty; rainbow- brilliance; face was as the sun- sparkling nature; feet pillars of fire- indicates retribution coming to the impious. (Oecumenius) Or he saw another angel, because he saw another vision to be narrated, having another meaning. The angel is called strong, because He comes to make war against the powers of the air. (Haimo of Auxerre) He is clothed with a cloud, because a cloud is both a covering and a symbol of glory and of heavenly things; and as Arethas says in a cloud there is a certain obscurity together with a certain brightness, produced by the refraction of the solar ray. His face shines as the sun; both because the countenance of the blessed is glorious, and because to the wicked, provided they are willing to repent of their sins, it announces good tidings. Again, a cloud signifies the ignorance, darkness, and perplexity in which men will be involved at the end of the world. (Cornelius a Lapide) 10:2 little book: contained written down the future punishment. (Nerses of Lambron) That the right foot being placed upon the earth and the left upon the sea, is a sign of his absolute rule over the whole world, and that there is nothing which can anywhere escape the avenging eye and hand of Christ. (Jacobus Tirinus) 10:3 seven thunders: are to be understood either seven voices coming from the one angel being described, or seven other holy angels addressing the future. (St. Andrew of Caesarea) Or it is the same as the voice of the angel like the roaring lion, namely, the holy preaching of the divine Word. (St. Ambrosius Aupertus) Or by pen and ink to explain all the mysteries of the Scriptures. (Rupert of Deutz) 10:4 seal up: that is, the clear explanation of these things are to be stored up until the end time. For words such as these are sealed and confined, as Daniel was also taught, 8:26. (St. Andrew of Casearea) That which we seal up under a seal, we wish not to be known to all, but only to our familiars and those whom we know for certain that we can trust. That which we speak openly and seal not, we bring to the knowledge of many. It is said to John, and in him to the whole order of teachers, that he should not write the things which the seven thunders uttered; because the divine oracles are not to be made manifest to all; for they are to be kept secret according to the times, that we may not contravene the divine precept which says, 'Give not that which is holy unto dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine.' (Haimo of Auxerre) The mystery of God to be revealed
5 And the angel, whom I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven, 6 And he swore by him that lives for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things which are therein; and the earth, and the things which are in it; and the sea, and the things which are therein: That time shall be no longer. 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound the trumpet, the mystery of God shall be finished, as he has declared by his servants the prophets.
10:6 swore: The angel's oath is adduced not on account of any defect in the angel, as though one ought not to credit his mere word, but in order to show that the statement made issues from God's infallible disposition. (St. Thomas Aquinas Sum Theo 2.89.10) no longer: this means either in the future when time is not to be measured by the sun but eternal life which is beyond the measurement of time, or (meaning) there will not be a long time after the six voices when the things prophesied by the angel will be fulfilled. (St. Andrew of Casearea) 10:7 The mystery of the Gospel which is now preached will then be finished, when "the ungodly shall go into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life, Mt 25:46. (St. Bede) John eats the sweet and bitter scroll
8 And I heard a voice from heaven again speaking to me, and saying: Go, and take the book that is open, from the hand of the angel who stands upon the sea, and upon the earth. 9 And I went to the angel, saying to him, that he should give me the book. And he said to me: Take the book, and eat it up: and it shall make your belly bitter, but in your mouth it shall be sweet as honey. 10 And I took the book from the hand of the angel, and ate it up: and it was in my mouth, sweet as honey: and when I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. 11 And he said to me: You must prophesy again to many nations, and peoples, and tongues, and kings.
10:8 The angel who holds the book open, is Christ; and he who invites John to go to the angel, is Christ. For he himself holds the book open, because he hath revealed all things which lay hid in the Old Testament, concerning his nativity, passion, death, and resurrection. The voice therefore which was addressed to John, means no other than the internal inspiration by which God inspires the hearts of the faithful that they may come unto him. Come unto him, and receive light. For what is said to John is said to all who contemplate the glory of the Lord with open face. For such are in possession of an open book, and therefore it is told them to come to the angel, not with the steps of the body, but with those of faith and the rational mind. (Haimo of Auxerre) 10:9 eat: This devouring signifies that all those things which were in the book, were to be laid up and kept in the stomach of the memory of the apostle. (Fracisco Ribera) sweet as honey: refers to the knowledge of the future events. belly bitter: clearly refers to the heart containing the spiritual foods, in sympathy for those who are receiving the punishments sent by God according to divine judgment. (St. Andrew of Casearea) Or in the mouth of preachers, sweet, as we have said, is the Word, both as being read and as expounded; but when such are despised, and are also afflicted and tormented in various ways, for this very preaching, then in their belly it is converted into bitterness, because they are saddened in mind both at the vexatious opposition and at the condemnation of despisers. (Haimo of Auxerre) Or in the mouth of the preacher the book is sweet as honey; because his mind takes delight in those things which he reads in secret, or in those which he preaches to others in public. But in the belly it very quickly grows bitter ; because, doubtless, when he sees the same preaching despised by most of his hearers, he experiences affliction of mind. (St. Ambrosius Aupertus) Bible Cross Reference
5: Daniel 2:7. 9: Ezekiel 1:1. Key Words
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