From Revelation 9-12
After hearing a series of judgments, John has a vision of a majestic angel with a rainbow over his head. The angel thunders out a message which is also written on a little scroll. John is commanded to eat the scroll. He does and it tastes sweet and then afterward, bitter.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
Today’s passage follows a series of seven blown trumpets which bring judgment on the earth. The trumpets and their accompanying punishment are intended to warn to the people and give them opportunity to repent and turn to the Lord. Mankind however does not repent despite these warnings (Rev 8.6-21).
10 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, 3 and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. (Rev 10.1-3)
‘Rainbow over his head’. The imagery arcs back to the rainbow covenant God made with the earth following the great flood (Gen 9.15-16; cf. Rev 4.3; Eze 1.28). Likewise this rainbow follows another time of judgment. The imagery suggests the Lord will cease to judge the world as he has just done.
‘Little scroll’. The contents of the scroll are kept secret.
The angel stands with feet planted on the sea and the land because his message is of world-wide importance.
He calls out like a lion roaring and a storm thundering (Rev 10.4). His roar is the message from the scroll.
4 And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.” 5 And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, 7 but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets. (Rev 10.4-7)
‘Do not write it down’. After the angel thunders out the message of the scroll, John is forbidden to write it down. John does not explain why, but offers assurance.
‘Mystery of God fulfilled’. The angel swears by the LORD and all creation (heaven, earth and sea) there will be no more delay till what he has just thundered will come about. This will happen when the seventh angel sounds his trumpet of judgment, then the ‘mystery of God will be fulfilled’.
“The completion of “the mystery” (10:7) probably indicates that the seven thunders will no longer remain secret (10:4); all will be revealed at the consummation (cf. 1 Cor. 13:8–12). Although in Revelation anything symbolic may have been a “mystery” until explained (1:20; 17:5–7), the divine “mystery” here seems to involve God’s kingdom (Dan. 2:44, 47; Mark 4:11). God’s purposes will be “accomplished” (Rev. 10:7; cf. 11:7; 15:1; 16:17; 17:17), as promised to “his servants the prophets” (10:7; 11:18; cf. Acts 3:21–24).” (Keener, C.S., 1999. Revelation, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
8 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.” 9 So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” 10 And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. 11 And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.” (Rev 10.8-11)
‘Take and eat it’, ‘sweet’, ‘bitter’. The little scroll eaten by John (cf. Eze 2.8; 3.1-3) has a sweet taste, but a bitter after effect in the stomach.
It starts off good, but ends up a trial.
The message of the scroll is sweet because the message promises victory for God’s people. It is bitter because those who proclaim it will endure suffering before God’s purposes for the world are fulfilled. John has to preach this message to many different people’s and nations.
Words for Believers
The promise of ‘no more delay’ gives hope to those who are suffering and being persecuted. Though they must wait now, the delay will not last forever. A time is coming when God will fulfill all his promises made throughout history.
John’s message proved sweet to taste, but bitter in its digestion.
We should follow his example, we might start gospel ministry with joy and dreams of an easy ride. But eventually it might prove bitter. Don’t fall into the trap of expecting only pleasant things from God. Be encouraged to persevere though, God always provides the faithful grace to endure it.
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