Chapter 10 is an interlude between the terror of judgment and the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven. The mighty angel tells John to eat the scroll. This means to really chew on, understand, and experience the gospel of the coming Kingdom. Then, to prophesy.

The gospel of the coming Kingdom comes with the reality of judgment of God. God is holy, and justice is the gatekeeper of God’s holiness. It is a way of separating all that is not holy from the presence of God because evil cannot dwell in the presence of this holy God. And the coming Kingdom is holy (that’s why there is constant worship crying out, “holy, holy, holy”), all that is not holy on earth will be kicked out and separated from God. That is what we call hell, a place of absolute separation from God.

But, God does not want anyone to perish because he loves us. That is why the lamb that was slain is the only one who can open the seals of the scroll. The lamb took on our sins and faced separation from God for us.   If we repent and put our faith in Jesus, we are forgiven and holy and acceptable to God. We will be able to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Our call now is to live out the beauty of the coming Kingdom and to share the good news of the coming Kingdom now.