Revelation 10:9; Bitterness and Sweet

Revelation 10:9 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. 

In instructing John to eat the little scroll, the angel anticipates its effect on him: bitter in the stomach and sweetness in the mouth. The word “bitter” refers to anything that is sharp to the senses of sound, taste or feeling. In referring to sharpness to the taste, it is the antonym of “sweet”.

Notice that the bitterness is mentioned by the angel first before the sweet. The bitterness and the sweetness do not pertain to different parts of the scroll, but the sensation of the prophet at different stages in regarding the totality of it.

The sweetness, likened to honey, perhaps represent the joys of the consummation that are part of the prophecy, but more probably, since it is limited to the mouth, it speaks of John’s present satisfaction in being informed of God’s will for the future (Psalm 119:103).

Psalm 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeterthan honey to my mouth! 

These same words, when digested bring sadness over the news of persecution, apostasies and judgments (Alford).

 [Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody Press, 1995, 73]

Imprisoned in Patmos, the Apostle John understands the impact of evil upon the believer’s life in persecution and incarceration which is his present condition. And yet there is a vindication that God shows to him that brings comfort to his heart.

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 

Amen.