Revelation: The Angel and the Scroll

Revelation 10:1-11

The Revelation of Jesus Christ is a message from Jesus and about Jesus. He is the only way to have a relationship with the living God, and he is the only one worthy to open the seals of the scroll that contains the details of how things will end on earth.

To this point in our study, Jesus has opened the seven seals. The tribulation is underway. The seven seals opened the severe judgments of the trumpets. We have considered the first six trumpets, and now there is a pause before the seventh. Today, we will consider “another mighty angel” and a little scroll. From today’s passage, I will draw three general principles.

John saw “another mighty angel coming down from heaven” (Rev. 10:1). Not only was he powerful, but his appearance was also awesome. A cloud surrounded him. There was a rainbow over his head. His face shone as bright as the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. His enormous size allowed him to stand with one foot on land and one foot in the sea. His voice was as loud as a roaring lion, commanding attention, and when he called out, “seven thunders sounded.” He was holding a little scroll that was open in his hand (Rev. 10:1-3). 

John was about to write what he heard when he was stopped by a voice from heaven that said, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down” (Rev. 10:4).

Let’s stop here for a general principle.

Principle #1: God reveals to us everything we need to know. But not everything is revealed at one time.

There were some things revealed by the seven thunders that God did not want written down. Some things of God will, for now, remain a mystery. There are difficult theological concepts that are hard to grasp, and there are things in our lives we can’t figure out. In the past few weeks, I have spoken to friends battling cancer. I don’t understand why.

There are things that God has determined not to write down. And I must trust God even when I can’t wrap my mind around what he is doing.

Here’s a second principle.

Principle #2: One day, all the mysteries of God will be fully revealed. 

Some things will remain a mystery, but the angel that John “saw standing on the sea and on the land” was ready to reveal the mystery held by the seventh angel with the last trumpet call. He “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…” (Rev. 10:5-6). He was ready for the mystery of God to be fulfilled, “just as he announced to his servants the prophets” (Rev. 10:7).

There will come a day when God’s whole purpose will be revealed, and his prophecies will be fulfilled. Some people are skeptical about that. Bible scholar Edmund Clowney says that “since God does not do all that He promised at once, the faith of His people is tried and tested. Their longing becomes intense. At times, the promise seems not only distant but illusory. They fall victim to unbelief and cry [like the children of Israel] ‘Is the LORD among us or not?’” (Ex. 17:7).[1]

But God will always keep his promises. Whether we are talking about the end times or the issues in your life, this is certain: When the time is right, there will be no delay.

After the angel spoke, God told John to go and take the little scroll from the angel’s hand (Rev. 10:8). When John took the scroll, God gave an unusual instruction. He told John to eat the scroll. He said that the scroll would be as sweet as honey to eat, but it would turn bitter in his stomach.

Revelation 10:10-11
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.  And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.” 

God gave John an object lesson as he had given the prophet Ezekiel (Eze. 3:3). Eating the scroll was a concrete way of assimilating the message—a complete consumption of God’s Word.

Here’s the principle: 

Principle #3: God’s Word is both sweet and heavy. 

Although David didn’t physically eat God’s Word, he said taking it in was sweeter than honey (Ps. 19:10; 119:103). Jeremiah said that taking God’s Word in was a joy and delight to his heart (Jer. 15:16). It’s the same for us. There are many times when reading God’s Word delights us. We learn of his love and goodness, the relationship we have with him through Jesus, and that one day we will pass from death to life.

And sometimes God’s Word is heavy. The judgments that will take place during the tribulation are severe. God’s Word is clear about sin, death, and eternity without God—hell.

John ate the scroll and found that it was sweet and bitter. We read God’s Word and learn that it is sweet and heavy. But the God behind it all loves us with an everlasting love. He is the One who sits on the throne of heaven in complete control. We experience his presence, protection, and security. The heavy parts of Scripture serve as warnings of a life without God. The sweet parts of Scripture can be summed up in five words: In the end, we win!

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on Revelation 10:1-11. Focus on John’s experience in consuming Scripture. What do you learn?

Talking to God: Do I live with confidence that God’s purposes will be fulfilled in his perfect timing?

Have questions? Please send your questions to our team. We're happy to assist you as we explore God's Word together. Submit your question below, and we'll reply soon. Let us know if you want to learn more about a relationship with Jesus or if you're seeking spiritual guidance.

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