Chapter nine gives an account of the fifth and sixth trumpets being blown and the destruction that followed. John saw an angel with a little scroll open in his hand. John was told to take the scroll. The angel allowed him to take the scroll and told him to eat it. The scroll was sweet to the mouth but bitter to the stomach, as the message of the gospel is sweet to the mouth but results in persecution to the one who receives and shares it. God spoke to John saying He would allow two witnesses to prophesy for 1,260 days, and no one would harm them. The seventh trumpet blew, and the destruction was complete. The time to judge the dead and reward the faithful had come. God again was triumphant and made His power known.