Revelation 10:2 Commentary and Bible Study

And curiously ‘he had in his hand a little book open.’ This isn’t the big book or scroll with its seven seals, which is progressively being opened before us. This is a little book in the hand of this mighty angel. The scroll was closed when it was first seen, and it is being progressively opened; since the trumpets form part of the seventh seal, that seventh seal it not yet fully opened. But this little book lies open in the hands of the angel. It is available to be read, not hidden. It is a further prophecy given to John. See how enormous this mighty angel is in the vision. ‘He set his right foot upon the sea and his left foot upon the earth.’ It is as though this giant angel could encompass the entire earth in half a dozen strides. But he’s Christ, whose power extends around the earth. This planting of the feet expresses the angel’s mastery over the physical world, his dominion over all things in spite of the devil’s attempt to lay claim to this world. The planting of his feet on both these diverse elements of the world indicates that there is no part of the world that he does not claim as his own. ‘Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession’ (Psalm 2:8). ‘And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church’ (Ephesians 1:22). When Christ plants his feet on his world, and claims his dominion, it is a sign to Satan that his time is short and he will be given license to rebel for only a little while longer.