Friday 21 November 2008
- Bible Book:
- Revelation
"So I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it; it was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. Then they said to me, 'You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and languages and kings'." (v.10-11)
Background
The book of Revelation offers brilliant and puzzling metaphors,which continue to fascinate and trouble people of faith today. Thechapters leading up to today's passage show the power of truth, asGod's great scroll was opened and the world became a place ofcatastrophe, war, famine and plague. The contents of God's scrollwere not read aloud, the very act of opening up truth causeddivision and destruction - so we might be left wondering if truthis something to be avoided! However the truth of the scroll is sopowerful because it casts light upon those who choose to live withthe lies and half-truths that human beings take comfort in.
But John's vision is not entirely devoid of hope. After thecataclysmic events of the unfolding of the great scroll, a newmethod of bringing truth is offered. A mighty angel offers John asmall scroll that gives him the means to prophesy. This scroll willtaste sweeter than honey to his lips, but will be bitter in thestomach. The words that he should prophesy will sound sweet to hislisteners because they offer a message of hope, but they will alsobe bitter because so many difficulties lie ahead.
Like anyone called by God to preach or prophesy John will beuncomfortable. It is that discomfort which keeps the prophet going- a sense in the very centre of the prophet's being that theycannot find peace unless they share God's message.
The scope of John's calling to prophesy is not to be small - not acalling to a local church to declare God's teaching about everydaylife. John is to speak about "many peoples and nations andlanguages and kings". Christ's message is not confined to apersonal and private faith but offers a perspective about thestructures and powers of the whole world - about war and peace,justice and the treatment of the poor. It is a bitter thing tospeak and act against things that are wrong in the world yet, likeJohn, this is what we are called to do.
To Ponder
Are there times when you avoid the truth becauseit will only cause trouble? Is this always wrong?
Consider how you might speak bitter words for thesake of a more just world.