In this lesson, children learn that God’s words are sweet and true, even when they are hard to understand. This lesson is for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God gives us His Word, and it is always good and true, even when we do not understand every part of it yet.
Memory Verse
Revelation 10:10
I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.
(WEB)
Hold both hands together in front of your mouth like you are holding something sweet, then pretend to take a bite and smile. Say the verse slowly with the motion each time.
The Story: Revelation 10 for Kids
John saw a mighty angel coming down from the sky. The angel had a cloud around him and a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet looked like pillars of fire. In his hand was a little open book.
The angel stood with one foot on the sea and one foot on the land. Then he called out in a loud voice, like a lion roaring. Seven thunders answered him with their own voices. John started to write down what the thunders said, but a voice from heaven told him to keep it secret and not write it down.
The angel raised his right hand to the sky and made a solemn promise to God, who made the heavens, the earth, and the sea. He said that the waiting time was over. God’s plan would be finished when the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, just as God had told His servants the prophets.
Then the voice from heaven spoke to John again. It said, “Go and take the little book from the angel who stands on the sea and the land.” John went to the angel and asked for the book. The angel told him, “Take it and eat it. It will taste bitter in your stomach, but in your mouth it will taste sweet as honey.”
John took the little book and ate it. It was sweet as honey in his mouth, but it made his stomach feel bitter. Then the voice told John that he must share God’s message again with many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.
Read It Together
Revelation 10:1
I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.
(WEB)
Point out that John saw a mighty angel coming down from heaven. Ask the children what they think it would look like to see something so bright and powerful, and remind them that God sends His messengers in amazing ways.
Revelation 10:8-9
8 The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, “Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land.” 9 I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. He said to me, “Take it, and eat it up. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”
(WEB)
Show how the angel told John to take the little book and eat it. Explain that God’s Word can be like food that nourishes us, and point out how John had to receive it fully before he could share it.
Revelation 10:11
They told me, “You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”
(WEB)
Highlight that John was told to keep sharing God’s message with many people. Talk about how God still gives His people the job of telling others about Him, whatever their age.
Talk About It
- What did John see that looked very bright and powerful?
- Why do you think the little book tasted sweet at first but bitter later?
- How does God’s Word help you feel close to Him?
- What is one thing from God’s Word that you like to remember?
- Who is one person you could tell about Jesus this week?
Activity Ideas
Draw the Mighty Angel
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw the angel with a rainbow over his head, a cloud around him, and one foot on the sea and one on the land. Let them add bright colors for the sun-like face and the pillars of fire, then share their pictures with the group.
Sweet and Bitter Word Game
You will need a small bowl of honey or a sweet snack and a pretend little book. Have the children stand in a line, and one at a time, pretend to eat the book, making a sweet face and then a bitter face. Ask them to say the memory verse together after each turn to remember that God’s Word is sweet and true.
Take-Home Word Jar
You will need a clean jar, paper strips, and a pen. Have each child write one good thing God has taught them on a strip and put it in the jar. Encourage them to read one strip each day at home during the week, reminding them that God’s Word is always sweet and worth keeping close.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter pictures God’s plan for the world as a sealed message that will be finished in God’s time, and it shows the prophet being given a Word to receive and then share. The sweetness and bitterness point to the joy of God’s truth alongside the cost of carrying a hard message to the world.
Avoid overstating the symbols to children, such as trying to explain exactly what the seven thunders or the little book represent. Keep the focus on the simple truths that God’s Word is good, that it helps us, and that God sends His people to share it.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for giving us Your Word, which is sweet and true. Help us to read it, to remember it, and to share it with others. Thank You that You are always faithful and always good. Amen.
