Sermon: Sweet and Bitter

Sermon Date: 2/2/ 2025

Bible Verses: Revelation 10 

Theme: https://uppbeat.io/t/northwestern/a-new-beginning

Introduction

Revelation 10 presents a striking vision of a mighty angel, a small scroll, and the paradox of God's word being both sweet and bitter. The passage reminds us that while the message of Christ and the gospel brings salvation and hope, it also carries judgment and responsibility.

This theme is not unique to Revelation. Throughout Scripture, God's Word is described as both a source of joy and a burden to bear. Today, we will explore how the Word of God and Jesus Himself are both sweet and bitter, and what that means for us as followers of Christ.

1. The Mighty Angel and the Small Scroll (Revelation 10:1-4)

“I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.” (Revelation 10:1, NKJV)

This powerful figure in John's vision resembles descriptions of Jesus in Revelation 1:13-16, leading some to believe this angel represents Christ. Whether it is Jesus or a mighty angel carrying His authority, the imagery reminds us that God's power and message come with divine authority.

The small scroll in the angel’s hand holds God’s revelation, just as the Word of God reveals His will to us. But before John can fully understand its contents, he hears a voice saying:

“Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.” (Revelation 10:4, NKJV)

Not everything is revealed to us immediately. There are mysteries in God’s plan that remain hidden until the right time.

Cross References:

• Daniel 12:9 – “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”
• Deuteronomy 29:29 – “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever.”

Application:
God's Word is powerful, but we must accept that He reveals things in His perfect timing. Are we patient enough to trust Him when we don't have all the answers?

1. The Sworn Oath and God's Plan Unfolding (Revelation 10:5-7)

The angel raises his hand and swears by God that the delay will soon be over. The mysteries of God will be completed when the seventh trumpet sounds.

“But in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.” (Revelation 10:7, NKJV)

This moment reminds us that Jesus Himself spoke of the end times, assuring us that God’s justice will not be delayed forever (Matthew 24:36).

Cross References:

• 2 Peter 3:9 – “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”
• Matthew 24:14 – “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Application:
God's plan is moving forward, even when it seems delayed. Are we living in expectation, preparing our hearts for the fulfillment of His promises?

III. Eating the Scroll: Sweet and Bitter (Revelation 10:8-11)

John is told to take the scroll and eat it:

“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.” (Revelation 10:10, NKJV)

This imagery reflects how God's Word is both a delight and a burden.

1. The Sweetness of God's Word

• God's Word brings life, joy, and salvation.
• Psalm 119:103 – “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
• Jeremiah 15:16 – “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.”

The Bitterness of God's Word

• God's Word also brings conviction, judgment, and responsibility.
• Ezekiel 2:8–3:3 – The prophet Ezekiel was also told to eat a scroll, and while it was sweet, it carried a message of lament and woe.
• Hebrews 4:12 – “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.”

Application:
The gospel is sweet because it offers eternal life, but it is also bitter because it confronts sin, demands repentance, and brings judgment. Are we willing to accept both the joy and the responsibility of God’s Word?

1. The Call to Proclaim God's Message (Revelation 10:11)

“And he said to me, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.’” (Revelation 10:11, NKJV)

John is called to proclaim the message of God despite its bitterness. We, too, are called to share the gospel, even when it is difficult.

Cross References:

• 2 Timothy 4:2 – “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.”
• Matthew 28:19-20 – The Great Commission to make disciples of all nations.

Application:
Are we willing to share God's truth, even when it is unpopular? The gospel is sweet, but it also calls people to repentance—a bitter truth many reject.

Conclusion

Revelation 10 teaches us that God's Word and Jesus Himself bring both sweetness and bitterness.

1. Sweet – The gospel offers salvation, hope, and eternal life.
2. Bitter – It also brings conviction, judgment, and rejection by the world.

Just as John was called to eat the scroll and proclaim its message, we are called to embrace all of God's truth and boldly share it with the world.

Final Reflection:

• Have you tasted the sweetness of God's Word?
• Are you prepared for the bitterness that comes with living and sharing the gospel?
• Will you boldly proclaim His message, no matter the cost?