Revelation 10:9

And I went to the angel and said, "Give me the small scroll." "Take it and eat it," he said. "It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey."

Study Bible

And I went to the angel and said,
This phrase indicates John's active obedience and willingness to engage with the divine message. The angel here is a significant figure, possibly representing a messenger of God. In biblical context, angels often serve as intermediaries between God and humans, delivering messages or executing divine will. John's approach to the angel reflects a readiness to receive and understand God's revelation, a theme consistent throughout the prophetic literature, such as in Daniel 9:21-23, where Daniel receives insight from the angel Gabriel.

“Give me the small scroll.”
The small scroll is a symbol of divine revelation and prophecy. In the context of Revelation, scrolls often contain important messages from God, as seen in Revelation 5, where the Lamb opens the scroll with seven seals. The act of requesting the scroll signifies John's role as a prophet, tasked with receiving and conveying God's message to the people. This mirrors the experience of Ezekiel in Ezekiel 2:9-3:3, where he is also given a scroll to eat, symbolizing the internalization of God's word.

“Take it and eat it,” he said.
The command to eat the scroll is symbolic of internalizing God's message. Eating the scroll represents the process of fully absorbing and understanding the divine revelation, making it a part of oneself. This act is reminiscent of Ezekiel 3:1-3, where Ezekiel is instructed to eat a scroll filled with words of lamentation and woe. The consumption of the scroll signifies the prophet's complete acceptance and embodiment of the message, preparing him to deliver it to others.

“It will make your stomach bitter,
The bitterness in the stomach symbolizes the difficult and often harsh realities of the prophetic message. While the word of God is sweet and desirable, as seen in Psalm 119:103, the implications of the message can be challenging and distressing. This duality reflects the nature of prophecy, which often includes both judgment and hope. The bitterness may also represent the persecution and suffering that often accompany the proclamation of God's truth, as experienced by prophets throughout biblical history.

but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”
The sweetness in the mouth highlights the initial delight and desirability of receiving God's word. This sweetness is akin to the joy and satisfaction found in understanding and experiencing God's truth, as described in Psalm 19:10. The contrast between the sweetness in the mouth and the bitterness in the stomach underscores the complexity of the prophetic message, which is both a source of joy and a burden. This duality is a common theme in the prophetic tradition, where the message of God brings both comfort and challenge to the faithful.

Persons / Places / Events

1. John the Apostle
The author of the Book of Revelation, who receives visions and instructions from God through angels.

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

3. The Little Scroll
A small book or scroll that John is instructed to eat. It symbolizes the message of God that is both sweet and bitter.

4. The Act of Eating the Scroll
A symbolic act representing the internalization of God's message, which has both delightful and distressing aspects.

5. The Vision
Part of the larger apocalyptic vision given to John, revealing God's ultimate plan and the unfolding of end-time events.

Teaching Points

The Dual Nature of God's Word
God's message can be both sweet and bitter. It brings joy and hope but also challenges and convicts us. As believers, we must be prepared to embrace both aspects.

Internalizing Scripture
Like John, we are called to "eat" or internalize God's word. This means meditating on it, understanding it deeply, and allowing it to transform our lives.

The Role of Prophecy
Prophecy is not just about predicting the future but also about revealing God's truth. It can be comforting and unsettling, urging us to align our lives with God's will.

Faithfulness in Delivering God's Message
Even when God's message is difficult, we are called to be faithful in sharing it. This requires courage and reliance on the Holy Spirit.

The Sweetness of Obedience
Obeying God's word brings sweetness to our lives, even when the message itself is challenging. Trusting in God's plan leads to ultimate joy and fulfillment.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does the experience of John eating the scroll compare to Ezekiel's similar experience, and what does this teach us about the nature of prophetic revelation?

2. In what ways can God's word be both sweet and bitter in our personal lives today?

3. How can we effectively internalize Scripture in our daily routines, and what impact should this have on our actions and decisions?

4. What are some modern-day challenges we might face when delivering God's message, and how can we overcome them?

5. Reflect on a time when obeying God's word brought both joy and difficulty. How did you navigate that experience, and what did you learn from it?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Ezekiel 3:1-3
Similar to John's experience, Ezekiel is instructed to eat a scroll, which is sweet in his mouth. This connection highlights the prophetic tradition of internalizing God's word.

Psalm 119:103
Describes God's words as sweet to the taste, emphasizing the delight found in divine revelation.

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