10:8 {7} 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 10:9,10,11. 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.
10:8-11 Go [and] take the little book... eat it. I will give a synopsis of the events of the chapter. (1) The angel holds in his hand an open book. (2) He calls attention to it in a loud voice. (3) The seven thunders launch their thunderbolts against the reception of the open book by the world. (4) John is about to record their words, but is forbidden. (5) The angel affirms with an oath, that the duration of the power and terror of the seven thunders shall be short, and that soon the seventh angel shall sound universal redemption and triumph. (6) John is bidden to take the book. (7) He receives it and is told to eat it, or to receive and devour its contents. (8) Its words are sweet like honey. In Ps 19:10 the word of the Lord is compared to the sweetness of honey (9) There are bitter effects that follow. The great object of this angel seems to be to present the open book to the world. The book is mentioned four times in the chapter; twice it is stated that the book was open Re 10:2,8-10.
10:8 And - what follows from this verse to chap. xi. 13, Rev 11:13 runs parallel with the oath of the angel, and with the fulfilling of the mystery of God, as it follows under the trumpet of the seventh angel; what is said, verse 11, Rev 11:11 concerning St. John's prophesying again, is unfolded immediately after; what is said, verse 7, Rev 11:7 concerning the fulfilling the mystery of God, is unfolded, Rev. xi. 15 - 19, Rev 11:15 - 19 and in the following chapter s.
10:8-11 Most men feel pleasure in looking into future events, and all good men like to receive a word from God. But when this book of prophecy was thoroughly digested by the apostle, the contents would be bitter; there were things so awful and terrible, such grievous persecutions of the people of God, such desolations in the earth, that the foresight and foreknowledge of them would be painful to his mind. Let us seek to be taught by Christ, and to obey his orders; daily meditating on his word, that it may nourish our souls; and then declaring it according to our several stations. The sweetness of such contemplations will often be mingled with bitterness, while we compare the Scriptures with the state of the world and the church, or even with that of our own hearts.
