Revelation 10:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Here another higher angel commands the Evangelist, under the figure of the little book, to receive understanding of what had been revealed in the vision.

The voice from heaven is the command of God, which breathes in the heart of the Church and orders her to assimilate the contents of the opened little book. By its power the Church must preach in the future times of the world.

For it seems to us that to take the opened little book from the angel's hand means to understand the truth of the Law and the Prophets, manifested in Christ.

Therefore John says that a book not like the former sealed one, but an opened little book, must be taken. "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Rom 10:4).

This Christ, that is, the Truth, willed at that time to be born from the earth, that is, from Mary, when righteousness looked down from heaven (Ps 84:12).

For the same reason, I think, it was said: "the voice which I had heard from heaven spoke with me again." He Himself said, "What I have told you from the beginning" (Jn 8:25).

When the prophet Ezekiel was called by the Lord to be a prophet, he too had to eat a scroll of a book. In his mouth this scroll was sweet as honey, yet it contained lamentation, mourning, and woe (cf. Ezek 2:8-10; 3:1-3).

In the same way, when Saint John was sent to prophesy, he had to eat the scroll of a book, which is the prophetic word. Every word of the Lord is sweet food for souls enlightened by the grace of the Holy Spirit. It is true manna.

But when this word proclaims a grievous judgment upon men, such food causes sorrow, pain, and bitterness in the belly. For what holy man, loving all his fellow men, would not feel grief on learning that great woe awaits them?

Yet this bitterness is necessary for the salvation of the brethren, because, when proclaimed in due time, it can lead them to repentance.

At the voice from heaven, the Apostle approached the Angel, took the little book from His hands, and ate it. It was sweet as honey in his mouth, but bitter in his belly.

According to the interpretation of St. Andrew, the little book in the hands of the Angel, Who announced in the seven thunderous sounds the punishments awaiting wicked men on sea and land, contained the names and deeds of these unhappy ones.

The knowledge of the future was sweet, that is, pleasant to the Apostle. Yet at the same time his heart was bitter "because of compassion for those who must suffer the punishments sent down according to the divine determination."