Revelation 10

1 Then I saw [beheld, perceived] another mighty [strong, powerful] angel [messenger, heavenly being] coming down [descending, falling] from heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place], wrapped [clothed, arrayed] in a cloud [a visible mass of water vapor], with a rainbow [a colorful sign, symbol of God’s promise] above [upon, over] his head [the upper part of the body, the source of thoughts]. His face [countenance, presence] was like [similar to, comparable with] the sun [the source of light and warmth], and his legs [feet, foundation] were like [resembling, akin to] pillars [supports, columns] of fire [flames, divine judgment, purification]. word study 2 He held [in his possession, grasping firmly] in his hand [as a symbol of power and authority] a small [little, compact] scroll [book, written document], which lay [was, remained] open [unsealed, revealed]. He placed [set, positioned] his right [dominant, favored] foot [as a symbol of dominion] on the sea [the ocean, the deep] and his left [secondary, subordinate] foot [in a posture of balance] on the land [the earth, the ground]. word study 3 Then he cried out [with a great shout, loudly] in a loud voice [like the sound of a lion] like the roar [a fierce, powerful sound] of a lion [a wild animal]. And when he cried out [shouted, gave a loud cry], the seven thunders [loud rumbling noises, thunderclaps] sounded [uttered, spoke out] their voices [loud, audible noises]. word study 4 When the seven [comprising perfection or completeness] thunders [loud rumbling noises, voices from heaven] had spoken [uttered their voices, given out their words], I was about to put it in writing [record their message, write them down]. But I heard a voice [sound, noise] from heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place] saying, “Seal up [keep secret, preserve] what the seven [perfect, complete] thunders have said [spoken, uttered], and do not [lest, by no means] write it down [record their words, put them in writing].” word study 5 Then the angel [messenger of God] I had seen standing [in a position of authority] on the sea [the vast ocean] and on the land [the earth, the ground] lifted up his right [symbolizing strength and honor] hand [the instrument of power and action] to heaven [the dwelling place of God, the sky]. word study 6 And he swore [took a solemn oath, made a sacred vow] by Him who lives [exists, has life] forever [for all eternity, perpetually] and ever [without end, infinitely], who created [brought into being, formed] heaven [the sky, the celestial realm] and everything [all things, the universe] in it, the earth [the land, the physical world] and everything [all things, the cosmos] in it, and the sea [the ocean, the deep] and everything [all creatures, the marine world] in it: “There will be [shall come, is coming] no more [not any longer, never again] delay [waiting, time]! word study 7 But [in contrast, on the other hand] in the days [a period of time, an era] of the voice [sound, noise] of the seventh [the final] angel [messenger], when he is about [on the point of] to sound [to blow] his trumpet, the mystery [secret, hidden truth] of God [the one true deity] will be fulfilled [completed], just as [in the same way] He proclaimed [announced good news] to His servants [slaves] the prophets [those who speak forth God’s will].” word study 8 Then the voice [sound, noise] that I had heard from heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place] spoke to me again [once more, a second time], saying, “Go, take [receive, accept] the small scroll [little book] that lies open [unrolled, revealed] in the hand [power, authority] of the angel [messenger, heavenly being] standing [positioned, established] on the sea [large body of water, the Mediterranean] and on the land [earth, ground].” word study 9 And I went [to approach, to draw near] to the angel [a heavenly messenger, a divine envoy] and said, “Give me [bestow upon me, grant me] the small scroll [a little book, a prophetic message].” “Take it [receive it, accept it] and eat it [consume it, devour it],” he said. “It will make your stomach [belly, inner being] bitter [embittered, filled with sorrow], but in your mouth [the instrument of speech, the gateway of expression] it will be as sweet [pleasant, delightful] as honey [a sweet food].” word study 10 So I took [received, accepted] the small scroll [little book, written document] from the angel’s [messenger, heavenly being] hand and ate [devoured, consumed] it; and it was as sweet [pleasant, delightful] as honey [a sweet food] in my mouth, but when I had eaten [consumed, digested] it, my stomach [belly, inner being] turned [became, was made] bitter [embittered, unpleasant]. word study 11 And they told me, “You [it is necessary] must prophesy [speak under inspiration from God] again [once more, a second time] about [to, concerning] many [numerous, a large amount of] peoples [nations, ethnic groups] and [also, in addition to] nations [Gentiles, non-Jewish people] and [also] tongues [languages, dialects] and [also] kings [rulers, sovereigns].” word study