In Revelation 10, we encounter a powerful and vivid moment in our daily devotional where John is instructed to eat a little scroll—a symbolic act that signifies consuming and internalizing the Word of God. This scroll is described as sweet in John’s mouth but bitter in his stomach, a duality reflecting both the joy and the weight of God’s message. Similarly, we are called to “eat” the Word of God daily, to let its truth nourish and transform us. Is this a natural habit for you, or do you need the reminder? As you reflect on this chapter, consider how God’s Word is both a source of sweetness and a call to action, preparing us to fulfill His purposes in our lives. To see what the army of locusts is, read the daily devotional on Revelation 9.
Revelation 10 Commentary by Allen J. Huth
In Revelation 10, John is told to eat a scroll. Do you need to be told to eat the Word of God daily, or is it a natural habit? Please read or listen to Revelation 10.
Who Was Given a Book to Eat in the Bible?
In 1995, in my personal Bible reading journal, concerning Revelation 10 (NASB), I wrote, “Between the sixth and seventh trumpets, the little book.” I wrote more, “‘there shall be delay no longer’ (v. 6), ‘the mystery of God is finished’ (v. 7). John eats the little book. Sweet in his mouth, but bitter in his stomach. Like much of life’s pleasures, immediately satisfying, but leads to bitterness.”
Do the Angels Do the Will of God?
In 2008, concerning Revelation 10 (NASB), I wrote, “In Revelation, angels administer God’s will on the earth. Maybe it’s so now as well. I wonder what John saw from the seven peals of thunder that he was forbidden to write, referring to verse 4. We are reminded in 10:6, God created all things. John eats the little book, sweet in his mouth, yet bitter in his stomach. The Bible is a bit like that. Sweet with the gospel message that saves the souls of mankind, yet bitter as it reveals our selfishness and the judgments of God.”
How Will Jesus Appear When He Returns?
In 2013, I wrote, “An angel big enough to ‘set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land’ (v. 2). Literal? I don’t know, but it adds credence to my vision of when Jesus returns. The whole earth will see Him at once. He will be so huge it will be like He can simply hold the earth in His hand. Like a man looks at an ant hill, will Jesus be to the inhabitants on earth. That’s why every knee will bow and every tongue confess He is Lord. There will be no doubt. There will be no wondering if it’s Him.” I continued, “John could not write about the seven thunders, referring to verse 4. No more delay with the seventh angel’s trumpet. The mystery of God would be fulfilled, referring to verse 7.”
Chapter 10 opens with another mighty angel. I do not know what you think about angels, but I think they are massive. I think they are big. I think, as we read through the Book of Revelation, we see angels administering the very actions of God from heaven to earth. I do not see angels like the angels we usually see around Christmas time, female with cute wings. I see angels like warriors administering the will of God on earth. We are reading about them in Revelation, but I believe they are doing the very same thing today.
What Does the Seven Thunders Mean in the Bible?
Of all the things we have read so far in Revelation, all of which John has written down, here he is prohibited from writing something down, “the seven thunders sounded. 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’” (vs. 3-4). There is no need to speculate about what this is about. It is not written; we will not know this side of heaven.
What Does the Bible Say About the Mystery of God?
The angel then swears, “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, 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” (vs. 6-7).
Let’s focus on that phrase at the end of this verse, “just as he announced to his servants the prophets” (v. 7). The Old Testament is full of prophets. We said in the introduction to the Book of Revelation, it fulfills and opens our eyes to the Old Testament prophecies in Daniel, Ezekiel, and Zechariah. There are other prophets like Amos, Jeremiah, Joel, and Nahum. I hope you spend some time in the prophets. Go back through ADDBIBLE, Day by Day Through the Bible, or Club 365, and study the Old Testament prophets.
I find the next scene a little humorous. Think about the conversation John is having. He is hearing a voice from heaven, and now he is going to go speak to this angel, this mighty angel, “with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire” (v. 1). His voice like a roaring lion. John is going to go speak to this angel, “So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll” (v. 9). Imagine that scene.
What Was John to Do with the Little Scroll?
John is given the little scroll. He eats it and he is told, “‘You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings’” (v. 11). John, once again, is consuming the Word of God so he can prophesy. It reminds me of the Prophet Ezekiel. In chapter 3 of his book, he wrote, “And he said to me, ‘Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.’ So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. And he said to me, ‘Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.’ Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey” (Ezekiel 3:1-3). Both Ezekiel and John are prophets. They consumed the Word of God. That is what comes out of their mouths.
Do You Have Your Own Guardian Angel?
What are our practical applications from Revelation 10? First, if you think you have a guardian angel, like I do, I hope he is a mighty angel, one like we just read about in Revelation 10.
What Does It Mean to Consume the Word of God?
Secondly, we do not need to eat a scroll to have the Word of God put in us. In Day by Day Through the Bible, we are working through the Word of God. Stay in the Scriptures. Consume the Word of God, so it is what comes out of your mouth. May the Word of God be sweet in your mouth, like honey. Psalm 119:103 says, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Lastly, someday there will be no more delay. These things will happen. Will you be ready?
Prayer
Father, we thank You for the prophets, both in the Old Testament and in the New. We thank You there are no surprises if we just spend time in Your Word. You are a God of order. You are a God of love. You are a God of compassion. You are a God with a plan. You have revealed Your plan through Your prophets to mankind. There are no surprises.
Thank You for loving us enough You wrote it all down in a book, not a little scroll, but a book we hold in our hands today called the Bible. Thank You for loving us enough to share it with us and thank You for loving us enough You are unfolding Your plan today and into the future. May we be ready. In Jesus’ name, amen.
