Revelation 10 8

Revelation 10:8 kjv

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.

Revelation 10:8 nkjv

Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, "Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth."

Revelation 10:8 niv

Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."

Revelation 10:8 esv

Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, "Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."

Revelation 10:8 nlt

Then the voice from heaven spoke to me again: "Go and take the open scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."

Revelation 10 verses

Revelation 10 8 Meaning

Revelation 10:8 describes John's renewed divine instruction following the voice from heaven and the seven thunders. He is commanded to approach the mighty angel, who stands with cosmic authority, and take the previously seen "little scroll" that is already open in the angel's hand. This signifies John's active involvement in the unfolding prophetic revelation, shifting from a passive observer to an active participant charged with receiving and subsequently proclaiming God's message for the end times. The openness of the scroll indicates immediate accessibility and revelation of its contents, which are critical for future events.

Revelation 10 8 Context

Revelation chapter 10 occurs after the sounding of the sixth trumpet, creating an interlude before the final seventh trumpet judgment. This chapter shifts focus from the sequence of judgments to a crucial prophetic interlude, emphasizing the timing of the end and John's role within it. In Rev 10:1, a mighty angel descends from heaven, arrayed in divine splendor, standing with one foot on the sea and one on the land, symbolizing his universal authority and the scope of his message over creation. This angel cries out, and seven thunders utter their voices, which John is initially instructed not to write.

Immediately preceding verse 8, the angel declares with an oath that "there should be delay no longer," but that "in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets" (Rev 10:6-7). This sets the stage for the imminence of the end-time events. Verse 8, then, is a direct follow-up: the divine voice redirects John's attention to the angel and the small, open scroll. It signals John's new commission—to physically take and internalize this scroll's message, preparing him for the further prophecies concerning the nations, peoples, languages, and kings that are to come (Rev 10:11). Historically, this context reminds early Christians that despite the ongoing persecution and trials (symbolized by the trumpets), God's prophetic word is being unveiled, culminating in His final plans and the establishment of His Kingdom.

Revelation 10 8 Word analysis

• Then (Καὶ): "And." Connects this instruction directly to the previous events and the angel's solemn oath in Rev 10:7. It marks a sequential continuation of divine communication.
• the voice (ἡ φωνὴ): Refers to the audible voice from heaven, explicitly identified in Rev 10:4 as instructing John not to write the seven thunders. It is consistently linked to divine communication and authority in Revelation (e.g., Rev 1:10, 4:1, 11:12).
• which I heard (ἣν ἤκουσα): John's direct sensory experience of the divine, affirming the authenticity and directness of the revelation. This is a common phrase highlighting John's role as a recipient of God's direct revelation (e.g., Rev 1:10, 1:12).
• from heaven (ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ): Emphasizes the divine origin and supreme authority of the command. Heaven is the seat of God's throne and the source of all ultimate truth and authority in Revelation.
• spoke (ἐλάλησεν): "He spoke" or "it spoke." A direct verbal command.
• to me (μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ): "With me." Highlights the personal, direct, and intimate nature of this command to John, making him an active participant.
• again (πάλιν): Indicates a resumption or repetition of communication from the same source. It signals a new, specific instruction building on prior interaction.
• saying (λέγων): Introduces the direct command given by the voice.

Word Group Analysis:

• 'Go, take (Ὕπαγε λάβε): These are strong, imperative verbs. "Go" indicates an active step or journey towards the task, not a passive reception. "Take" implies possession and ownership of the scroll's message. Together, they represent a forceful divine commission for John to receive something directly for further action. This parallels the commissioning of prophets like Ezekiel to take and eat a scroll.
• the small scroll (τὸ βιβλαρίδιον): The diminutive form of βιβλίον (book/scroll), sometimes translated "little scroll" or "little book." This distinguishes it from the great, seven-sealed scroll of Rev 5, which represented God's sovereign plan of redemption and judgment. The "small scroll" here is generally understood as a specific prophetic commission for John, likely pertaining to the content he is to prophesy (Rev 11:1-2) or the judgments leading to the kingdom. Its smaller size may suggest a particular segment of God's greater plan.
• which is open (τὸ ἠνεῳγμένον): Perfect passive participle. It indicates a state of having already been opened. Unlike the sealed scroll of Rev 5 (which required the Lamb to open it), or the sealed book of Daniel 12, this scroll is accessible, its contents are revealed, and ready to be understood and proclaimed. It is not something waiting for future disclosure, but something that is currently being disclosed.
• in the hand of the angel (ἐν τῇ χειρὶ τοῦ ἀγγέλου): The angel acts as an intermediary, holding the scroll. His hand represents custody and authority over its delivery.
• who stands on the sea and on the land (τοῦ ἑστῶτος ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς): This reiterates the angel's majestic posture first described in Rev 10:2. This stance symbolizes universal authority and dominion over the entire world—both maritime and terrestrial spheres. It visually depicts God's sovereign control over all creation and His impending judgment upon the "earth dwellers," setting the scope for the scroll's prophetic message which affects all nations. It is a powerful image of God's omnipotence working through His messenger.

Revelation 10 8 Bonus section

The concept of God's voice speaking "again" from heaven highlights a consistent theme in biblical prophecy: the reiteration and continuation of divine revelation through chosen vessels. It assures John, and by extension believers, of the reliable and continuous nature of God's communication, adapting to new phases of revelation. The little scroll is not just a document; it embodies a divine mission and a prophetic experience that John must embody before he can articulate it, distinguishing him further as a prophet of God’s direct communication, much like the great prophets of Israel. The symbolism of the "small" scroll compared to the "great" scroll might also suggest a particular, detailed aspect of the larger eschatological plan being unveiled.

Revelation 10 8 Commentary

Revelation 10:8 marks a pivotal shift in John's experience within the prophetic visions. No longer just a beholder of scenes, he is actively drawn into the unfolding drama. The immediate reiteration of the command by "the voice...from heaven" underscores its divine urgency and John's critical role. The emphasis on "again" signifies the continuity of his prophetic calling from the divine source that initiated his vision.

The central instruction to "Go, take the small scroll" directly involves John in a prophetic action, echoing Old Testament prophets like Ezekiel, who was commanded to eat a scroll representing God's word (Ezk 2:8-3:3). This act of taking and later eating (Rev 10:9) symbolizes not just receiving a message, but fully internalizing it, making it part of oneself for effective proclamation. This "small scroll" is distinct from the seven-sealed scroll of Revelation 5, suggesting a specific, immediate prophetic mandate for John, often interpreted as pertaining to the subsequent vision of the measuring of the temple, the two witnesses, and the proclamation that will precede the final trumpet judgments.

Crucially, the scroll is described as "open," in stark contrast to the sealed books mentioned elsewhere (Isa 29:11; Dan 12:4, 9). Its openness signifies that its contents are now accessible, fully revealed, and ready to be proclaimed, implying the imminence of the events it portends. There is no further unlocking needed; its truth is current and unveiled. The mighty angel holding the scroll, depicted with cosmic dominion over "the sea and the land," visually reinforces the universal scope and ultimate authority of God's final plan revealed in this little scroll. It asserts that this particular message, and the judgments it foretells, will indeed affect the entire inhabited world.

Practically, this verse reminds believers that God's word, though often profound and sometimes challenging, is given to be understood and embraced. Just as John was commanded to internalize the scroll, we are called to actively receive and internalize God's revealed truth through His Word, making it a part of our very being for effective Christian living and witness. It prepares us to both digest the "sweet" promises and face the "bitter" realities of sin and judgment with divine insight.