Read Revelation 10:1–11
At this point, we are about halfway through Revelation. We have seen glory and judgment, comfort and pain, and we will continue to see them throughout the rest of the book. Before we resume the dramatic events of world history, Chapter 10 takes us to a sidebar or interlude. An angel pulls John aside and addresses him directly to remind him about the nature and importance of his work. This also serves as a reminder to us, the
audience, of what the book of Revelation is all about. So, what is it all about?
Revelation is about God’s glory in salvation through judgment. It is about the confidence we can have in the restoration of all things—the end of sin, death, and pain. That is a sweet and comforting message, so the scroll
John takes is “sweet as honey” in his mouth. But how do we get to that beautiful restoration of all things? We
get there through the judgment of all God’s enemies, the turmoil of world history, and the temporary suffering of God’s people. So the scroll is not only sweet but also “bitter in [his] stomach.” When the angel tells John that
he must again speak about all these things, John must not focus on just the happy and “easy” parts of God’s Word. He also has to speak about the hard things, the things people do not want to hear. The good and the hard, the encouraging and the convicting, are all part of the same scroll. You cannot truly say one without the other. This juxtaposition is what Revelation is about: both the glory of God in salvation and the judgment of all sin.
At this point, you might be thinking, “That’s great for John, but what does this have to do with me? I’m not a prophet—I don’t prophesy.” Actually, if you have told someone else about God, then in a sense, you have prophesied. Prophecy is not about looking into the future and predicting what the powerball will be on Tuesday. It is about declaring God’s Word to people. So when you talk to someone about God, embrace both the bitter and the sweet. Talk about the beauty of following Him and the bitterness of life and eternity without Him.
