Revelation 10
King James Version (1769) · Tap a verse to see it in context
About this chapter
AI-assisted, sourcedA mighty angel comes down "clothed with a cloud" with "a little book open" in his hand, and when seven thunders speak John is told, "Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not." The angel swears that there should be "time no longer," and that at the seventh trumpet "the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." John is told to eat the little book, which is "in thy mouth sweet as honey" but makes his belly bitter, and he hears, "Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings." Revelation 10:1Revelation 10:2Revelation 10:4Revelation 10:6Revelation 10:7Revelation 10:9Revelation 10:10Revelation 10:11
Who, where, when, and the key verses
Who
A mighty angel, the seven thunders, a voice from heaven, and John. Revelation 10:1Revelation 10:3Revelation 10:4Revelation 10:8Revelation 10:9
Where
The angel stands with "his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth." Revelation 10:2
When
Traditionally about AD 95-96, near the end of the emperor Domitian's reign. Most scholars agree; some date it about AD 68-69, soon after Nero's death. Revelation overview
How it fits
Chapter 9 ended with men who did not repent "of their murders, nor of their sorceries." This chapter is a pause before the seventh trumpet, and chapter 11 continues with John told to "Rise, and measure the temple of God." Revelation 9:21Revelation 10:7Revelation 11:1
Key verses
- Verse 4
"Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not." Not everything John heard was revealed. Revelation 10:4
- Verse 7
"The mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." Revelation 10:7
- Verse 10
The little book "was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter." Ezekiel 3:3 ate a roll that "was in my mouth as honey for sweetness." Revelation 10:10Ezekiel 3:3
Takeaway
God's word is sweet to receive, even when its message is hard, and His purposes will be finished just as He promised. Revelation 10:7Revelation 10:10
Drafted by AI from the Scripture and data shown under “Show sources,” then checked automatically and by a separate AI reader. Updated 2026-11-01.
The mighty angel and the seven thunders
1And 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: 2And 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, 3And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4And 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. 5And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6And 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: 7But 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.
John eats the little book
8And 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. 9And 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. 10And 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. 11And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.