Revelation Part 43

In Revelation 10:8–10, John is commanded to take the little book from the angel's hand and eat it. The book is sweet as honey in his mouth, but after he eats it, his stomach becomes bitter. John takes the book, eats it, internalizes its message, and then continues recording what he has been shown.

The idea of eating God's words appears elsewhere in Scripture. Psalm 19:10 describes God's words as sweeter than honey. Jeremiah 15:16 says,

"Your words were found, and I ate them,"

and Ezekiel 3:1–3 records a similar experience in which Ezekiel is commanded to eat a scroll containing God's message. The words are sweet because God's truth is good, His promises are sure, and His ultimate purpose is righteous.

Yet the message also becomes bitter. Ezekiel was sent to the house of Israel, a people described as impudent and hard-hearted. He was told that the people might not receive his message openly. He would need strength to continue delivering God's warning. The same principle appears in Revelation. The message of God's coming kingdom is sweet because it promises the defeat of Satan, the end of sin's dominion, and the establishment of righteous government. But the path leading to that outcome involves painful judgment.

This is why Revelation's message is bittersweet. We long for Christ to return, but the process leading to His return will be difficult. We look forward to the outcome, but the events in between will be painful and messy. Satan will be restrained eventually, but before that happens, he will continue fighting and will deceive and destroy as many as he can. The ungodly will be judged, and that judgment may include people we know and love. There are descriptions of weeping and gnashing of teeth in the Bible that remind us that judgment is not something to celebrate casually.

At the same time, sin's dominion will be broken. Evil will not continue forever. The godless will be judged, and those who remain faithful to God will be rewarded. The bitterness of judgment must be understood alongside the sweetness of God's ultimate purpose.

Revelation 10 reminds us that we are moving toward the completion of God's plan. The seventh trumpet is approaching. There will be no more indefinite delay, and the mystery of God will be brought toward its fulfillment. We do not know every detail, and God has deliberately withheld some information from us, but we know enough to understand where the story is going.

We pray for these days to come because we look forward to what God's plan will accomplish. We look forward to the fulfillment represented by the coming Holy Days, the return of Jesus Christ, the removal of Satan's influence, and the coming reign of Christ. We look forward to a time when God's righteous government will bring peace to the earth.

At the same time, we should be saddened by the judgment that must occur between now and then. Knowing what is coming should strengthen our resolve to live faithfully now. Jesus said in Matthew 5:16 that we should let our light shine before others. Titus 2 reminds us of the importance of setting an example and teaching the next generation how to live according to God's way.

2 Corinthians 5:20 gives us another important responsibility. We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us. We therefore implore others on Christ's behalf to be reconciled to God. The knowledge of the coming judgment should not make us feel superior to others. It should motivate us to live faithfully, to let our light shine, and to point others toward reconciliation with God while there is still time.

Revelation 10 is therefore both a warning and an encouragement. The events are moving forward. God's judgment is certain, but so are His promises. The mystery of His plan will be completed, Christ will return, Satan's influence will end, and God's kingdom will prevail. Until then, we have a responsibility to internalize God's Word, live according to it, and serve as faithful ambassadors for Christ, encouraging others to turn toward God and be reconciled to Him.

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org  

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.