The Mighty Angel and the Little Scroll

Then I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven wrapped in a cloud, with a halo around his head; his face was like the sun and his feet were like pillars of fire.

NAB footnote:Another mighty angel: distinct from the one in Rev 5:2. The description resembles that of Christ in Rev 1:13-16.

In his hand he held a small scroll that had been opened. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,

and then he cried out in a loud voice as a lion roars. When he cried out, the seven thunders raised their voices, too.

but at the time when you hear the seventh angel blow his trumpet, the mysterious plan of God shall be fulfilled, as he promised to his servants the prophets.

NAB footnote:Mysterious plan of God: literally, 'the mystery of God,' the divine plan of salvation, hidden from eternity but now being revealed.

So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. He said to me, "Take and swallow it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey."

NAB footnote:Take and swallow it: cf Ezekiel 3:1-3. Sweet as honey: the word of God is sweet to those who receive it, but its message of judgment is bitter.

I took the small scroll from the angel's hand and swallowed it. In my mouth it was like sweet honey, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.

Then someone said to me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings."