Rev 10:1  "And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire." 

 Based on the description in this verse and the signs we have previously studied we conclude that the mighty angel is Christ and that he was clothed with a cloud, i.e., his glory (See chapter 1).  He had a rainbow (See chapter 4) upon his head, which points us to his coming to accomplish the provisions of the covenant of redemption (rainbow covenant).  The reference to his head suggests that he came to fulfill his eternal purpose which he purposed before the world began.  His face was as it were the sun.  He is the Sun of Righteousness and he came in righteousness to fulfill all righteousness under the law.  His feet were pillars of fire, which indicates that he suffered the wrath of God (pillars of fire) because of the sins of his elect.  The reference to his feet suggests a connection to the fact that he tread the winepress of the wrath of God alone.  The reference to pillars suggests that what Jesus did is the foundation and support for our eternal deliverance from sin. 

The two previous chapters gave us a picture of the effect of sin both timely and eternal and its required judgment.  This chapter starts out with the picture of Christ coming down from heaven under the covenant of redemption to redeem his people from their sins.  This verse outlines his righteousness and subsequently his sacrificial atonement on behalf of the elect. 

Rev 10:2   "And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth." 

The words "little book" come from the Greek word "bibliaridion" which means little book or pamphlet.  It is not to be confused with the seven sealed book that began to be opened in chapter 5.  Later in this chapter the prophet was told to eat the book and it would be in his mouth sweet as honey, but in his belly it would be bitter.  There is a passage similar to this in the book of Ezekiel: Ezek. 2:9 "And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; 10 And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe. 3:1 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. 2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness."   

Written in the roll in Ezekiel were lamentations, and mournings, and woe.  While this was sweet to the taste of the prophet, yet when he internalized it, it was bitter.  Similarly the little book in Rev. chapter 10 was sweet to the mouth of John but was bitter in his belly.  We will have more to say about this book later on in this chapter. 

The little book was open.  The Lord must give us understanding for us to understand the scriptures.  Just as with the door, the Lord can shut and no man can open, and the Lord can open and no man can shut, so with the book the Lord can close the understanding or open the understanding to our minds and heart.  We are dependant upon the Lord for our understanding. 

"He set his right foot upon the sea and his left foot upon the earth."  In Joshua we read, Josh. 10:24 "And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them."  Putting the feet upon the necks of the kings symbolized victory over the enemy.  The Lord has gotten victory over all the opposition.  He has gotten the victory over sin, and death, and hell, and the devil, and the grave.  Sometimes the sea symbolizes the nations and the earth symbolized Israel.  The Lord has gotten the victory over all the enemies of his elect people both Jews (earth) and Gentiles (sea). 

Rev 10:3, 4  "And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not."         

Sometimes a lion is a symbol of a king.  Of course the lion in this verse is a symbol of Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords.  The roaring of a lion is both majestic and terrifying.  The Lord cried with a loud voice.  Several times in the scriptures the Lord cried with a loud voice, including when he raised Lazarus from the dead, when he cried out on the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me," and when he cried out "Into thy hands I commend my spirit" and of course he is coming with a shout in the resurrection of the just and the unjust.  All of these things have been revealed unto us and are opened in the scriptures.  God has not revealed every thing unto us: 

          1.  Deu. 29:29 "The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."

          2.  Dan. 12:4 "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."

          3.  Dan. 12:9 "And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." 

Paul reported in 2 Cor. chapter 12:1 "It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."         

Thunder is a report of an electrical discharge.  It is one of the evidences of that discharge.  It comes after the lightning because the speed of sound is slower than the speed of light.  The electrical discharge produces both the light and the sound.  There are things in the power of God that are yet to be made manifest, yet we know very little about.  For instance, we know very little about the glory world.  We know very little about the end of this time world in which we live.  We truly know very little about the great wisdom and power of God.  Eternity is a concept that we have a hard time grasping.  The omniscience of God is extremely hard to comprehend.  Yet all these things will be manifest when it pleases God.  Yet the details are largely hidden from us at this time.  No doubt part of the reason these and other things haven't been revealed to us is that we aren't capable of understanding them because of the depravity of our human mind.  In the morning of the resurrection we will be freed from the corruption of sin and be fashioned like the glorious body of Christ.  Then we will be capable of understanding things that are now kept secret from us.