A stomach ache of a different magnitude. Towards the end of Revelation 10 the angel tells John to take the scroll from him and eat it. "Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey." (verse 9). There are a lot of things to think about here, so I'm going to throw some questions out and let's mull them over and talk about them.
First, what is this scroll or what does it represent? And, why is John asked to eat it? (Ezekiel is instructed to eat a scroll and deliver a message in Ezekiel 3. Reading the first few verses in that chapter may be helpful to you here.) Then, why do you think the scroll tasted sweet when John had it in his mouth but then became bitter in his stomach? How does this relate to John being commanded to "again prophesy about many people and nations and languages and kings"? I know, lots of questions and they're kind of tough. But that's part of the fun of P4 and learning together. Let's talk!! Tami W.
The sweet taste in the mouth and bitter in the stomach sounds symbolic. The sweet taste probably refers to the fact that God's word is good and true. The bitterness in the stomach probably refers to the fact that there will be people that will continue to refuse God's gift and will die because of their decision.
I'm still wondering about John having to eat the scroll and what its purpose was for that.
I think about the various scriptures that talk about eating this or that not pertaining to what we call food. Jesus spoke and told his disciples He had food they did not know about, He spoke about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. In all this it is very symbolic. The scroll, as I read it, is prophecy of what is to come. God's word is always sweet because it is truth and we receive a part of Him as we embrace it and taste of it. But as we begin to digest it, we devle into deeper truth and meaning; as of eating the flesh of Christ and drinking His blood, when we are new belivers, partaking of Christ and remembering what He did for us brings us joy as we understand that this is the road to adoption, but as we gain deeper truth, we learn the heart ache of it, the sacrifice, the ugliness of the world we left and the ugliness of our flesh and what sacrifice we must make in dieing to the world and our flesh on a daily basis.
That scroll must have tasted wonderful as I compare it to the coming of Christ and getting to be done with all this mess here on earth. But when I think about how wicked and evil this world is going to become before I get out of here, that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. Then I think about those who love God and the suffering that is to take place before they finally get to go Home, the brutality, the shame, the mayhem, things that would put a smile upon the face of Hitler, then that sweetness turns sour and makes me want to throw up. I wonder if it must have been similar to the beloved John and to Ezekiel.
The scroll to me represents Jesus
The sweetness is his Holy Spirit
The eating represent is my salvation, Repenting my sins and knowing that he is Lord.
The Bitterness represented His suffering for my sins.
And this should be deep within us so we can go out to evangelize and tell of his Goodness
Sorry, I'm a little behind on my bloggin due to serious work issues.
Anyway, To me the scroll represents the mystery of God, His love and character. John is asked to eat it so that he can understand it as much and completely as possible. It tasted sweet maybe symbolic of realizing God's love for us. It tasted bitter because we realize we missed the mark and sinned against God. Why were John and Ezekial asked to eat it- interesting to note that both of them were then told to go and prophecy about the things God had shown them. Just some thoughts.
The scroll is the hidden manna spoke of in Revelations.
Revelations means to Reveal. To reveal at a certian time.
It is Jesus who allows one to eat from this scroll.
It is sweet because of the excitment of what it reveals, but it is sour so see what has been taught and it make you sick at your stomah to see the the twisted word taught by man without knowledge.
The main thing is that it reveals who you are and what was hidden for your protection, remember He knew you before HE placed you in your mother's womb. It is for a certian time and the time is, now!
In these last days there is a word to go out through the Spirit who is Christ. The word is to release the mysteries of God. This word is a mystery and could not be release untill the set time. This word also reveals the enemy and shows him in a differnt way. The word says you will be utterly amazed.