Saint John Devouring the Book

An angel suddenly appears in the sky, his face radiant and his legs like columns of fire, resting on the sea and the land. John is ordered to take and eat the book containing the divine message. The saint obeys: he finds it sweet as honey in his mouth, but as soon as he swallows it, he feels its bitterness deep within him. As described in the biblical text, the prophetic mission entails the joy of revelation and the promise of salvation, but also harsh judgement, suffering, and the call to repentance.