What does Revelation 10:1 mean?
Scripture does not specifically identify the mighty angel described in this verse. Some think it is Michael the archangel, while others believe it is Christ. Several passages in the Old Testament present Christ as "the angel of the Lord" (Genesis 16:7, 13; 31:11–13; Judges 6:22). Of course, Christ is not a literal angel but the creator of angels (Colossians 1:15). However, the Greek word translated "angel" can mean messenger, and Jesus certainly fills that role. He came to earth to bring us God's message of salvation and He delivered the message of Revelation to the apostle John (Revelation 1). Further, the description of the mighty angel in Revelation 10:1 matches the description of Christ in Revelation 1:15–16. The mighty angel descends from heaven, "wrapped in a cloud" (10:1), and Revelation 1:7 associates Christ with clouds. Revelation 4:3 mentions a rainbow around God's throne, and Revelation 5:6 says Christ stands in the midst of the throne.<Revelation 10:1–7 involves a vision John sees between his visions of the sixth and seventh trumpet judgments. John observes a mighty angel descending from heaven with a little scroll in his hand. The description of the angel and the reference to a little scroll remind us of what John saw in chapter 5. In that chapter, Jesus took the seven-sealed scroll from the hand of God. In chapter 10, the mighty angel calls upon the seven thunders, but God forbids John to write the thunders' response. However, the angel tells John that what the prophets predicted will be fulfilled when the seventh angel blows his trumpet.
The apostle John reports what he saw after the sixth trumpet judgment. He saw a mighty angel descend from heaven. The angel held a little scroll open in his hand. His right foot rested on the sea and his left foot rested on the land. Next, John heard the mighty angel call out to the seven thunders, but the angel would not allow John to record the thunders' response. The angel promised there would be no further delay: the seventh trumpet judgment would fulfill the words of the prophets. Finally, John is commanded to take the little scroll and eat it. When John obeyed the command, he found the scroll to be sweet to the taste but bitter in his stomach. The angel told John he must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.