8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the small scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel standing on the sea and on the land.”

9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but ‘in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.’”

11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”

— Revelation 10:8-9, 11

But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

— Matthew 4:4

Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became my joy and my heart’s delight. For I bear Your name, O LORD God of Hosts.

— Jeremiah 15:16

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God

— Romans 12:2

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, salvation and joy from Jesus Christ to you.

As we read Revelation, John’s apocalyptic visions continue through an interlude, in which he saw a mighty angel carrying a little scroll that he was instructed to eat it. The scroll tasted sweet but soured his stomach. God’s Word is food that satisfies our souls. While in the wilderness, Jesus turned away Satan with the words, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” King David found God’s words “sweeter than honey,” and Jeremiah said he ate God’s words and they were his joy and heart’s delight. God’s Word renews our minds so we increasingly love what God loves, including the world that does not know Him.

But why does the angel warn John the sweet-tasting scroll would sour his stomach? John was told to “prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” The scroll is God’s Word, which holds supernatural delight. However, the Bible reveals both comforting and difficult truths. As we regularly take God’s Word into our lives, we can experience hard words of truth spoken in love. God called John to prophesy His truth to people who would not obey to listen to the message of judgment contains in the scroll. God called John to make His revelation known with urgency, regardless of the response of the people, which is a difficult and heart-aching mission for John.