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. 2 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, 3 and then he cried out in a loud voice as a lion roars. When he cried out, the seven thunders raised their voices, too. 4 When the seven thunders had spoken, I was about to write it down; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have spoken, but do not write it down.” 5 Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 6 and swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and earth and sea and all that is in them, “There shall be no more delay. 7 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.”
8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” 9 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.” 10 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. 11 Then someone said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”
John presents a vivid and symbolic vision of a mighty angel, delivering a message of profound theological significance. The angel is described with imagery that evokes divine majesty and authority. Wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head, a face shining like the sun, and legs like fiery pillars, this angel reflects the power and glory of God’s messengers. These features, reminiscent of Old Testament theophanies, suggest that the angel represents God's sovereignty and authority over creation.
The angel holds a "little scroll" in his hand, which symbolizes a specific revelation or prophecy. His stance, with one foot on the sea and the other on the land, emphasizes God's universal dominion. This posture signifies that the message contained in the scroll applies to all of creation, reinforcing the global scope of the divine mission.
When the angel cries out, his voice is likened to a lion's roar, signifying the urgency and authority of the proclamation. This cry is met with a response from "seven thunders," a symbol of the fullness and power of God’s voice (cf. Psalm 29). Yet, when John prepares to write down the message of the thunders, he is commanded to seal it up. This directive underscores the hidden aspects of God’s plan, reminding us, as in Daniel 12:4, that not all of God's will is immediately revealed. Some mysteries are withheld to inspire trust in His providence.
The angel then raises his hand to heaven and swears an oath by God, the eternal Creator of heaven, earth, and sea. His declaration that "there shall be no more delay" announces the imminent fulfillment of God’s judgment and promises. This echoes the prophetic assurance found in Habakkuk 2:3, emphasizing that the appointed time for God’s plan is near.
The angel proclaims that at the sounding of the seventh trumpet, God's "mysterious plan" will be accomplished. This refers to the culmination of salvation history, a mystery revealed through the prophets (cf. Ephesians 1:9–10; Amos 3:7). The angel's announcement assures us that God's justice and mercy will soon be fully realized, completing His redemptive work.
John is instructed by a heavenly voice to take and eat the little scroll from the angel's hand. Eating the scroll signifies the internalization of God's message. It tastes sweet as honey, reflecting the joy of receiving divine revelation and the promises of salvation. However, it turns bitter in John's stomach, symbolizing the difficulty and suffering inherent in proclaiming God's judgment and the rejection that often accompanies the prophet's mission.
John is then told he must "prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings," highlighting the universal scope of his prophetic task. This call reiterates the global reach of the Gospel and the Church's mission to bear witness to God's truth, even amid persecution and hardship.
Almighty God, we thank You for revealing Your sovereignty and plan through Your Word. Help us to embrace Your message with courage and proclaim it faithfully, trusting in Your justice and mercy. Strengthen us to live as witnesses to Your truth and love. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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