Revelation 10:2 - Exposition

And he had in his hand a little book open . ἔχων , "having," is read in א , A, B, C, P εἴχεν , "he had," in a few cursives, the Vulgate, Andreas, Arethas, Primasius. The meaning is the same. The word βιβλαρίδιον , "little book," is a diminutive of βιβλίον ( Revelation 5:1 ), which is itself a diminutive of βίβλος . This form of the word is found nowhere else; the corresponding usual form is βιβλιδαρίον . The book is probably little in comparison with that in Revelation 5:1 . The latter contained all God's purposes, and the seer was not permitted to read it—only part was indicated to him. This book contains only a small portion of God's methods of dealing with man, and St. John is commanded to receive the whole. The contents are indicated in verse 11 and the following chapter. The book is open, as a sign that what is contained therein is to be revealed. Bede thinks the New Testament is signified by it; Wordsworth sees in it the spiritual power of Rome; Hengstenberg considers that it contains the judgment of the degenerate Church. And he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth. Thus it is indicated that the revelation which is to follow affects the whole world, and is not partial in its operation, as were the judgments set forth under the earlier trumpets. Wordsworth (following Hengstenberg) sees in the earth an emblem of worldly power, and in the sea a symbol of the agitation and turbulence of nations.