Now John is instructed to take the open scroll from the mighty angel. When John asks for it, the angel tells him that it will be sweet to the taste but will give him a sour stomach. Eating scrolls is not my idea of a tasty snack, but then, this is like a dream and nonsensical things happen in dreams. Sure enough, it tastes sweet but upsets his stomach. What in the world is this about?!
The key to understanding it is in the last verse. It’s about John prophesying. But it’s not the kind of prophesying that goes on today among most believers. Today it’s more like reading fortune cookies. I’ve never read a script from these little Asian desserts that told me something bad was about to happen. Likewise, I’ve never heard a prophecy, or been given one from God, that is negative. What John will have to say will be words from God, hence they are sweet in his mouth. But the message will not be good news, and the hearers will not have good vibes after receiving it, hence it is sour in the stomach.
Ezekiel had a similar vision in which he ate a scroll that was sweet to his mouth but made him nauseous afterward. He also had to prophesy gloom and doom to his hearers, but being close enough to God to receive his innermost thoughts is always a privilege and sweet to the spirit.
The key to understanding it is in the last verse. It’s about John prophesying. But it’s not the kind of prophesying that goes on today among most believers. Today it’s more like reading fortune cookies. I’ve never read a script from these little Asian desserts that told me something bad was about to happen. Likewise, I’ve never heard a prophecy, or been given one from God, that is negative. What John will have to say will be words from God, hence they are sweet in his mouth. But the message will not be good news, and the hearers will not have good vibes after receiving it, hence it is sour in the stomach.
Ezekiel had a similar vision in which he ate a scroll that was sweet to his mouth but made him nauseous afterward. He also had to prophesy gloom and doom to his hearers, but being close enough to God to receive his innermost thoughts is always a privilege and sweet to the spirit.
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