TOPIC:“The Strong Angel and the Small Book”
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:Revelation 10:1-11
“And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven…And he had in
his hand a little book open” (10:1, 2).
As we continue our study of Revelation we come to chapter 10 which introduces the second parenthesis of the end of the sixth seal judgment when God extends mercy in the midst of His divine wrath as 144,000 Jews are sealed. Now at the end of the sixth trumpet judgment and before the sounding of the seventh trumpet, another parenthesis is introduced into the book.
This parenthesis is extended to chapter 11 verse 14. Here we have an interlude, a change of direction, as the mighty angel with the little book, the measuring of the Temple, plus the prophecy and death of the two witnesses are introduced to us. But let us begin our study of this chapter where two important events take place.
I.
Consider, first of all, the information which is presented regarding the STRONG ANGEL. Give ear to John's words in verse 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 though it were the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.”
John saw the first strong angel in 5:2 and heard him proclaim with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll, and to loose its seals?” Here in this chapter he sees another mighty angel descend from Heaven. The word “another” means “another of the same kind” and reveals the fact that this angel is similar to those that have already appeared in the book. Let us notice three things about this strong angel.
His CHARACTER
“clothed with a cloud; and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as though it were the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire” (10:1).
The name of the angel with the little book is not given to John, but he seems to be a messenger of great authority in the angelic world as he is introduced with power, majesty and authority. This angel is not one of the seven trumpet angels, but is probably the same one described in 5:2 as “the strong angel” who here in chapter 10 descends from Heaven during the Tribulation period.
Some Bible scholars identify this angel as Jesus Christ . . .