[1] Then I saw another extremely powerful messenger descending out of heaven. He wore a cloud wrapped around him, and a rainbow was covering his head. His face shone like the sun, and his legs blazed like columns of fire. [2] In his hand, he held a little scroll that had been unrolled. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on dry land; [3] then he shouted with a voice that sounded like a roaring lion. When he cried out, the seven thunders answered with their own rumbling voices. [4] As I was about to record the thunders' answer, a voice from heaven stopped me. A Voice: Seal up all the seven thunders have spoken; do not write it down! [5] Then the messenger, whom I saw standing on the sea and on the dry land, raised his right hand into heaven [6] and swore an oath to the Eternal One-who always lives, who created heaven, earth, the sea, and all that is in them. Heavenly Messenger: Time has run out. [7] Whenever the days arrive and the seventh messenger sounds his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished just as He announced to His servants, the prophets. [8] Again, the voice I heard from heaven addressed me. A Voice: Go. Take the little scroll that is unrolled in the hand of the messenger standing both on the sea and on the dry land. [9] I then went to the messenger and asked him to give me the little scroll. Heavenly Messenger: Take it, and eat it. Although in your mouth it will be sweet to taste, sweet as honey, it will become bitter when it reaches your stomach. [10] I took the little scroll from the hand of the messenger and ate it. In my mouth, it was sweet like honey, but my stomach became bitter after I swallowed it. [11] Heavenly Messengers (repeating): Once again, you are to prophesy about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.
