~~~ A Bittersweet Message ~~~
The Mighty Angel Come Down From Heaven:

The revelations given in chapters 10 and 11 occur with the sounding of the sixth trumpet.

  1. Physical description:
    • Robed in a cloud
    • Rainbow above his head
    • Face like the sun
    • Legs like fiery pillars
  2. He is holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand.
  3. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.
  4. He gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke.
  5. He raised his right hand to heaven... And said "There will be no more delay!"
  6. With the sounding of the seventh trumpet, "The mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."
  7. A voice from heaven spoke to me, "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel."
  8. The angel said, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey."
Unfolding the Meaning of the Angel and the Scroll:
  1. The angel robed in a cloud with the rainbow above his head symbolizes the glory of the Lord and the sign of his everlasting covenant with the earth. Genesis 9:13, Exodus 40:34
  2. His face shining like the sun and legs like fiery pillars symbolizes the presence of God or a divine figure. Daniel 10:6, Revelation 1:14-15
  3. The scroll in the hand of the angel hearkens back to the scroll that was sealed with seven seals. When each seal is removed the apostle John is given the prophetic message written therein. Revelation Chapters 5-8
  4. Whether this "little scroll" also contains a prophetic message is unknown since the exact contents are never revealed.
  5. However, what the angel does next may shine some light to help us understand the message of the little scroll.
    • His right foot is on the sea and the left on land may signify that what is written on the little scroll has worldwide implications.
    • The angel loudly declares there will no more delay, which begs the question: What is being delayed?
    • With that shout is heard the voices of the "Seven Thunders", but a voice from heaven tells John not to write what they said. This may indicate that the world is not ready to hear their message.
    • With the sounding of the seventh trumpet, says the angel, the mystery of God will be accomplished. He also connects the Old Testament prophets with the seventh trumpet.
    • Revelation 11:15: The seventh angel sounded his trumpet (AKA the third woe), and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:

      "The kingdom of the world has become
      the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
      and he will reign for ever and ever."

    • The prophecies in the book of Daniel:
      1. Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great statue. Daniel chapter 2
      2. Daniel's dream of four great beasts that arise out of the sea. Daniel chapter 7
      3. Daniel's vision of the ram and the goat. Daniel chapter 8
      4. Daniel is told what is written in the "Book of Truth". Daniel chapters 10 & 11
    • All of these prophecies conclude with the everlasting establishment of the Kingdom of God. So here we have the connection.
  6. The voice from heaven then tells John to take the little scroll. Upon being given it, the angel commands him to eat it, and just as he was forewarned, the scroll tasted sweet but turned his stomach sour.
  7. The scroll tasted sweet because it conveyed the message of the soon return of the Messiah. It turned his stomach sour because the sounding of the seventh trumpet had more to reveal: