November 15, 2023 | Be On Mission
The Little Scroll
Scripture: Revelation 10(NIV)
1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.”
5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.”
8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is 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.’” 10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.”
Devotional
In previous chapters, Jesus the Lamb of God opened six seals revealing the contents of the scrolls. In chapter 8, He opened the seventh seal, but the content of that scroll was not disclosed. After the sounding of six trumpets declaring the judgments of God, a scroll is once again front and center. Could Revelation 10 be that same scroll that was previously laid open by Jesus?
This mighty angel could be Jesus Himself, holding the scroll that only He was worthy to unseal. He had one foot on the sea, symbolizing the Gentile people of the earth. His other foot was planted on land, an important symbol for the Jewish people. This message was intended for all humanity!
While the contents of the scroll were not allowed to be written down by John, he was required to eat it. This is a clear reference to Ezekiel 3, where the prophet was told to eat a scroll that was sweet as honey, then to prophesy to the hard-hearted, rebellious people living in exile. They would not listen to him. Now, nearly 700 years later, John is called to take the same action, speaking words of prophesy to people all over the world.
All too often, we hear prophetic words straight from God’s Holy Scripture, only to reject or rationalize or reword them to our own liking. Consider this deeply. Hebrews 4:12-13 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
How do you view the Bible? Is it a history book about people in the past? Is it a guide book for living a better life in the present? Is it a vision book for better understanding the future? Or is it all of those and much more?
As we interact with the Bible, we should allow it to shape our worldview and transform our lifestyle. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says it well: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Poem
The Taste Of God’s Word
God’s Word of comfort
Honey sweet
By it our strife
Falls in defeat
When breath of God
Creation brings
Order returns
And soul does sing
But in the end times
Verdict dour
The Word of God
Turns stomach sour
When prophesy
Full judgment brings
Chaos returns
God’s wrath will sling
