Take the Book

This “voice … from heaven” is the same voice from verse 4 that forbade John to write what the seven thunders had declared.

But in the verse for today, this heavenly voice commands John to “take the little book which is open.” By this we know that while some portions might have been concealed at certain times, God indeed desires to reveal to us what had yet not been understood. Daniel and Revelation are not esoteric mysteries. All the Scriptures “were written for our learning” (Romans 15:4), “upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (1 Corinthians 10:11).

This also tells us that however severe the disappointment of the early Adventists when Christ did not come in 1844, their study of the 2,300-day prophecy was deliberately sanctioned by God. Note the repeated emphasis of the “open” book. It is “the hand of” Christ Himself that unsealed it.

You will recall that when the early Adventists began to proclaim Jesus’ second advent, they were met with staunch opposition—most of all from their brethren. Many of the clergymen and other respectable leaders much more preferred to preach “peace and safety!” (1 Thessalonians 5:3) than to rouse their congregations to an urgency of Christ’s return. They persistently ridiculed, humiliated, and ostracized those who believed otherwise. If only they would have opened their eyes and ears to realize that they were the ones obstructing the express will of God.

But in these few verses of Revelation, the faithful Adventists could take heart. By these were their convictions confirmed through Scripture. The prophecies of Daniel were to be discerned, the first and second angels’ messages were to be preached, the warning was to be proclaimed to all who would hear: Are you ready for the soon return of Jesus? Here again we are told that this was the very message to go to all those “on the sea and on the earth”—to the ends of the world.

Lord God of heaven, You have given Your prophetic Word to bring light to our dark world. May I open my heart to receive Your messages and to share them with others.

For Further Study: Ezekiel 2:9; Daniel 12:4; Revelation 5:1

Key Bible Texts

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 KJV)