In Revelation chapter 10 John is presented with a small bitter-sweet scroll which he is instructed to eat.
Revelation 10:1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”
5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”
8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies 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 asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’” 10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”
Revelation 10:1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”
Remember that the book of Revelation was an actual revealing of events that were to take place in the First Century. As such the book ends with: Revelation 22:10 “Do not seal up the words of the prophesy of this book, for the time is near.” Telling the readers that the things in the book were to take place soon, just as Christ said, within the present generation. However, John was instructed to seal up the message of the seven thunders because it pointed to the distant future. John had been privileged to see something that he was not to reveal. This is similar to Paul’s experience when he reports that he was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 2 Corinthians 12:4
Revelation 10:5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven
Where was his right foot? What does this symbolize?
In the Old Testament the Gentile nations are likened to the raging sea. Isaiah 5:30, 17:12, Psalm 65:7
Where was his left foot? What does this symbolize?
The angel is standing on the nations, represented by the sea and on the land, that is Israel. This symbolizes the coming of the New Covenant which unites the two, Gentiles and Jews into the one people of God. He preached peace to you who were far away and to you who were near… so you are no longer strangers and aliens but fellow citizens with the saints… Ephesians 2:17-19 one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks… I Corinthians 12:13
Revelation 10:6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.
What mystery was announced to the prophets?
Back in the garden of Eden after man had sinned, rather than abandoning Adam and Eve God announced that he would mount a rescue operation, promising that one born of woman would, one day, come to undue the damage and bring salvation to Adam’s fallen race. Genesis 3:15, 4:2-3 The subsequent unfolding of the Covenants of the Promise Ephesians 2:12 is the grand story unveiled in the Bible. Amos 3:7 The coming Messiah, the Lamb of God, fills all of the pages of the Old Testament. Psalm 22:1, 14-18, Isaiah 53:1-5 49:5-6, 42:5-9
Now finally at long last the mystery is to be fully revealed.
The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of his mystery… which is Christ in you. Colossians 1:25-27
Beyond all question the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh,
Was vindicated by the spirit,
Was seen by angels,
Was preached among the nations,
Was believed in the world,
Was taken up into glory. I Timothy 3:16
The revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past but now revealed… so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith. Romans 16:25-27
He made known to us the mystery of his will… which he purposed in Christ… the mystery made known by revelation that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members of one body that shares together in the Promise; Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:9, 3:2-6 & 9
Don’t overlook the fulfillment of the Covenants of the Promise. Ephesians 2:12 This is earth shattering. This is unbelievable. The Promise of rescue given to Adam and Eve, the Promise that the descendants of Abraham would somehow be innumerable, the Promise to David that his descendant would save the people of earth and have a never ending reign, the Promise to Jeremiah that the Spirit would be given to all believers, the Promise that all of the scattered nations would come into God’s Kingdom, is about to be fulfilled.
Revelation 10:9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’” 10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”
Ezekiel was commanded to eat a scroll symbolizing both the wonderful and terrible role of the prophet. Ezekiel 3:1-14 The prophet has been chosen by God, has been given direct access to God, is privy to amazing revelations, and speaks for God. But the prophet is placed by God in the uncomfortable role of the prosecuting attorney, sent by God to point out disobedience and warn his people of coming judgment. Accordingly the scroll was both sweet but bitter.
Just like Ezekiel, John could rejoice in the victory of Christ and the establishment of the Church among all nations, but he also had to see his people, the Jews, and perhaps his family, and his neighbors, fall under the wrath of God. Those who rejected the Messiah were to be completely destroyed.
Salvation and judgment are two sides of the same coin… At the final judgment at question is this:
- Will you stand before the Judge in your own power, taking the punishment that you have earned on yourself… or:
- Will you stand before the Judge, under the cross of Christ, so that He will take on Himself the punishment that you have earned?
There are only two choices: repent and believe or don’t repent and face judgment.