{8} And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

(8) A simple and plain declaration of the sign before, witnessing the divine calling of John, and laying on him the necessity of it.

People's New Testament

10:11 Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. There is portrayed last another consequence of eating the book. To prophesy is not only to foretell future events, but to declare the message of God. This message had been declared once by the apostles, both in person, and by those who preached their words. Apostolic preaching had almost ceased for many ages before the Reformation. John, the representative of the apostolic body, commanded to prophesy, implies a revival of apostolic preaching among all people and nations.

Wesley's Notes

10:11 Thou must prophesy again - Of the mystery of God; of which the ancient prophets had prophesied before. And he did prophesy, by measuring the temple, Rev 11:1; as a prophecy may be delivered either by words or actions. Concerning people, and nations, and tongues, and many kings - The people, nations, and tongues are contemporary; but the kings, being many, succeed one another. These kings are not mentioned for their own sake, but with a view to the holy city, Rev 11:2. Here is a reference to the great kingdoms in Spain, England, Italy, and c., which arose from the eighth century; or at least underwent a considerable change, as France and Germany in particular; to the Christian, afterward Turkish, empire in the east; and especially to the various potentates, who have successively reigned at or over Jerusalem, and do now, at least titularly, reign over it.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

11. he said-A, B, and Vulgate read, "they say unto me"; an indefinite expression for "it was said unto me."

Thou must-The obligation lies upon thee, as the servant of God, to prophesy at His command.

again-as thou didst already in the previous part of this book of Revelation.

before, &c.-rather as Greek (epilaois), "concerning many peoples," &c., namely, in their relation to the Church. The eating of the book, as in Ezekiel's case, marks John's inauguration to his prophetical office-here to a fresh stage in it, namely, the revealing of the things which befall the holy city and the Church of God-the subject of the rest of the book.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

10:8-11 Most men feel pleasure in looking into future events, and all good men like to receive a word from God. But when this book of prophecy was thoroughly digested by the apostle, the contents would be bitter; there were things so awful and terrible, such grievous persecutions of the people of God, such desolations in the earth, that the foresight and foreknowledge of them would be painful to his mind. Let us seek to be taught by Christ, and to obey his orders; daily meditating on his word, that it may nourish our souls; and then declaring it according to our several stations. The sweetness of such contemplations will often be mingled with bitterness, while we compare the Scriptures with the state of the world and the church, or even with that of our own hearts.