English
And the voice that I heard from heaven spoke with me again, and said, ‘Go, take the open scroll in angel’s hand—the one who stands on the sea and on the earth.’
And I went to the angel, saying to him, ‘Give me the little scroll.’
And he said to me, ‘Take and eat it. And it will embitter your stomach, but in your mouth it will be sweet like honey.’ And I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and I ate it. And in my mouth it was sweet like honey, but my stomach was embittered when I ate it.
And they said to me, ‘You must prophesy again about peoples and nations and tongues and many kings.’
Interpretation
In imitation of Ezekiel, John receives the now-opened scroll from chapter 6 and ingests it, indicating that he has properly received the titular revelation and is soon to deliver it. The ‘again’, however, suggests this is at least a second revelation, adding some ambiguity to the concept.
Parallels
Ezekiel
3.1–3 He said to me, ‘O son of man, eat what is offered to you; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.’ So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.’ Then I ate it; and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey.’
Revelation of Zephaniah
7.1–2 Then I looked, and I saw him with a manuscript in his hand. He began to unroll it. Now after he spread it out, I read it in my language.
4 Ezra
14.38–41 And on the next day a voice called me, saying, ‘Ezra, open your mouth and drink what I give you to drink.’ So I opened my mouth, and a full cup was offered to me; it was full of something like water, but its colour was like fire. I took it and drank; and when I had drunk it, my heart poured forth understanding, and wisdom increased in my breast, for my spirit retained its memory, and my mouth was opened and was no longer closed.
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