The Taste of Gospel Truth: Honey in the Mouth and Bitterness in the Stomach - Glorious Hope | Studies in Revelation

As I said before, I read the passage for us this evening, we're

almost halfway through our study in the Book of Revelation as

we come to chapter 10.

And in chapter 10, we have another pause.

And we should now be familiar with these pauses in Revelation,

because they're here, because in the space that's given to us,

God is revealing something to us beyond what has just been explained

so that we can know more about the last days in which we live.

And as we read through Revelation, we will see that there

is a bit of repetition.

And at times we see the same thing being revealed to us only from

another perspective.

And after John's initial visions of heaven, the throne room,

and the Lamb, he then saw the Lamb open the seven seals because

the Lamb was the only one who could.

And the Lamb, of course, is the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

And the opening of these seven seals brought about something that

God was making known about these last days.

And moving on from the seven seals, we then hear the seven trumpets

being blown.

And these trumpets announce judgment.

And then three woes on humanity.

And here's a reminder of what we've been looking at.

There you have the trumpets 1 to 7.

Trumpet 1 looks at the earth with heel, fire and blood on the

land as demonstration of punishment on the land.

Then trumpet two turns to the seas, the burning mountain thrown

into the heart of the sea, something that was reflected in the

Psalms, Psalm 121.

Then we see the rivers and springs, very much what was seen

as the life source for all humanity.

And a burning star falls in rivers and springs, and then the

sky.

So all of the elements being used as examples of punishment.

The sky, sun, moon and stars darkened.

And as we saw this morning, we know that darkness is often a sign

of God's punishment and judgment on humanity.

Then there was a pause as we come to the fifth trumpet and the

first woe, where demons from the abyss were unleashed.

And then the second row, second woe, demons from the east,

coming across what was the extent of not only Israel's boundary,

but the boundary of the Roman Empire, the context in which John

is writing and seeing this vision.

So here we have this apocalyptic image, picture given

for us, of what the punishment will be on those who reject the call

to salvation of the risen Lord Jesus.

Now, it's a wee while yet.

It'll be a couple of weeks yet before we get to trumpet seven and

the third woe, which is the kingdom come.

And we actually learn something about it this evening,

because when the seven seals were opened, there were intervals

or breaks in the opening of them to pause, as I've said, so that

more detail could be given about the response of God's people

to what he's telling them.

Well, we now have this longer pause between the sounding of the

sixth trumpet and the seventh trumpet.

And John's attention is drawn to someone new.

He sees a mighty angel coming down from heaven.

And the blowing of the six trumpets have led up to the moment

of final judgment.

But here in chapter 10, a pause has been put on the drama as

John sees this mighty angel coming towards him.

And the angel is described quite literally in glorious terms.

He is wrapped in a cloud, which is often described as God's

presence, such as when he went before the children of Israel in

the wilderness and as demonstrated in his glory coming

into the temple.

And so we understand this angel to be an emissary or an ambassador

of the Lord.

Now, the next thing that describes this mighty angel we've

seen before because there's a rainbow over his head.

We've seen a rainbow over the throne of God.

So this is not a new image to heaven.

And the rainbow over his head now signifies to us God's presence,

but also God's authority and whatever message he will bring.

And again, we've seen this in chapter four, verse three.

But we're also told now that the angel's face shines with the

sun.

Should that remind us of anything that we've already seen

in Scripture?

Well, I hope it would point us to Matthew 17:2 of When Jesus face

Matthew 17:2

shone with the glory of God.

And then the final description is that his feet are pillars of fire.

We've already known of what feet are like, because in Revelation

Revelation 1:15

1, verse 15, the feet of Jesus are described as burnished bronze.

Now, this angel isn't Jesus.

Even though there are similarities to the description.

The angel is not the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

The angel, as Scripture says, is an angel.

And nowhere else in Scripture is Jesus referred to as an angel.

Remember, angels are lesser beings even than humanity, as Scripture

tells us.

But yet we have images that are given upon this angel that should

remind us of the work and point us to the importance of the

task that he has.

And so, as this angel descends, John notices something

and he describes it for us in verse two.

And he says he had a little scroll open in his hand, and he set

his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.

Now, this little scroll isn't sealed, it's open.

Therefore, it can be taken and it can be read.

But in his hand is an announcement that when the seventh

trumpet is sounded.

Verse seven tells us the mystery of God would be fulfilled,

just as he announced to his servants, the prophets.

Now, we'll look at that in more detail whenever we get to verse

seven.

But here in verse two, we're told of the standing posture of this

mighty angel.

His right foot is on the sea and his left foot is on the land.

And so this tells us that, as we've seen in Daniel, this angel

is larger than life.

And John perceives the angel's message is for the entire world,

those who live on the land and those who sail on the seas, or perhaps,

perhaps live beyond the seas.

