Scripture Reading: Revelation 10:1-11
The context of this chapter is the interlude between the sounding of the sixth trumpet … in chapter 9 … and the sounding of the seventh trumpet … in the middle of chapter 11.
As there was an interlude between the breaking and opening of the sixth and the seventh seals … Revelation 7 … so there is an interlude between the sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpets. These interludes have a literary function, at least, for the readers of this book … as they contemplate what has taken place … and anticipate what is coming in the unfolding of God's furious and glorious designs.
A glorious, mighty angel appears in John's vision … roaring like a lion, with repeated thunders resulting from his voice. In his hand he has a 'little scroll.' The contents of this little scroll are not explicitly described, but what appears in chapters 10 and 11 give us some idea, as John and the two witnesses of chapter 11, are called on to prophesy to the nations.
John is commanded to 'take and eat' the scroll. It is sweet in his mouth, but bitter in his stomach. God's offer of eternal life is sweet 'good news' to the perishing. But it becomes bitterness to those who reject God's mercy.
Indeed, the Word of God is sweet to those who hear it with their ears and receive it in their hearts (Ezek 3:10). Let us strive to increasingly satisfy the longings of our hungry hearts with the bread of life.
