Take and Eat the Little Book Revelation 10:9

As John the apostle continued to share about the “tribulation” that was to come upon the earth, he shared concerning the first six seals Jesus removed from the “scroll” in God's right hand. He wrote about what happened when Jesus, “had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets … And the seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound. The first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth angels” blew their trumpets, and great judgment fell upon the earth. John continued, “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, And swore by him that lives for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he has declared to his servants the prophets. And the voice which I heard from heaven spoke unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which stands upon the sea and upon the earth.” In chapter ten and verse nine of Revelation John shared how he “went unto the angel”, took “the little book” and was told to “take it, and eat it up” where we read:

And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

The verse reads, “And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book.” John began with the words, “and I went” which means “and John approached and came” “unto the angel” or “toward the messenger, envoy and one sent”, “and said” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto him” or “to the angel”, “give me” which means “bestow, grant, supply and furnish John with” “the little book” or “the small booklet”. John shared how he obeyed the “voice” in “heaven” and asked the “angel” for “the little booklet”.

The verse continues, “And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make your belly bitter, but it shall be in your mouth sweet as honey.” John added the words, “and he said” which means “and the messenger uttered, proclaimed and declared” “unto me” or “to John”, “take it” which means “lay hold of, claim, procure, seize and apprehend the small booklet”, “and eat it up” or “and devour and consume the small booklet”; “and it shall make” which means “the small booklet will grieve” “your belly” or “John's stomach, entire cavity, lower region or gullet” “bitter” or “exasperated, irritated, indignant and embittered”, “but” which means “nevertheless, notwithstanding, yes and moreover” “it shall be” or “the booklet will be” “in your mouth” which refers to “in John's orifice in his face used for utterance and words” “sweet” which means “fresh, sweet and not bitter” “as honey” or “like bees' honey”. John was told to “receive” the “small booklet”, “eat it” and the result would be to make his “belly” ache even though it would have a “sweet” taste.

When we consider John's words in this verse, we see further instruction given to John concerning this “little book” in the angel's hand. John was not only to “take” the booklet, but also to “devour” it. He was told how the “little booklet” would make him have a “stomach ache”, but would be “sweet like honey” in his mouth. This event will lead to more judgment carried out by God upon the earth, and God used this illustration to continue sharing with John. God is in control of everything, and even when things seems a little strange to us, He has a plan to carry out. God desires to have a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and those who are wise will understand, since God knows things such as what will happen with a “little booklet”, He certainly knows what will happen with His world.

Next time John shares how the ate the little book and it was, “sweet as honey:” and his “belly was bitter”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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