Section 10:1–11
An angel gave a little scroll to John
In this section, John saw a powerful angel come down from heaven to the earth. John described what the angel looked like. When the angel shouted, John heard seven beings speak with loud voices like thunder. God told John not to write what they said. The powerful angel announced that when the seventh angel blew his trumpet, God would finish his plan. Then God told John to eat the scroll that the angel held. He also told John that he would show him more future events.
Other examples of headings for this section are:
John saw an angel holding a small scroll
-or-
The Angel with the Little Scroll (New Revised Standard Version)
Paragraph 10:1–4
10:1a
another mighty angel: The word another indicates that this was an angel that John had not seen before. It was not one of the angels that John had seen holding the trumpets.
mighty: This word indicates that this was a powerful angel. It is the same word that is used in 5:2.
heaven: Here the word heaven refers to the place where God lives.
10:1b
wrapped in a cloud: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as wrapped indicates that the cloud wrapped around him. Other ways to translate this clause are:
He was robed in a cloud (New International Version)
-or-
He was dressed in a cloud (God’s Word)
with a rainbow above his head: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as above is literally “on.” The rainbow probably looked like it was on the angel’s head like a hat or headdress. Other ways to translate this phrase are:
and a rainbow was on his head
-or-
and had a rainbow standing/rising up from his head
10:1c
His face was like the sun: This clause indicates that the angel’s face shone brightly. For example:
his face shone like the sun (Revised English Bible)
10:1d
his legs were like pillars of fire: A pillar has the same shape as a thick pole or post but is made of stone. Pillars are used to support a building or roof. Other ways to translate this clause are:
his legs were like fiery pillars (New International Version)
-or-
his legs looked like pillars/posts that were on fire
The phrase “pillars of fire” might indicate that the angel’s legs were made only of fire that flamed upward like a pillar, as in Exodus 13:21, where God revealed his presence in a fire shaped like a pillar. But it seems unlikely that God would directly picture his presence as legs of an angel. The pillars of fire are probably only a hint or reminder of Exodus 13:21, rather than a direct connection to it.
See how you translated the word pillar in 3:12.
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