Revelation 10
Read Revelation 10 (WEB)+
1I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2He had in his hand a little open book. He set his right foot on the sea, and his left on the land. 3He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. 4When the seven thunders sounded, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from the sky saying, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders said, and don’t write them.” 5The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, 6and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, 7but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets. 8The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” 9I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. He said to me, “Take it, and eat it up. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” 10I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. 11They told me, “You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”
World English Bible (public domain)
“And I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, 'Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.'”
Revelation 10:9
Summary
In Revelation chapter 10, John witnesses a mighty angel descending from heaven, clothed with a cloud and a rainbow upon his head. This angel has one foot on the sea and the other on the land, symbolizing authority over both. In his hand, the angel holds a small, open scroll, indicating a message from God. As he calls out, seven thunders respond, but John is instructed not to write down what they said, highlighting the mystery of God's future actions. The angel then raises his hand to heaven, swearing by the eternal Creator, and declares that there will be no more delay in the fulfillment of God's mysteries. After this, John is told to take and eat the scroll from the angel's hand, which is sweet in his mouth but bitter in his stomach, symbolizing the joy and the trials of prophetic ministry. Ultimately, John is commissioned to continue prophesying about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.
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