Revelation

The Little Book

Then, I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud. A rainbow was around his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.

I could see a small open book in his hand. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left on the land, 

and called out in a loud voice like the roar of a lion. Then, the seven thunders sounded their own message. 

I was about to write down what the seven thunders had said, when a voice from heaven said to me, “Keep the words of the seven thunders secret and do not write them down.” 

And the angel I saw standing on the sea and land raised his right hand to heaven, 

swearing by him who lives forever and ever, and who created the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them. He said, “There shall be no more delay; 

as soon as the trumpet call of the seventh angel is heard, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, according to the good news he proclaimed through his servants, the prophets.”

And the voice I had heard from heaven spoke again, saying to me, “Go near the angel who stands on the sea and on the land, and take the small book open in his hand.” 

So, I approached the angel and asked him for the small book; he said to me, “Take it and eat; although it be sweet as honey in your mouth, it will be bitter to your stomach.” 

I took the small book from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, it turned bitter in my stomach. 

Then I was told, “You must again proclaim God’s words about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”