And so we here, we have a message that is to encompass everyone

on the earth.

But it's not just about how the angel looks.

It's also about how he sounds.

And the angel roars like a lion.

And again, this is nothing new in Scripture, because when the Lord

roars, He judges those he roars against, as we see in Joel

the chapter 3 and verse 16.

Because here Joel's recording for us the Lord's judgment on the

nations.

And we're told that the Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice

from Jerusalem.

What happens when he roars his voice of judgment with the heavens

and the earth quake?

But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people

of Israel.

And what we're beginning to see, as Joel helps us here, is the

response that is demanded.

This judgment is led before us of what is to come.

It should be one of fear to those who don't know Christ.

And for those who do, it should be one as known, of refuge

for the constant love and care of the Savior.

So again, in this section of Revelation, we see that the angel

is God's agent, roaring in his behalf.

And so the shouting of the angel resounds.

And from that resonance of what he says, The seven thunders

also peal.

And the seven thunders remind us of Psalm 29, where a thunderous

storm sweeps the land.

When the Lord thunders, He judges those opposed to him, or he

shows his awesome holiness.

And here in Revelation, the final judgment is accompanied by

by thunder.

And we've already seen this in chapter 8 as it was described there.

But we'll see it again as it's repeated in chapter 11 and 16 and

19.

And as the number seven is symbolic, the seven thunders probably

depict a full revelation of God's majesty, but also God's wrath.

He is roaring his judgment, and in his judgment both must be

seen his majesty and his wrath.

So that Indeed, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess

that Jesus is Lord.

But as John goes to write down what he sees, because after all,

that's what he's been commanded to do.

He's told this in verse four.

So we've been told that the seven thunders have sounded.

And as I was about to go and write it down, says John, I heard

a voice from heaven saying, seal up what the seven thunders have

said and do not write it down.

Now, we've seen seals before, and it's in Revelation, but the last

time it was the seals being opened.

The seals opened something that had been closed.

And because it was closed then, it was unknown to humanity.

And so, just as those seven seals were opened and it was revealed

to humanity, now whatever John sees in this moment, he is told to

seal it so that humanity won't know it.

So John is to seal up this message.

The contrast should be seen for us because John is told at the

conclusion of Revelation not to seal up the message, for the end

is imminent, and that's recorded for us in Revelation 22:10.

Revelation 22:10

And in this respect, the sealing of the seven thunders echoes

the command to Daniel to seal up what he had written, since it

related to the end of time.

And But Revelation as a whole must be distinguished from Daniel,

because chapter or since chapter one and verse three tells

us that the time is near.

And so the message is revealed to John's generation.

But the message of the seven thunders is similar to the message

given to Daniel, because the readers, that's us, are left in the

dark as to what its contents are.

In other words, the fullness of what is to come at the end is

still concealed and still hidden from believers.

Not everything is disclosed to us.

Surprises still await as history draws to a close.

So with John now having heard and been told to seal it up, we now

come into verses 5 and 7 to see the angel raising his right hand.

And of course, this image automatically transports us not just

to our day, but to what we know the legal system to be.

You put your right hand up and you swear you in the name of God.

And that's what this angel is doing.

Not because it's following something of our legal process, but

because this is what the angel is commanded to do.

He raises his right hand to heaven, and he swears by the God

who made all things, heaven and earth and sea.

And as the creator of all things, God rules and reigns over

all.

And so the angel declares, standing in truth, that the time

of delay over going back to Daniel the angel in Daniel's day

lifted up his hand to heaven and swore that there was still a

significant delay before the end.

But here, now, in Revelation, the angel declares that the end has

arrived.

In verse 7, the angel plainly tells us that the time of the old

creation has ended.

And the new creation, prophesied in Revelation 21:1 through

Revelation 21:1

through to Revelation 22:5, is at hand.

Revelation 22:5

The sounding of the seventh trumpet by the seventh angel will

wrap up history as we know it, and God's mystery will be fulfilled.

Look at what we're told in verse seven.

But that in the days of the trumpet called to be sounded by the

seventh angel, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, just as he

announced to his servants, the prophets.

So what is this mystery?

Well, this is a mystery that is in both the Old and New Testament

prophets that they wrote about.

And it is a mystery of the way in which God's promise to Abraham,

that covenant promise that in him all the nations would be blessed

in Genesis 18:18, would be fulfilled.

Genesis 18:18

It's the mystery that Paul described in Ephesians 1, verses

Ephesians 1:9–10

9 to 10.

God making known to us the mystery of his will according to

his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the

fullness of time to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven

and things on earth in him.

See, ultimately, what's going to be revealed is the mystery of

the Gospel.

John underscores that the seventh trumpet is the end of this

present evil age.

And the conclusion, all things sums up divine mysteries and fulfills

all, all of God's prophecies.

