Revelation 10 / “Eat the Scroll”
The Mighty Angel - Verses 1-3
In Revelation 10:1-3, John paints a vivid picture of a mighty angel coming down from heaven. This angel is dressed in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, a face shining like the sun, and legs like fiery pillars. This image is packed with references that would have been familiar to John’s audience.
The angel being “robed in a cloud” brings to mind Jesus’ ascension and also Christ in Revelation 1:7. The rainbow reminds us of God’s promise to Noah, symbolizing His commitment to never abandon humanity. The angel’s face, “like the sun,” connects to the description of the “son of man” in Revelation 1:16 and to Moses, whose face shone after being in God’s presence (Exodus 34:29-35). The angel’s legs, described as “fiery pillars,” remind us of God guiding the Israelites through the desert.
Holding a small open scroll, he plants one foot on the sea and the other on the land, and roars like a lion, John places this figure in Heaven, Earth, and Sea, showing divine authority over all three realms of existence in the ancient world; the Realm of Rome’s gods, earthly rulers, and even the abyss, where Satan and his demons are believed to dwell. This imagery underscores God’s omnipresence and supreme power. John is pointing to a God who is always at work, moving history forward and bringing His future into our present.
Eating the Scroll - Verses 9-11
In Revelation 10:9-11, John approaches the angel to receive the little scroll. The angel tells him to eat it, warning that while it will taste sweet like honey, it will make his stomach sour. John eats the scroll, finding it sweet but also experiencing its bitterness, and is then told to prophesy again to many peoples.
This metaphor of eating the scroll would be familiar to ancient Jewish readers. It means internalizing God’s word, not just reading it but letting it become part of you. Psalm 19:9-10 and Psalm 119:103 talk about God’s laws being sweeter than honey, and Proverbs 16:24 likens gracious words to honeycomb, sweet and health-giving. Ezekiel 3:3 is likely the specific passage John has in mind, where the prophet eats a scroll that tastes like honey.
N.T. Wright says “Eating the scroll is a vivid metaphor for the way in which the prophet, then or indeed today, can only speak Gods word insofar as it has become part of the prophets own life.” It means letting God’s word transform us from within, making it a part of who we are. This transformation is both sweet and bitter, embodying the full Christian journey: cross and resurrection, love and suffering, being filled up and being poured out.
By combining these two movements, John calls us to move from knowing about Jesus to embodying Christ. It’s a call to a life that is both sweet and bitter, but ultimately guided by the transformative power of God’s word.
Discussion Questions:
How does the imagery of the mighty angel in Revelation 10:1-3 help us understand God’s presence and authority?
What might the difference be between reading the scroll and eating the scroll in the modern Christian life?
Can you think of a time when you saw the difference displayed before you, either in your own life, or in the life of others?
What sorts of spiritual disciplines can help us internalized the life of Christ, instead of merely externalizing it upon others?
How does the mix of sweetness and bitterness in John’s vision reflect the ups and downs of the Christian journey?