Revelation 10:8-11 meaning

John now will receive more prophecy in Revelation 10:8-11. So far in this chapter, after the destruction stemming from the blowing of the sixth trumpet, and before the sounding of the seventh trumpet, an angel descended holding a little book (Revelation 10:1-2). First, he cried out and the seven peals of thunder responded with words that John was instructed not to write down (Revelation 10:4). Then, he proclaimed on behalf of God that there would “be delay no longer” (Revelation 10:6).

Now, John is instructed to go take the book out of the hand of the angel:

Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” (vs. 8-9)

John has been given authority from the voice which he heard from heaven, or, the voice of God, to take the book out of the hand of the angel. This is in contrast to the book or scroll in Chapter 5, where no one was found worthy to open the scroll until Jesus, the Lamb, was found worthy (Revelation 5:4-5). With this book or scroll, John is instructed to eat it.

It would seem that the instruction to eat the book is symbolic of hearing and understanding. The initial admonition of Revelation 1:3 was for all of God’s servants, His people who have believed, to read, understand, and do the things written in this book. The picture of eating words would seem to represent reading and understanding. We will also see that John will do what he was asked, which is to prophesy to the peoples of the earth. The fact that we are reading and studying this prophecy two thousand years later is a testimony to John’s obedience.

The instruction to eat the book, which will make your stomach bitter, but your mouth sweet recalls a similar experience the prophet Ezekiel had, where he was given a scroll to eat and it was like honey:

“He says to me, ‘Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.’ Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth. Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them.’”
(Ezekial 3:3)

This is a repetition of that event but with an exception: although the words tasted sweet, John’s stomach turned bitter. 

I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter (v. 10).

We are told throughout the Psalms that the words of God are sweet like honey (Psalm 119:103, 19:10, 24:13-14). So it will be sweet for John to speak the words of God. However, even though it is sweet to know and speak the truth, it is still difficult to either go through or watch people go through the bitter consequences and judgment. The destruction is real, and it is bitter. God Himself does not enjoy seeing the wicked be judged, as this passage shows:

“‘Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked,’ declares the Lord GOD, ‘rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?’”
(Ezekiel 18:23).

It might be that part of what God is telling John is that though it will be amazing to gain this prophetic word and know that all things will be brought to an end, it will be bitter to contemplate what it means for suffering on the earth. Perhaps the eating of the book was symbolic of John getting a commission to prophesy by writing the book of Revelation and publish it to the churches at that time.

And they said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings” (vs. 10-11).

After both John and Ezekiel are given the scroll or book to eat, they are instructed to speak the words of the Lord, to prophesy. Sometimes the prophecy might contain words of judgement that are difficult to deliver or to hear.

The passage identifies who they refers to who speak to John. It would seem that John is given this command to prophesy again from both the mighty angel as well as the voice which I heard from heaven, which appears to be the voice of God. 

That John is told to prophesy again means that he has already prophesied before. To prophesy means to speak the word of God. Sometimes that word speaks of the present and sometimes it speaks of the future. It always speaks of what is true.

The book of Revelation is generally known as a book about the future. However, its emphasis is the present. Believers (My servants) are exhorted to be blessed by hearing, understanding, and keeping/doing (Revelation 1:3). The only time we can keep or do is in the present, which means that the prophecy of Revelation is present-focused.

The act to prophesy that John had already done could refer to a number of things. It could refer to his faithful testimony that resulted in his persecution, being exiled to the island of Patmos (Revelation 1:9). That testimony could also include his ministry as an apostle, as reflected in the three epistles he wrote: 1, 2, and 3 John.

Even though John has already been a faithful witness, his current reward was to be appointed to prophesy again. The typical reward for being a faithful and courageous witness appears to be receiving more opportunities to be a faithful witness. John is given that present reward.

The wicked and lazy servant in the Parable of the Talents noted that the master, who represented God, was prone to reward faithful service with more responsibility. The master in the parable acknowledged that this was the case. But He also made clear that the heavenly reward for faithful service was immense (Matthew 25:21). It is apparently so immense that God does not want those whom He loves to miss out on any bit (1 Corinthians 2:9).

John was likely a very old man when he gained this new commission. It seems God is never finished challenging His people to grow in their faith. John’s new prophetic ministry is concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings. The Greek word “epi” translated as concerning can also be translated as “before.”

It might be that John is being called to prophesy about things that will affect the entire world. We saw the mighty angel straddling the earth and sea and the judgments pouring out over the entire earth. The judgments of Revelation will not just be local but will concern many peoples and nations and tongues and kings (Revelation 10:11). This prophecy relates to a global event that will concern all peoples. 

The phrase could also mean that John’s prophetic ministry will circulate throughout and be communicated to the entire earth: to many peoples and nations and tongues and kings. That is exactly what has transpired. His writings of the Gospel of John, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Revelation have circulated the globe and faithfully testified of the One who is the Living Word, the Worthy Lamb, the Light of the World, the Son of David, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.

John’s stated goal in his gospel was to faithfully testify of Jesus such that people might believe and be born into God’s family and walk in faith to live in the light and resurrection power of Jesus (John 20:31). We can all be grateful that John was a faithful servant unto death, as we are all beneficiaries of his ministry even some two thousand years later. John is a good example of what it means to be a faithful witness, an “overcomer” or victor that wins at life and gains the great reward promised by Jesus for those who read, understand, and do the words of this prophecy (Revelation 1:3).