Revelation 10

Whatever more meaning Revelation chapter 10 might or might not be intended to have, it's likely that John's original, first-century readers may have sensed a devotional message in it, perhaps similar to the following:

Revelation 10 King James Version (KJV)

10 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 it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:

The cloud and pillars of fire were reminiscent of the pillar of cloud and fire which went before and behind God's people when He led them out of captivity in Egypt. John's seven churches had believed the good news that in Jesus Christ God had accomplished the true 'exodus': they'd been delivered from sin, and were expecting to reign in life with the Messiah. But they were soon to encounter hardships which may have challenged their confidence and allegiance.

The vision was also reminiscent of Ezekiel's vision, by the river of captivity. Like Ezekiel, it assured John's readers of the Divine reality despite the present dilemma. 

By the rainbow - which was reminiscent of God's covenant with Noah - they were reassured in advance of God's continued good intentions for them and for creation itself. Despite the coming challenges, God was still on the throne; His presence was still leading them; His masterplan of redeeming all of creation still had the upper-hand; the churches could rest assured that the glorious destiny promised them by the gospel was still very much in safe-keeping.  

2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

Despite all that might soon be imposed against them by evil powers, the unseen spiritual reality was that the promise of God, and the purpose of God, and the message of God, and all that would be allowed to happen - everything that might have been represented by the little open book - was firmly under Divine control - represented by the mighty angel's hand. The seven churches were assured in advance that the powers-that-be were really only lesser actors in a mere parody: they were a mere charade - while the spiritual reality, though unseen, was that Jesus was reigning; and they would reign with Him too, if they overcame.

Despite the political appearances of the times, God was truly in control - as represented by His angel having the foot of authority, of possession, of purpose and of power firmly upon sea and land - the whole of creation. The troubles that were soon to transpire in the present, could in in no way impinge upon the reality that in Christ God had inaugurated the restoration of all things.

3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

God still had the final say - represented by this vision of His mighty angel. God alone could speak of the future; He alone possesses all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and He hides it at His discretion from the rulers of this world, despite all their self-agrandizement, professed wisdom and seeming self-determination.

4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

Sealed, because those things were likely for the future - unlike other things which John didn't seal, perhaps because they were more relevant to the time of John's immediate first-century audience; and because the prerogative belonged to God the true Sovereign, not to the presumed rulers of the world. 

5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,

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, that there should be time no longer:

The angel expressed God's sovereignty over all that was transpiring, by declaring that there would indeed come a Day when there would be time no more - no more delay; no more slack for evil; no more chance to repent. The present human rule couldn't impinge upon the Divine purpose.

7 But in the days of the 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.

In the meantime, prior to the last trumpet when the mystery, plans, purposes, promises and Word of God, which none of the rulers of this world had been able to predict, control or hinder, will be finished, John, and the churches he represented, had a role to continue to play...

8 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.

The vocation of the Body of Christ in the present, is all to do with participating with the Word; the message; God's unfolding purposes. That's great, but there was a certain twist to it:

9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto 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 sweet as honey.

The believers' participation with the Word of God, and in God's purposes, would be both bitter and sweet. Like it was for Ezekiel the captivity-time prophet who had a similar vision and experience.

10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

It was given to the churches not only to believe, but also to suffer for His Name. Not only to experience sweetness - righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost - the foretaste of the power of the age to come - but also to undergo the temporary bitterness of suffering and persecution. They would both enjoy and endure. 

11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

John, and the churches he represented, were to continue to holding forth the Word of God, continue participating in God's purposes - like Ezekiel had, whether his word would be accepted by his peers or not.  

Jesus wanted the heavenly reality revealed to the churches, so they could keep rejoicing through all that was about to transpire. So the born-again believers wouldn't feel like burnt-again believers!

The redemption of creation had been inaugurated in Christ. Now the curtain had been raised on Christ presently reigning in heaven. The churches were reassured of their destiny to reign with Him, in a renewed earth. Meanwhile they were reassured of God's presence with them no matter what.

Therefore the churches could continue making the bold choice to worship God, and to continue their vocation as victorious participants in the Word and purposes of God - and not succumb instead to pressure from society to honour their pagan Greco-Roman false-gods nor go along with the increasingly menacing trend of Emperor-worship.

For us today, the actors in our modern-play might be different - but the devotional message remains similar. God has acted in Christ Jesus to save the world. Christ already reigns in heaven. And we shall reign with Him on a renewed earth, if we overcome. So keep making the choice to worship God; and don't succumb to pressures of society. They're all FAKE NEWS! The real news is still the Good News!