Revelation 10

Daily Devotion in Revelation 10

Artwork from a 1611 KJV

Daily Nugget:
After the catastrophes resulting from the blowing of the sixth trumpet, a curious event occurs in Revelation 10. A little book was taken from Heaven to Earth by an “angel.”

There are many ideas of whom that “angel” will be. Many believe it to be Jesus. Here are some of the reasons:

If you believe the “angel” that Moses met at the burning bush (Exodus 3:2) to be the pre-incarnate Christ, then that was at least one instance that Jesus was referred to as an angel.
No other angel in the Bible has ever been described as this “angel” was in Revelation 10:1-4.
Many of the descriptions of this “angel” sound like words used to refer to Jesus in other scriptures. These include: “lion,” other words describing His brilliant appearance (Revelation 10:1), and His speech (Revelation 10:3-4).
The angel will have in his hand an opened book (Revelation 10: 2). Since Jesus will have previously opened the book's seals in Heaven, the book would now be open. It makes sense that it will be that book that was brought to Earth by Jesus.

Whoever the “angel” will be, John will request the book. The angel told John to take it and eat it. When John did so, the pages were sweet to his taste but bitter in his belly (Revelation 10:9-10).

Whatever this book will be, it had a similar reaction to John’s “eating” it that many have today with the Word of God. It may sound “sweet” in certain passages when the application is not directed to the reader. However, when the Word of God is taken personally and applied to one’s life, it can convict one of shortcomings and sin. When one is under conviction by the Holy Spirit, it will indeed be “bitter” to their stomach.

Today’s Thought:
“What does the Word of God taste like to you: bitter or sweet?”

Today’s Reading:
Revelation 10
1 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:
2 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,
3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
4 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.
5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
6 And sware by him that liveth 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:
7 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 hath declared to his servants the prophets.
8 ¶ And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
9 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.
10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.