The term “like” appears numerous times throughout this chapter and the entire Revelation, and expresses that what John hears or sees is beyond what earthly, human words can capture, because it is heavenly, divine. The same was true repeatedly in the vision Ezekiel saw (Ezekiel 1:1–28; note the repeated use of terms as “likeness” and “like” and “as it were”). Since John records his vision in visionary language, we need to be careful not to draw in our minds a precise picture of what John described.
10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet