The Angel and the Small Scroll

1And I saw another mighty angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire, 2and having in his hand a little scroll being open. And he placed his right foot upon the sea, and the left upon the earth. 3And he cried out in a loud voice as a lion roars. And when he cried out, the seven thunders sounded their voice.

4And when the seven thunders had spoken, I was about to write. But I heard a voice out of heaven, saying, “Seal what the seven thunders have spoken, and do not write them.”

5And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, 6and he swore by the One living to the ages of the ages, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, “There will be no more delay! 7But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound the trumpet, then the mystery of God would be completed, as proclaimed to His servants, the prophets.”

8And the voice that I heard out of heaven was speaking with me again and saying, “Go, take the little scroll having been opened in the hand of the angel standing upon the sea and upon the land.”

9And I went to the angel, saying to him, “Give me the little scroll.”

And he says to me, “Take and eat it; and your stomach it will make bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.”a

10And I took the little scroll out of the hand of the angel, and I ate it; and it was sweet as honey in my mouth; and when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.

11And they say to me, “It is necessary for you to prophesy again concerning many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”