The heavenly voice addresses John again in verse 8, instructing

him to now take the scroll from the angel standing with one

foot in the sea and one foot on the land.

And when John takes the scroll, he's instructed to do the

most silly of things, and that is to eat it.

I knew a man who never liked bills, and this was the day before

shredders.

And what he would do is he would simply take the bill, tear

it up and eat it.

Bizarre and no relation.

Why on earth would John eat a screw?

Well, look at what's there in verse nine for us.

So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll.

And he said to me, take it.

Take and eat.

Will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet

as honey.

Now, I imagine we all have our dislikes and likes when it comes

to food.

As a child, I would never eat eggs.

My grandmothers and my mother came up with a trick to try and get

eggs into my diet.

They made something that they called Special Recipe.

And Special recipe was made from creamed potatoes with plenty

of butter.

They would drop in an egg, mix it all up, and then smothered in

tomato ketchup.

And that was how they got an egg into me.

As a child, I loved Special Recipe, and I didn't even know there

was an egg in it.

But to this day, I'm still not a fan of eggs.

I don't like their texture, and there's nothing turns me more

my stomach more than an egg yolk.

Oh, I can't think of anything worse.

Give me a scrambled egg, give me an omelette, but no fried and

no boiled.

But I know that eggs are good for me, and so I do my best to eat

them.

And it was a real problem for me in Malawi because everywhere you

went, they offered you a fried egg.

And so the prayer would be, lord, I'll get it down, you keep

it down.

I just don't like eggs, but I know they're good.

And I think you're probably the same.

Maybe not with eggs, but you know, there are things that you need

to eat or drink that will be good for you, but they don't necessarily

taste the best or you don't like them.

And John is told to eat this scroll because it will be a mixture

of what is good, but also what we don't like.

It will taste like honey in the mouse, but it will be bitter

in his stomach.

And again, this is nothing new.

We have seen this already because John's eating of the scroll

echoes Ezekiel, who God commands to eat the scroll given

to him in Ezekiel too.

And similarly, Jeremiah says in 15:16, your words were found,

and I ate them.

And your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart,

for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.

So this is something God has asked his prophets to do before.

But this time it's different, because John's taking and eating

the scrolls signifies his prophetic ministry.

And as the Church proclaims John's message, it shares in this

prophetic ministry, because eating the scroll will make John's

mouth sweet like honey.

In other words, the word of God is good for us, just as honey

is and just as how well it tastes.

It's good for us because it tells us the right and proper way

to know salvation through Jesus Christ.

This is what makes it sweet.

This is good news.

And the good news of the gospel should be a sweet taste for

us all.

But you see, the sweet taste doesn't last.

Because eating the scroll gives John a stomach ache, because

it is also a word of judgment.

We need to be aware that as much as the word of God is good news,

it is also a warning of his judgment on those who reject him.

And this is the reality of the gospel for those who believe is pure

joy, it is pure honey, it is pure sweetness and pure delight.

But it comes with a contrast, because the gospel is to be received.

And if it's not received, then it's automatically rejected.

And in its rejection, it becomes blood.

Better, because it forces us to consider the judgment, you see,

and what John's to do with this is what we're told.

In verse 11, John says, I was told you must again prophesy about

many peoples and nations and languages and kings.

You see, the significance of eating the scroll is now communicated

to John.

Not only is it for him to recall the goodness of the gospel,

but just the the judgment that it brings on people who reject it.

The verb here is actually plural, because they said to me,

perhaps to represent the words of the prophets that John has ingested,

but as the contents of the scroll makes it to John's stomach,

it made it ache, indicating that indeed, judgment is coming.

And in verse 11, the meaning of eating the scroll is explained

further, because just as we've said, Ezekiel eats the scroll before

he prophesies in chapter two.

So here John's eating of the scroll means he must prophesy against

peoples, against nations, against languages, and against many

kings.

The word must indicates that John's prophetic ministry and the

prophetic ministry of the church is a divine necessity.

And we gain further insight into this interlude between the sixth

and seventh trumpets, because the seventh trumpet signals the end

of the old creation, as we've already said.

But there is more to be said in the following chapters about the

course of history before that moment.

So, while there is yet still time, but the day is near, this message

is to be proclaimed, because in particular, as we'll see, John

will pull back the curtain of the activity of Satan and the beast

before the time of the end, and on the rule of Rome, the great

Babylon.

And what John emphasizes here then for us is the judgment is to

be imposed on nations, tongues, peoples and kings.

So this eating of the scroll isn't just a simple little anecdote.

This is deep meaning for John that he now communicates to us of

what the truth of the Gospel is.

And so, as we think in conclusion about what John reveals

to us in chapter 10, we might compare John's situation to that

of a cricket supporter.

I don't know if you're a fan of cricket, but maybe you can imagine

yourself watching the final of a Test match at Lord's.

Imagine John is absorbed in the drama of the game that's been

played out on the pitch and field in front of him.

He knows that in this Test match, the outcome will decide the

series for whoever will win and whoever will lose.

Then, at a critical moment when everything is finely balanced,

the captain leaves the field, walks into the pavilion and calls

John by name.

And John is to come out of the stands, put on his pads and bat in

the decisive session.

See, this is the force of the angel's message for the apostle,

but it's also the force of the angel's message, as now communicated

through John to us, Christ's people.

We're not merely spectators in the pavilion, nor are we beneficiaries

of God's saving work.

Just as a cricket fan may enjoy every batting that takes place,

we are to receive the word of salvation that John has received,

purchased by the blood of Christ and ordained by the eternal

will of the Father.

And we are to take our place in proclaiming it to the world.

Now, this commission doesn't mean that God has set aside his sovereignty

or that Christians have replaced Christ's lordship over all

affairs.

Rather, the point is that God's sovereign plan calls for the

decisive witness of his message to be given by sinners saved

by grace to other sinners needing to be saved by grace.

Even though we may be persecuted by the very people whom

we are seeking to save, our calling is to be witnesses to the

Gospel for the ingathering of all who will believe.

We must therefore first receive the Gospel as the glorified

Christ's own word.

If I were to give you the scroll that John was given and you

were to eat it, would it be the honey sweetness in the mouth

or would it go straight to the stomach with bitterness?

You see, there is a call.

And this call is to receive the Gospel as the glorified Christ's

own word, to believe it as true that he is the only way of salvation.

And this is what you must know tonight.

Otherwise your stomach ache will never end and it will be with

you for all eternity in the pains and pangs of eternal death.

This is what we're talking about.

It is truly life and death.

And so a response to Jesus demands that we must believe that

the Gospel is his very word, that it is true, and you must believe

it for salvation.

Will you receive it and will you know that sweetness of the Gospel

as honey in the mouth, as you know and trust in Jesus.

Second, we need to be assured of its certain fulfillment because

we must hold fast to God's Word without compromise.

The end is near, we're told in Revelation.

Therefore we stand firm, as Peter tells us, as the devil prowls

around like a roaring lion, waiting on whom he may devour.

But the roar of the lion that's described as the devil is

not the roar that God gives.

His roar is one of enticing, of lulling you, of trying to pull

you away from Christ.

And so we must hold fast to God's Word without compromise, standing

on the truths that we know, that we believe.

Even though society may say we are wrong, we stand firm in Christ

that we will not be taken away by the devil.

Third, we must fulfill the commission to proclaim God's judgment

and salvation to many peoples and nations and languages and Kings,

as verse 11 tells us, knowing that in this way, despite persecution,

we will know the complete glory of Christ.

And that's what Paul tells us in Romans 8:37.

Romans 8:37

He assures us that in all these things we are more than conquerors

through him who loved us.

You see, our call is to be witnesses to the gospel that witnesses

for the Gospel, so that we will know the ingathering of all

who will believe.

We must first know and receive the Gospel as the glorified Christ's

own words.

Secondly, we must be assured of its certain fulfillment and thereby

hold fast to God's word without compromise.

And third, we must fulfill the commission to proclaim God's judgment

and salvation to the peoples and nations and languages and kings

of this earth.

This is our commission.

This is what we have been called to do, so that as we were

thinking this morning, we will see the hard hearted pharaohs crumble

as they come to living faith in Jesus Christ.

But it's a message that we must know is for each of us so that

we can be sure tonight that we have glorious hope as painted for

us here in these great images of revelation, that there is a day

when Christ is returning.

As the seventh trumpet sounds, the judgment will come and those

who belong to him will pass through the judgment and into eternal

life.

And those who do not receive him, who have not received him, even

though there is opportunity now in this moment, will go through

the judgment and will face the punishment that they deserve for

their sins.

Please don't let that be you.

Come to Jesus.

Trust in him that His Word is true, that his word will be fulfilled

and that indeed there is judgment that it will be brought

upon many peoples and nations and languages and kings but not to

the people of God because in all these things we are more than

conquerors through him who loved us.

Let us pray.

Our Father God, we thank you for your word.

We thank you for its truth.

We thank you that as John receives it we have this image of

it being sweet as honey but yet as bitter in our stomachs because

of its message.

Its message of glorious hope in Christ but also that message of

judgment and wrath for those who reject.

So Father, may we be very aware of who we are before you.

May we be aware of the salvation that is on offer to us

and if we know it may we be assured in it and may we know all

its goodness and its truth for us.

So help us to stand firm in Christ and none other and to stand

firm in his Word and his Word alone.

And we ask these things in Jesus name.

Amen.