Verse 1: “I saw another mighty angel, coming down from the heavens. And he was clothed with a cloud, and upon his head was a rainbow. And his face was like the sun and his feet like pillars of fire.”

This is another unique angel. A powerful warrior. He also comes with revelation – to give us insight, to help us to make wise decisions. The rainbow is a sign given to remember the covenant God made, to Noah and his sons, that He would never again destroy the world with water. (Genesis 9v8-17)

But, God is going to bring destruction with fire. (Isaiah 66v15-16, 2 Peter 3v3-13) Fire refines. God wants to bring refinement and purity into His creation. (As new creations, this should already be manifested in our behavior/deeds. 1 Corinthians 3 v12-15)

Verse 2: “And in his hand was a small book, which was opened; and he placed his right foot upon the sea and his left upon the land.”

The book in his hand shows that he has revelation/truth to reveal. Prophetically, the sea is seen as turbulent, ever changing. (Isaiah 5v30, Psalm 65v7) The land is seen as that which is stable or consistent. What this angel is doing here, by planting a foot in the sea and a foot on the land, is to bring the two together. The chaos in the sea is going to also visit the land.

Verse 3: “And he cried out in a great voice, just as a lion roars, and when he cried out the seven thunders spoke with their voices.”
Seven thunders is used here in order to gather our attention.

Verse 4: “And when the seven thunders spoke with their voices I desired to write it down, but I heard a voice from the heavens saying to me: ‘Seal up what the seven thunders speak and do not write it down.’”

This is very reminiscent of what Daniel was told in Daniel 8v26, 12v4 and 12v9. Daniel was very grieved and wanted to understand what the prophecy was about. God did not tell Daniel everything. He shared with him that there was going to be a victory, but then commanded him to seal up the prophecy for it involved a time yet future.

This verse alludes to the fact that what we are reading about here is related to the same things that Daniel saw.

Verse 5: “And the angel, which I saw standing upon the sea and upon the land, raised his hands to the heavens.”

This angel adopts the posture for taking an oath. What God has promised will come about. The prophecies spoken of, throughout the Word, are about to all be fulfilled. God still displays a rainbow for us to see today, thousands of years after the fact. Every time we see its arch across the sky we can know, with assurance, that He sees it too and He is remembering His covenant (Genesis 9v16).

In the same way, we can know with assurance that, God remembers His prophetic truth. We don’t merit blessing and are dependent upon the mercy of God. God is going to move in such a way to show Israel that He remembers the covenant that He has with them.

The last 3.5 years, of Daniels 70th week, is going to be the worst time for the children of Israel (Daniel 12v1, Jeremiah 30v7) – but out of it shall come Israel’s salvation.

Verse 6: “And he swore by the One who lives forever and ever; Who created the heavens and all which is in them, and the earth and all that is in them, and the sea and all which is in them, that there should not be any more time.”

There will be no more delay. God is going to bring about Israel’s redemption while He is in the midst of judging the nations. (The paradigm here is what we have learnt from the book of Exodus – The plagues upon Egypt taking place at the same time as the Israelites were being prepared to leave Egypt for the Promised Land).

God will judge the nations in a very similar way to the way that He judged Egypt.

Verse 7: “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, in the time that he was ready to blow his trumpet, the secret of God will be complete- just as He proclaimed to His servants the prophets.”

The secret of God: the redemption of Israel through Messiah Yeshua. The Kingdom promise. Israel has to come to terms with the crucified Messiah.

The fulfilment of the Kingdom will not come until God keeps covenant with the Jewish people. This is what the prophets, repeatedly, spoke about. Getting to know and understand prophesy helps to prepare us for the last days.

Verse 8: “And the voice, which I heard from the heavens, returned to speak with me saying: ‘Go, and take the small book, which is open, which is in the hand of the angel standing upon the sea and the earth.’”

Verse 9: “I went to the angel and I spoke to him: ‘Give to me this book.’ And he said to me: ‘Take and eat it. It will be bitter in your stomach, but in your mouth it will be sweet like honey.’”

There is a change coming. It is going to come when things in the world seem to be looking up. People are saying ‘peace and safety’ but sudden destruction is on its way. People will think sweetness, but bitterness is being emphasized here. (1 Thessalonians 5v3)

Verse 10: “I took this book, from the hand of the angel, and I ate it, And it became in my mouth that it was sweet like honey but, after I ate it, it filled my stomach with bitterness.”

In Exodus, the Israelites came to water and it was bitter (Exodus 15v22-26) Moses was told to take a tree (the sages call it a ‘tree of life’) and Moses cast it into the bitter waters, and they became sweet. That is what the cross does. The bitterness, of the death of Messiah, turns into sweetness when we understand and receive it.

Verse 11: “And he said to me: ‘You must return and prophesy again concerning peoples, nations, tongues, and many kings.”

This reminds us of the verse in Rev 7v9-10 which speaks about the rapture. God wants to see people come to faith; even at this late stage/hour. He is still pursuing the rebellious people (both Jew and Gentile) that they might learn truth, repent and begin to consume the Word of God. (Psalm 119v103, Jeremiah 15v16)