And I saw another STRONG ANGEL coming down out of HEAVEN,

The term 'another' denotes an angel different than the ones with the seven trumpets.

• clothed with a CLOUD; and
  Even this angel has mysteries about him; these are some of the 'hidden wisdom' in 1 Corinthians 2:6-9 that we are not shown.

  The cloud indicates God's glory and protection:

  • It was between the Israelites and the Egyptians - Exodus 14:19-20
  • It is where Christ is sitting before He reaps the earth - Revelation 14:14.
• the RAINBOW was upon his head, and
  Even in the midst of the tribulation, we are reminded of the first rainbow covenant (Genesis 9:13-17). We saw it earlier around the Lord's throne (Revelation 4:3) even as Ezekiel saw the Divine Glory (Ezekiel 1:28). There is mercy STILL even though the world does not show Him, Christ, mercy (Revelation 9:20-21 --> Matthew 27:27-31).
• his face was like the SUN, and
  When you are in Christ's presence, you will glow too. (Matthew 17:1-3 and Exodus 34:29-30).
• his feet like pillars of FIRE.
  His goings about are like a fire. For the believer, it is refining, Malachi 3:1-3. For the non-believer, it is CONSUMING JUDGMENT (Hebrews 12:25-29).

and he had in his hand a LITTLE BOOK which was OPEN.

Apparently the contents are visible to John. That is, he knows what the angel is holding. It may be John's part in the judgments (as joint heir with Christ - Romans 8:17 and Hebrews 9:15) to come. The judgment of a defeated Satan and fallen angels. The judgment of unbelievers in the seventh trumpet and the seven plagues (bowls).

And he placed his RIGHT FOOT on THE SEA and his left on THE LAND;

The promise in Genesis 17:1-8 given to Israel said that the land wherever they sojourned (walked) would be theirs. This angel as messenger to the whole world indicates by his stance that Christ and his redeemed will claim the whole earth in upcoming events. Cross references: Psalm 72:7-11, Psalm 110:1-2, and Hebrews 1:10-12. And Christ has the power to do it, Psalm 95:1-5.

Hallelujah!

and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a LION roars;

This may be fulfilling the prophesy in Isaiah 31:4-7. Note the vengeance as a LION comes right after idolatry even as it does here. See Revelation 9:20.

Hosea 11:10-12 says the 'roar of the LION' will cause 'his sons to return trembling from the west' (Egypt, Assyria, etc.). The Jews and believing Gentiles will return and follow God.

and when he had cried out, the seven PEALS OF THUNDER uttered their voices.

We can speculate that

• they were a series of judgments against nature (Psalm 29:3-11 --> the curse of sins causes flood and subsequent rainbow, (verse1). All of nature, too, must be released from the curse, Romans 8:18-25.
• it may be the pending SEVEN bowls announcement (verse 7) and it is too horrible. John will explain it as he can later (Revelation 16:1)

And when the seven PEALS OF THUNDER had spoken, I was about to write;

and I heard a voice from heaven saying, "SEAL UP the things which the seven PEALS OF THUNDER have spoken, and DO NOT WRITE THEM."

Why John was not to write about the seven thunders will never be known to us. Some things either are too horrible or "unearthly" such that we are not able to understand. For example, science is just beginning, they think, to understand how matter is constructed. Yet a unified theory of physics has yet to be produced and tested. Perhaps, the utterances are related to physical things of which we have no knowledge.

One other person, Daniel, too, saw things he was to seal up until "end times", Daniel 12:4, 9-13.

Maybe there were/are no "words" to describe the sayings of the thunders, 2 Corinthians 12:3-4.

And the ANGEL whom I saw standing on the SEA and on the LAND

lifted up his RIGHT HAND to HEAVEN.

In this church age, taking an oath is NOT something we are to do. Jesus said so in Matthew 5:33-37. Therefore, this act which gives the strong angel the authority to perform the judgment he is about to do, is an Old Covenant act. Apparently, the government of heaven, at least with respect to heaven and all of the created universe, is like that explained in the Old Testament. We, the redeemed, again, fit into heaven because of the unique act of Christ's death.

and SWORE by Him

who lives FOREVER and EVER,

who CREATED HEAVEN and the things in it, and the EARTH and the things in it, and the SEA and the things in it,

This ties back to Old Testament covenant and "swearing" (not for church age believers) by the angel. Notice how similar these words are to those in Exodus 20:8-11, especially the fourth commandment.

