Week 19: Sweet and Sour (Revelation 10)

vs. 1-7 Angel with a scroll Description of the angel This is NOT Jesus! Rainbow- covenant promise accompanies judgment Holding a ‘little’ scroll Option #1 of what the scroll is- unsealed scroll opened by the Lamb (Rev 6-8)

vs. 1-7 Angel with a scroll Seven thunders spoke There will be no more delay! The mystery of God will be accomplished

vs. 8-11 The Scroll “Take the scroll and eat it”

Ezekiel 2:9-3:4 9 Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, 10 which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe. 1 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the people of Israel.”

Ezekiel 2:9-3:4 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. 3 Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. 4 He then said to me: “Son of man, go now to the people of Israel and speak my words to them.

vs. 8-11 The Scroll “Take the scroll and eat it” Option #2 of what the scroll is- the Word of God, His gospel Psalm 119:103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

vs. 10 “It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.” The gospel is glorious and sweet But its proclamation is always followed by bitter persecution The first and second rider (Rev 6:2-4) Wherever the Gospel is preached there will be persecution

Matthew 10:34-39 34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword (machaira). 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother…’ … 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

vs. 10 “It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.” The meaning: John must not merely understand and digest the message of the gospel; he must experience both its sweetness and the suffering (taking up his cross), which is always for those who proclaim it