The Astonishing Command: Why God Ordered Ezekiel to Eat a Scroll? 🤔

The Sweet and Bitter Truth: Why John Had to Digest the Message 📜

Have you ever received news that was so wonderful it made you cry, yet so heavy it made your stomach turn?

Maybe it was a diagnosis that finally explained your pain but promised a long, difficult road to recovery. Or perhaps it was a calling that thrilled your soul but terrified your flesh. Truth is often bittersweet.

In Revelation 10, the Apostle John is an old man, exiled on the rocky island of Patmos. He has seen visions of dragons, beasts, and falling stars. But suddenly, the scene shifts. A Mighty Angel descends from Heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head.

He holds a “little book” (a small scroll) open in his hand.

John expects to write down what he sees. Instead, a voice from Heaven commands him: “Go and take the little book… Take it, and eat it up.”

Why did the prophet have to eat the scroll?

It wasn’t a strange dietary test. It was a profound lesson on what it means to carry God’s truth. You cannot just observe the prophecy; you must digest it. And when you do, you will find that the Word of God is sweet to the taste but bitter to the belly.

Part I: The Theology of Digestion 🍽️

You Must Become the Message 🧠

Why eat it? Because a prophet cannot simply be a courier delivering a sealed envelope. A true messenger must internalize the message until it becomes part of their inner life and conviction.

“And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up…” —Revelation 10:10 (KJV)

This act signifies total assimilation. It isn’t enough to intellectually agree with Scripture; it must sustain you and fuel you.

Revelation 10 is intentionally echoing Ezekiel’s prophetic commissioning. Hundreds of years earlier, God gave the exact same command to Ezekiel: “Son of man… eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 3:1).

For more on this ancient parallel, read our deep dive on The Astonishing Command: Why God Ordered Ezekiel to Eat a Scroll.

Part II: The Mystery of the Aftertaste 🍬🤢

Sweet as Honey 🍯

“…and it was in my mouth sweet as honey…”

The first sensation is sweetness. Why? Because God’s Word is inherently good.

To the believer, the promises of God are “sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10). The sweetness likely reflects the goodness of God’s purposes—His justice, His victory, and the certainty of Christ’s reign. Even when God speaks of judgment, there is a sweetness in knowing that He is sovereign and His will is perfect.

Bitter in the Belly 🤢

“…and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.”

Why the bitterness? Because the scroll contained judgment.

John realized that the victory of Christ meant the destruction of the wicked. It meant plagues, woe, and the final separation of humanity.

• You cannot rejoice in the Flood without grieving for the drowning world.
• You cannot preach Hell without a heavy heart.

The bitterness reflects not discomfort with God’s justice, but grief over human rebellion. A true man or woman of God does not gloat over judgment; it churns their stomach. It is the “burden of the Lord.”

For context on the angel who delivered this scroll, see The Hidden Meaning Behind the Angel Standing on the Sea and the Land.

Part III: 3 Common Misconceptions About the Scroll 💡

Misconception 1: It was a literal paper snack.

• Correction: Revelation 1:10 shows John was “in the Spirit.” Therefore, the act of eating is symbolic within a prophetic vision, similar to Ezekiel’s experience. It represents spiritual reception, not physical consumption.

Misconception 2: The bitterness meant John rejected the message.

• Correction: The bitterness wasn’t rejection; it was empathy. It meant John understood the gravity of the “Woe” he was about to prophesy. It is possible to love God’s justice (sweet) while mourning the necessary suffering it causes (bitter).

Misconception 3: This was the Book of Life.

• Correction: The “little book” (biblaridion) is distinct. While the exact contents are not explicitly stated, it is often understood as a portion of the revelations concerning the judgments yet to come—specifically the events leading up to the Seventh Trumpet.

Conclusion: The Diet of the Believer 🌟

Why did the prophet eat the scroll? To show us that we cannot pick and choose the parts of the Bible we like.

We love the “honey” verses—grace, love, and heaven. But we often spit out the “bitter” verses—judgment, holiness, and self-denial.

But to be healthy, we must eat the whole scroll. We must find sweetness in God’s authority, even when His plan involves difficult things. We must let the Word change us from the inside out.

Reflection: Are you only tasting the honey of the Gospel, or are you willing to digest the difficult truths that lead to true maturity?