Only God CREATES, man (and science) know only how to conserve or destroy under "the Laws of Nature".

that there shall be DELAY NO LONGER;

but in the days of the voice of the SEVENTH ANGEL,

The use of 'days' indicates it will take some time for the works of this SEVENTH ANGEL. Since the seven bowls are wrapped up in this trumpet, one could say it will take the rest of the tribulation period.

when he is about to sound, then the MYSTERY OF GOD is finished,

as He preached to His servants the PROPHETS.

And the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying,

Usually, when one speaks with someone, it is a two-way conversation. We seldom hear John's side. Whether it is in a heaven language which we don't understand (or have an interpreter) or in an earth language which we could understand but John doesn't have the words to describe, we just don't know. It is clear that John understood what was said to him. When you are called of God, the communication may not be verbal but just a touch or a great light or ......

"GO, TAKE THE BOOK, which is OPEN in the hand of the ANGEL who stands on the sea and on the land."

The OPEN book is reemphasized here from verse 2. In other words, nothing will be hidden (at least from John) as to the book's contents. That this angel is one of great authority is restated: standing on the sea and land.

Hence the book is about the reclamation of God's creation. It is about earth (physical) and sea (people and spiritual).

And I went to the ANGEL, telling him to give me the little book.

And he said to me, "TAKE IT",

and EAT IT;

and it will make your STOMACH bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey."

Ezekiel as a result of eating the scroll (Ezekiel 2:8-3:3), which was full of lamentations, mourning and woe (the bitterness), became a great prophet. He, too, says that when he ate the scroll, it tasted sweet as honey.

In Psalm 19:7-10-14 and Psalm 119:97-103-104 the Word of the Lord is depicted as sweet to the taste. Every believer, at first will enjoy the Word of God. It is our spiritual sustenance (Matthew 4:4). However, a little later, Jesus in Matthew10:16-23 tells us the consequences of digesting the Word. Our family, "church", and demons will turn on us and persecute us even unto death.

This all is part of being "joint heirs" with Christ, Romans 8:5-17. We will be judging with HIM:

• Zechariah 14:1-5-11 - Reclaiming Jerusalem.
• 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 - Established blameless (required for judgment).
• Jude 5-14-16 - Many thousands will execute judgment.
• Revelation 19:11-16 - There is a heavenly army in a supportive role.

This little book, John eats, apparently is his part of the inheritance (title deed). It carries with it an associated responsibility to judge. To judge, one MUST KNOW the law (righteousness => Word of God). But passing this judgment could be very bitter, indeed, especially if it is against your own neighbors, 1 Corinthians 6:1-3. Also note that judgment extends to nations too, Revelation 2:26-27.

And I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ATE it,

God's words are sweet, Jeremiah 15:15-18. But they also are distressing because they carry the responsibility to prophesy (see next verse).

and it was in my MOUTH SWEET as HONEY; and when I had EATEN it, my stomach was made bitter.

The first half of the tribulation period for raptured believers apparently will be a time for observation and preparation for service. The second half requires their full participation (symbolically the stomach as the seat of energy).

11. And they said to me, "You must prophesy again concerning many peoples and nations and tongues and kings."

And they said to me, "You must PROPHESY again concerning MANY

PEOPLES and	Jews and Gentiles
NATIONS and	organized politically
TONGUES and	with multiple languages
KINGS.	under leadership.

Compare this list with similar lists (Revelation 5:9, Revelation 7:9, Revelation 13:7, Revelation 14:6, Revelation 17:15). This list uses KINGS rather than TRIBE or MULTITUDES. This may emphasize the coming revelations will involve the political leadership most directly. That is, we will see the beast (Antichrist) and a consortium of 10 "KINGS" giving their authority to the beast "for one hour" (Revelation 17:9-13). One can imagine that after all the plagues, stings, and mass death from earthquakes and astronomical events, that there will be a dearth of leadership. This verse is setting the stage for that "ONE WORLD LEADER" to make his entrance.