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The little scroll

Sas123

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Hi I have been wondering what is the true significance of the eating of the little scroll by John in Revelation ? Why is it both sweet and bitter?
 
This is my understanding of Rev 10:7-11.


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. 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. 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. 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. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

The seventh angel is the one with the seventh trumpet and when he sounds the mystery of God or in other words all things of these revelations that are written in the little book will be finished as Jesus already told the Disciples in the outline of Matthew 24 that from Revelation Chapter 8:6 – 11:14 are the first six trumpets and at the sounding of the seventh trumpet will begin the 3 ½ year rain of the son of perdition on earth who is the last antichrist, 1 John 2:18, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12.

John is now told to take the little book from the angels hand and eat it. It was sweet in his mouth as in the glory of the Lord that will soon come for His Bride as they have received the promise of Gods blessings for obedience and have eternal life with the Father, Deuteronomy 28:1-14, Romans 6:23. After eating the book it was bitter in the belly as those who reject Jesus and repent not of their sin will face Gods final wrath poured out on them as they cling onto their devil worshiping giving honor and glory to their idols made of hands that are gods before them, Leviticus 26:1-46; Deuteronomy 27:11-26; 28:15-19.


 
After eating the book it was bitter in the belly as those who reject Jesus and repent not of their sin will face Gods final wrath poured out on them as they cling onto their devil worshiping giving honor and glory to their idols made of hands that are gods before them, Leviticus 26:1-46; Deuteronomy 27:11-26; 28:15-19.

You know, there is another interesting possibility, though it is purely conjecture on my part. The identity of the two witnesses is debated, but the meaning of the last verse could have meant that John was made to understand that he would be one of them, and again have to prophecy to peoples, nations, tongues and kings in the final days before His return, and suffer martyrdom for it. Some would say this contradicts the teaching that "it is given unto a man once to die," but a closer look reveals they don't actually stay dead for long, but arise after three days. If such "deaths" count as true deaths, it would throw the raising of the dead Jesus and Peter accomplished into question as well. And the next Chapter (Revelation 11) immediately follows with what the two witnesses actually do, suggesting it was all one extended teaching.

Thoughts?

2. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
 
You know, there is another interesting possibility, though it is purely conjecture on my part. The identity of the two witnesses is debated, but the meaning of the last verse could have meant that John was made to understand that he would be one of them, and again have to prophecy to peoples, nations, tongues and kings in the final days before His return, and suffer martyrdom for it. Some would say this contradicts the teaching that "it is given unto a man once to die," but a closer look reveals they don't actually stay dead for long, but arise after three days. If such "deaths" count as true deaths, it would throw the raising of the dead Jesus and Peter accomplished into question as well. And the next Chapter (Revelation 11) immediately follows with what the two witnesses actually do, suggesting it was all one extended teaching.

Thoughts?

2. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. 6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth.

11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.
I think throwing the two witnesses into the mix, even though Chapter 11 flows out from the end of chapter 10, I do not see it as having any relevance with the sweet and then the bitter of the little book, unless it is probably no doubt part of the little book in things which must come first, but revealed later.

We can see that the seven thunders that John was not allowed to write down, but to only know that after the seven thunders time will be no more. IMO, the seven thunders could be speaking of the seven trumpets sounding with the last one being time no longer. That could mean time no longer to repent and turn back to God for that is the time of the coming of Christ on the last day when we are then caught up to Him.
 
I agree that eating the scroll was likely an awareness but I think it’s more like understanding God and His plans truly and in depth.

Ezekiel also was told to eat a scroll at the beginning of his book and was given, like John, depth of understanding. I think it’s understanding.

The verse immediately following is:

11And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.” ESV

This was told to John, that he personally would be ministering beyond the fulfillment of the events he was about to see, to encourage him. After all, tasting sweet is a very personal experience, not a prophesy or teaching for others. So it was a promise to him, sweet but also contains sorrow.

So what John and Ezekiel learned was sweet on one hand but also opens the mind to understand the loss.
 
Hi I have been wondering what is the true significance of the eating of the little scroll by John in Revelation ? Why is it both sweet and bitter?
Great question maam, does this understanding sound logical: John’s experience is rather similar to that of the prophet Ezekiel during his exile in the land of Babylonia. He too was commanded to eat a scroll that tasted sweet in his mouth. But when it filled his stomach, it made him responsible to foretell bitter things for the rebellious house of Israel. (Ezekiel 2:8–3:15) The opened scroll that the glorified Jesus Christ gives to John is likewise a divine message. John is to preach regarding “peoples and nations and tongues and many kings.” To feed upon this scroll is sweet for him because it is from a divine source. (Compare Psalm 119:103; Jeremiah 15:15, 16.) But he finds it bitter to digest because—as previously with Ezekiel—it foretells unsavory things for rebellious humans.—Psalm 145:20.
 
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