The Apocalypse – Chapter 10 – Part 2
We are continuing our study into the Book of Revelation utilising the Matthew Henry Commentary. Yesterday we began Chapter 10 of the book of Revelation (or Apocalypse), today we finalise it. The Word assures us that there are blessings to be unearthed from simply reading the book. Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. Today’s title is John eats the Little Book.
The Self-Fulfilling prophesy
May He give you the desire of your heart
And may all your plans succeed
If you trust God and have faith
He will provide for your every need.
You may look at your daily situation
And cry out ‘I just can’t cope’
But if you have optimistic beliefs
You have great cause for hope.
God’s unfailing promises are yours
There is nothing He cannot do
Your situation is in His hands
You know He has the very best for you.
Thoughts are powerful things
They can take you to the pits or up
to the Crown
Allow them to lift you up at all times
Realising they have the power
to hold you down.
The habit of hopeful thinking
Is something we all need to acquire
It is a powerful tool for improving
your life
So to give you your heart’s desire.
If you fall into the habit of negative
thinking
Think again and allow your thoughts
to be unfurled
For you are an overcomer in Christ
You live in Him who has overcome
the world.
By the late Andrew Feakin
[passed away 16th March 2019]
Keys – John Eats the Little Book
- When the burden is heavy and our heart is weary, the study of Scripture can rekindle our calling.
- We need to digest in our own souls the messages we bring to others in His name.
- We are to humbly inquire into the meaning of them, and firmly believe that everything shall have its accomplishment in the proper time.
- When the prophecies shall be fulfilled, the sense and truth of them will appear, and the omniscience, power, and faithfulness of the great God will be adored.
Yesterday we began Chapter 10 of the book of Revelation (or Apocalypse), today we finalise it –
John Eats the Little Book
Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.” So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.” And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”
Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”
When the burden is heavy
Henry says – Here we have a strict charge given to the apostle. This charge was that he should go and take the little book out of the hands of that mighty angel mentioned in the previous text. This charge was given by the same voice from heaven that in Rev. 10:4 had told him not to write what he had discerned by the seven thunders. He was then told to eat the book. The angel hinted to the apostle that before he should publish what he had discovered he must thoroughly digest the predictions. In so doing he himself would be affected with them.
God sensed John’s need of encouragement. The ministry of proclaiming judgment to the world and calling the saints to persevere is a trying one. John may well have recalled that he stood in the prophetic tradition of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, who previously provided God’s people with hope amid despair. When the burden is heavy and hearts are weary, the study of Scripture can rekindle one’s calling.
The book in his mouth was sweet
At first the taste of this little book while in his mouth was sweet. All people feel a pleasure in looking into future events, and in having them foretold. All good men love to receive a Word from God, of whatever importance it may be. But, when this book of prophecy was more thoroughly digested by the apostle, the contents would be bitter. The grievous persecutions of the people of God and desolation made in the earth would be so awful and terrible that they would not be pleasant, but painful to the mind.
So the apostle took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up, and he found it to be as was told him. It becomes the servants of God to digest in their own souls the messages they bring to others in His name. We must be suitably affected by them ourselves. We must deliver every message with which we are charged, whether pleasing or unpleasing to men. That which is least pleasing may be most profitable. However, God’s messengers must not keep back any part of the counsel of God.
The faithfulness of the great God will be adored
The apostle is made to know that this book of prophecy is to be communicated by him to the world. It is not given him to merely gratify his own curiosity, or to affect him with pleasure or pain. Here he is ordered to prepare to convey the declarations of the mind and will of God. To declare them to the highest and greatest men in the world, and such should be read and recorded in many languages.
This indeed is the case. We have them in our language, and are all obliged to attend to them. We are to humbly inquire into the meaning of them, and firmly to believe that everything shall have its accomplishment in the proper time. When the prophecies shall be fulfilled, the sense and truth of them will appear, and the omniscience, power, and faithfulness of the great God will be adored.
Adapted from the Matthew Henry Commentary
Prayer for the Day
Prayer: Father, I come to You. Remind me that when the burden is heavy and my heart is weary, the study of Scripture can rekindle my calling. May I digest in my own soul Your Words and more so before I bring any message to others in Your name. Urge me to humbly inquire into the meaning of them, and to firmly believe that everything shall have its accomplishment in the proper time. I trust that when the prophecies shall be fulfilled, the sense and truth of them will appear, and Your omniscience, power, and faithfulness will be adored. In Jesus name. Amen.