Revelation 10

World English Bible 119 include this book

1 I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.

2 He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land.

3 He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.

4 When the seven thunders sounded, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from the sky saying, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders said, and don’t write them.”

5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky

6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay,

7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants the prophets.

8 The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.”

9 I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”

10 I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.

11 They told me, “You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

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13 places named in this book — no place is named in this chapter, so the whole book is shown.

Where this was written

Patmos attested The book states that John was on Patmos when he received the vision.

When this was written

The traditions broadly agree on this one.

Broad agreement: 92 AD–96 AD John of Patmos
Usually placed late in Domitian's reign, on the testimony of Irenaeus.

Who ruled Rome

Emperors reigning while this book is dated. Where the traditions differ, they often fall under different rulers.

Broad agreement

Domitian 81 AD–96 AD
An autocratic reign under which Revelation is traditionally placed, on the testimony of Irenaeus.
Nerva 96 AD–98 AD
A brief reign that eased the pressures of Domitian's last years.

Elsewhere in the world

Events overlapping the period this book is dated to (92 AD–96 AD).

1070 BC–350 AD The kingdom of Kush Africa
A Nubian power on the upper Nile that ruled Egypt itself as its twenty-fifth dynasty.
500 BC–500 AD The Nazca lines South America
Vast figures drawn on the Peruvian desert, visible only from the surrounding hills.
206 BC–220 AD The Han dynasty China
Four centuries of Chinese rule contemporary with the whole of Roman expansion.
150 BC–100 AD Roman concrete and the aqueducts Rome
Hydraulic concrete let Rome build harbours, domes and aqueducts that still stand.
100 BC–550 AD Teotihuacan Mesoamerica
A city of perhaps a hundred thousand people in the valley of Mexico, with monumental pyramids.
75 AD–94 AD Josephus writes his histories Levant
A Jewish commander turned Roman client whose account is the main narrative source for first-century Judea.
27 BC–100 AD Roman road and sea network matures Rome
Consolidated roads, harbours and suppressed piracy made long-distance travel unusually safe, a precondition for the rapid spread of early Christian communities.
81 AD–96 AD Reign of Domitian Rome
An autocratic reign under which Revelation is traditionally placed.

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