Vs. 8-10. Here we are shown that John, at the command of the voice from heaven, takes the book from the angel's hand and eats it. In his mouth it was sweet and in his belly it was bitter. There were some things glad and some things sad in the events revealed in that book, and about to be revealed. It was a matter of gladness that God heard their prayers and answered their cries, vindicated their cause, and destroyed the persecutors. But it was sad that men did not turn from their sins, sad that such judgments must fall, sad that the altar and temple and city and state so much revered should come thru the sins of men, to such a sad end.