Revelation 10

Chapter 10 gives us respite from judgment.

John sees a "strong angel". He sees one foot on the sea and another foot on dry land. I picture a man like creature very large, maybe 100 feet high. The angel must have been the size of the Colossus built out in the harbor of Rhodes on Crete.

The large angel has a little book. Then he cries out very loudly, louder than thunder. It seems he was reading the book. But John is told not to write what he hears..

It seems the angel speaks of Jesus. He seems to be foretelling that when the seventh seal is opened the kingdom, the mystery of God, will finally be revealed.

Trying to know what the mystery is seems hopeless. I do not think we can really know what the kingdom in completion will be like.

But the angel must be speaking of the second coming when Jesus comes back in glory to complete what he started. Let us prepare, be ready for that day. We do not know when it will come.

John is told to eat the book. It will be sweet to taste but will lay heavy on the stomach. Is that an image of salvation? It is so exciting at first but then one finds there are repercussions. One finds your excitement is not shared by others. Sometimes people even get mad at you for sharing your new faith. As you change you behavior people might make fun of you.

In the first flush of excitement we think everyone will be just as excited as we are. We think all will be happy for us. But not all are. And we face disillusion.