The act of eating the scroll is a symbolic event found in the prophetic books of Ezekiel and Revelation, where prophets are instructed by God to consume a scroll as a representation of receiving and internalizing His message. This act signifies the deep and personal assimilation of God's word, preparing the prophet to deliver His message to the people.

Ezekiel's Experience

In the book of Ezekiel, the prophet is commanded to eat a scroll as part of his commissioning by God. Ezekiel 2:8-3:3 describes this event: "But you, son of man, listen to what I tell you. Do not rebel like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I give you." Then Ezekiel sees a hand stretched out to him, holding a scroll. The scroll is unrolled before him, and it is filled with words of lament, mourning, and woe. God instructs Ezekiel, "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." Ezekiel obeys, and as he eats the scroll, he finds it as sweet as honey in his mouth.

This act symbolizes the prophet's acceptance and internalization of God's message, which is both sweet and bitter. The sweetness represents the divine origin and truth of the message, while the bitterness reflects the difficult and sorrowful nature of the prophecies he must deliver to a rebellious Israel.

John's Vision in Revelation

A similar event occurs in the book of Revelation, where the Apostle John is instructed to eat a little scroll. Revelation 10:9-10 recounts this moment: "So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, 'Take it and eat it. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.' So I took the little scroll from 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 turned bitter."

In John's vision, the act of eating the scroll signifies the reception of a prophetic message that is both sweet and bitter. The sweetness again symbolizes the truth and divine nature of the revelation, while the bitterness represents the impending judgments and tribulations that John must prophesy about. This duality underscores the complexity of God's messages, which often contain both hope and warning.

Theological Significance

The act of eating the scroll in both Ezekiel and Revelation highlights the intimate and transformative nature of receiving God's word. It emphasizes the necessity for God's messengers to fully absorb and understand His message before proclaiming it to others. This internalization ensures that the prophet speaks with authenticity and authority, having personally experienced the weight and sweetness of God's revelation.

Furthermore, the imagery of eating the scroll serves as a powerful reminder of the sustenance and life-giving nature of God's word. Just as physical food nourishes the body, the word of God nourishes the soul, equipping the prophet to fulfill their divine mission. This act also illustrates the responsibility and burden that comes with being a bearer of God's message, as it often involves delivering difficult truths to a resistant audience.

In summary, the act of eating the scroll is a profound biblical symbol of the prophet's role in receiving, internalizing, and proclaiming God's word, reflecting both the sweetness of divine truth and the bitterness of its implications for a sinful world.