BibleProject | One Story That Leads to Jesusنموونە

When Jesus started breaking seals off the scroll, horses of death and melting stars jumped off the pages. But what was written on the scroll? Today we find out.

Recall the seven warning trumpets from yesterday’s reading, each hyperlinking to plagues from the Exodus narrative (Exod. 7-11). After all those judgments, Pharaoh did not repent. The nations in Revelation are the same. God’s judgment alone does not cause people to turn around, so Revelation 9 closes with nobody repenting.

In chapter 10, John shifts focus and returns to the scroll that the Lamb first opened. A mega-angel with flaming legs, a cardigan of clouds, and a crown of colors hands the scroll to John and tells him to eat it—what? While bizarre, this isn’t the first place in Scripture where someone receives instruction to eat a scroll. Ezekiel had to do the same thing (Ezek. 3:1-3). Eating the scroll symbolizes internalizing God’s message, so the prophet can then proclaim it to others.

The scroll that John was to eat, and internalize, said that the Lamb, not judgment alone, conquers all evil. The Church, the people rescued by the slain Lamb, will reveal God’s Kingdom to the nations not by judging or killing their enemies but by loving and dying for them. Unlike judgment alone, the mercy of God shown through Jesus’ followers has the power to bring the nations to repentance.

John placed this surprising claim at the exact center of the entire book for a reason. Surrounded by winged warriors, warring dragons, and a wedding feast, the heart of this apocalypse pounds out a simple message: The people of God’s Church can imitate the Lamb by laying down their lives in order to forgive and bless their enemies. Might and manipulation cannot bring about repentance, but mercy can and will.

Reflection Questions

• How does the message of the scroll reflect the teachings of Jesus? How might this encourage those facing persecution?
• John’s scroll tastes like honey, a description of God’s word we also see in Psalms (Ps. 119:103). How have you experienced God’s word as sweet and nourishing?