eschatology, The Little Book (Rev.10)

In this chapter, there is a little book that is brought forward.  This could be the same book we saw in chapter 5 after the seals have been removed, or it could be another book.  We are not sure.  And we are not told what is inside, except that there is a mystery which will one day be revealed - at the end of the Tribulation.

Up until this point, we've seen descriptions of the first set of seven (seal) judgments, and the second set of seven (trumpet) judgments.  The fifth and sixth trumpets were the first and second woes.  The seventh trumpet will be the third woe which will bring about the last set of seven (bowl) judgments.  But in the next few chapters of Revelation, we have a bit of an intermission, if you will, with several separate visions (to recap history as well as proclaim prophecies)...

(Revelation 10:1-7)  I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire; 2 and he had in his hand a little book which was open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; 3 and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. 4 When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.” 5 Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, 6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will be delay no longer, 7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.

John is then told to eat the book.  It is sweet to the taste, but makes his stomach upset.  This aspect of the book is what he is supposed to tell the people...

(Revelation 10:8-11)  Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” 9 So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he said to me, “Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” 10 I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and in my mouth it was sweet as honey; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. 11 And they said to me, “You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”

Today's takeaway:  the idea of revenge and "poetic justice" can sound "sweet", but it should sadden us that it has to happen at all. 

I've been watching a reality show where a few women had fun at the expense of another woman.  The "victim" actually deserved everything she got.  And the punishment fit the "crimes" she had committed against them.  Although I could not help but feel sorry for her.  If only she had not played her little games in the first place, she'd be fine and in the "good graces" of the other women. 

Now, if someone had told her this was going to happen, would it have stopped her?  And in the future, will she make a change for the better, or will she become even more vindictive?

Human (sinful) nature tends to grab hold and "take it to the next level".  Even the college pranks that kids play on each other will start out in fun, but will usually escalate, even to the point of someone getting hurt, physically and/or emotionally - and then it becomes serious.

Of course, if someone has committed an actual crime, this needs to be reported to the authorities.  If we see someone being victimized, we should not turn a blind eye.  We need to wisely go about helping "our neighbor".  There is a difference between seeking justice and seeking revenge...

(Isaiah 1:16-17)  “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;  remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.  Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good;  seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

(Zechariah 7:9-10)  “Thus has the Lord of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion each to his brother; 10 and do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’"

(Proverbs 31:8-9)  Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate. 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.

(Micah 6:8)  He has told you, O man, what is good;  and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

(Romans 12:9-21)  Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; 11 not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, 13 contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. 17 Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. 19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.