‘And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven arrayed with a cloud, and the rainbow was on his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.'
The effects of the sixth trumpet have not yet ceased (see Revelation 11:14), and it is during this time that the angel declares that there will be delay no longer (Revelation 10:6), for the third woe is coming, and it is the final judgment of God. The measuring of the Temple and the witness of the Two Witnesses occurs as part of this period (Revelation 11:1-13). The Angel of the abyss has been released, but now we have here ‘another strong angel' in apposition.
‘Another' may contrast with the angel of the Abyss but it is more likely a reference to the angel in Revelation 5:2 who asked about the opening of the seals. The ‘strong angels' are probably the ‘chief princes' (Daniel 10:13), the seven spirits before the throne. This one may be Gabriel (Michael is an archangel (Jude 1:9)), but their names are not important for they must not draw attention away from the Son of Man, the Lamb.
The description of the angel is somewhat similar to that of the Son of Man in chapter 1. Face like the sun, legs like pillars of fire. But this displays the angel's splendour and glory, it is not sufficient for identification. Compare for example the angel in Daniel 10:6, who was another strong angel, but not the Son of God for he needed help against the angel prince of Persia (Daniel 10:13).
‘Arrayed with a cloud' draws attention to his specific splendour, for the cloud is a means of shielding such glory (Exodus 19:16; Exodus 24:16; Exodus 40:34 and often). However it may also connect with the rainbow on his head, for God promised that when He saw ‘the rainbow in the clouds' He would remember His covenant not to blot out all living creatures. So in the light of events we may see this as God renewing that promise. He will not blot out the whole earth. What follows may be awful, but it will be tempered with mercy.