Revelation 10:10

So I took the small scroll from the angel's hand and ate it; and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter.

Study Bible

So I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand
This phrase indicates an act of obedience and submission to divine instruction. The small scroll represents a message or revelation from God, similar to the scroll in Ezekiel 2:9-3:3, where Ezekiel is also instructed to eat a scroll. The act of taking the scroll from the angel signifies the acceptance of God's word and the responsibility to proclaim it. The angel, often seen as a messenger of God, emphasizes the divine origin of the message.

and ate it
Eating the scroll symbolizes internalizing God's message, making it a part of oneself. This act is not just about understanding but also about embodying and living out the message. In biblical times, eating was often associated with covenant and commitment, suggesting a deep, personal engagement with God's word. This mirrors the experience of prophets who internalized God's messages to deliver them to the people.

and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth
The sweetness of the scroll reflects the initial joy and delight in receiving God's word. Honey, often used in the Bible to describe something desirable and pleasant (Psalm 19:10), signifies the goodness and truth of God's revelation. This sweetness can also represent the hope and promise contained within God's message, as seen in the prophecies of redemption and restoration.

But when I had eaten it, my stomach turned bitter
The bitterness in the stomach signifies the difficult and often painful reality of delivering God's message, especially when it involves judgment or calls for repentance. This duality of sweetness and bitterness reflects the complexity of God's word, which can bring both comfort and challenge. The experience of bitterness is akin to the prophet's burden, as seen in Jeremiah 15:16-18, where the joy of God's word is accompanied by personal suffering and lament. This highlights the cost of true prophetic ministry, which involves both the joy of revelation and the pain of its implications.

Persons / Places / Events

1. John the Apostle
The author of the Book of Revelation, who receives and records the visions given to him.

2. The Angel
A mighty angel who stands with one foot on the sea and one on the land, symbolizing authority over the earth.

3. The Small Scroll
A scroll given to John to eat, symbolizing the reception and internalization of God's message.

4. The Act of Eating
Represents the acceptance and internalization of God's prophetic word.

5. Sweetness and Bitterness
Symbolizes the dual nature of God's word—its initial sweetness and the subsequent bitterness of its implications.

Teaching Points

The Dual Nature of God's Word
God's word is both sweet and bitter. It brings joy and hope but also conviction and responsibility.

Internalization of Scripture
Like John, believers are called to internalize God's word, allowing it to transform their lives from the inside out.

The Cost of Prophetic Ministry
Sharing God's truth can be a bittersweet experience, bringing both joy and challenges.

The Authority of God's Message
The angel's stance over land and sea signifies the universal authority of God's message, which believers are entrusted to share.

Faithfulness in Proclamation
Despite the bitterness that may come, believers are called to faithfully proclaim God's word, trusting in His ultimate plan.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the imagery of eating the scroll in Revelation 10:10 compare to similar imagery in Ezekiel 3:1-3, and what does this teach us about the nature of receiving God's word?

2. In what ways can the sweetness and bitterness of God's word be experienced in our personal lives and ministries today?

3. How does the authority of the angel in Revelation 10:10 encourage us to trust in the power and reach of God's message?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced the "bitterness" of God's word. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience?

5. How can we ensure that we are faithfully internalizing and proclaiming God's word, even when it is challenging or unpopular?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Ezekiel 3:1-3
Similar imagery where Ezekiel is commanded to eat a scroll, which is sweet as honey, symbolizing the reception of God's word.

Psalm 119:103
Describes God's words as sweet to the taste, emphasizing the desirability of divine revelation.

Jeremiah 15:16
Jeremiah finds joy in God's words, yet also experiences the burden of carrying a difficult message.

Hebrews 4:12
Highlights the power and penetrating nature of God's word, which can be both comforting and convicting.