10:1 And 1 I saw 2 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:
(1) Now John passes to the other prophetical history, which is
of the Church of God, as I showed that this book should be
distinguished (Re 4:1). This story goes from here
to (Re 22:1). This whole chapter is a transition from
the common history of the world to that which is particular
of the Church. There are in this transition or passage,
two preparatives as it were, to this Church story comprised
in this whole chapter. One is the authority of Christ
revealing his mysteries and calling his servant, to
(Re 10:7). The other is John, his calling proper to
this place, and repeated from before to the end of this
chapter. Authority is given to 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
(Re 10:1). Secondly, that he brought not by chance, but
out of a book, this open revelation, set forth to the eye,
to signify the same to the sea and land, as the Lord over
all (Re 10:2). Thirdly that he offered the same not
whispering or muttering in a corner (as false prophets do)
but crying out with a loud voice to those who sleep, and
with a lionish and terrible noise roused the secure: the
very thunders themselves giving testimony to it (Re 10:3).
Lastly, for that he confirmed all by another (Re 10:5-7).
10:2 And he had in his hand a 3 little book open: and he set
his right foot upon the sea, and [his] left [foot] on the
earth,
(3) Namely, a special book of the affairs of God's Church: For
the book that contains things belonging to the whole world,
is said to be kept with the Creator (Re 5:1) but the
book of the Church, with the Redeemer: and out of this book
is taken the rest of the history of this Apocalypse.
10:44 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I
was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying
unto me, a Seal up those things which the seven thunders
uttered, and write them not.
(4) A godly care is laudable, but must be married with
knowledge. Therefore nothing is to be done but by the
calling of God, which must be expected and waited for by
the godly.
(a) Keep them secret.
10:5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the
earth b lifted up his hand to heaven,
(b) This was a gesture used of one that swears, which men
do now use.
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, 5 that there should be c time no
longer:
(5) 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.
(c) There shall never be any more time.
10:7 But in the days of the 6 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.
10:87 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.
(7) The other part of this chapter concerning the particular
calling of John to the receiving of the following prophecy,
which is enjoined him, first by sign, in three verses, then
in plain words in the last verse (Re 10:9-11). To the
setting forth of the sign belong these things: That John is
taught from heaven to ask for the book of the prophecy in
this verse: for these motions and desires God inspires that
asking for the book, he is charged to take it in a
figurative manner, the use of which is expounded in (Re 10:9)
(as in) (Eze 2:9) whence this similitude is borrowed:
lastly that 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 foretells the
afflictions of the Church, it was most bitter to his spirit.
10:118 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before
many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.
(8) A simple and plain declaration of the sign before,
witnessing the divine calling of John, and laying on him
the necessity of it.
