Revelation 10, Angel 'Twixt Land and Sea

The seven seals have been removed, the scroll of history unrolled, leading to seven angels with seven trumpets.  The seventh trumpet has now sounded. But, as before, there is an interlude between the sixth and seventh event.

Revelation 10: 1-4, The mighty angel

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.  He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 

And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down." 

This angel is dramatic, majestic.  He plants a foot on the sea and one on land, as if he were larger than either.  He too has a scroll and seven thunders respond to his shout.  But John in prevented from communicating the message of the seven thunders.  After all the things revealed so far, suddenly something is hidden from John.  Why?

Revelation 10: 5-7, No more delay

Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven.  And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay!  But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets." 

Note the word "delay". The people of John's time asked, "Why had Jesus delayed his return?" Two thousand years later that question is certainly stronger, sharper. But John says that someday the "delay" will finally end.

Revelation 10: 8-11, Eating the angel's scroll

Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."  

So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. 

He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey."  

I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.  

Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."

In this vision, John ingests the scroll and it starts sweet in his mouth but brings nausea afterwards. And then John is told to go further in the prophesy, prepared to address all people and all nations, all languages and kings.