And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
As there was an episode between the sixth and seventh seals, so there is one (Revelation 10:1-11) after the sixth, introductory to the seventh trumpet (Revelation 11:15, the grand consummation). The Church and her fortunes are the subject: as the judgments on the unbelieving inhabiters of the earth (Revelation 8:13) were the subject of the fifth and sixth woe-trumpets. Revelation 6:11 is referred to, Revelation 10:6: the martyrs crying to be avenged were told they must 'rest yet for a little time.' In Revelation 10:6, they are assured 'there should be no longer (any interval of) time;' but (Revelation 10:7) at the trumpet sounding of the seventh angel, the mystery of God (His mighty plan heretofore hidden, but then to be revealed) shall be finished. The little open book (Revelation 10:2; Revelation 10:9-10) is given to John by the angel with a charge (Revelation 10:11) that he must prophesy again concerning х epi (G1909)] peoples, nations, tongues and kings (Revelation 11:1-19), only in so far as these affect ISRAEL AND THE CHURCH, the main object of the prophecy.
Another mighty angel - as distinguished from the mighty angel who asked as to the former more comprehensive book (Revelation 5:2), "Who is worthy to open the book?"
Clothed with a cloud - emblem of God coming in judgment (Revelation 1:7).
A. A B C 'Aleph (') read, 'the:' referring to the rainbow, in Revelation 4:3.
Rainbow was upon his head - emblem of covenant-mercy to God's people, amidst judgment on God's foes (note, Revelation 4:3).
Face was as ... the sun - (Revelation 1:16; Revelation 18:1.)
Feet as pillars of fire - (Ezekiel 1:7; Revelation 1:15.) The angel, as representative, reflects Christ's glory, and bears the insignia attributed in Revelation 1:15-16; Revelation 4:3, to Christ Himself. The pillar of fire by night led Israel through the wilderness: the symbol of God's presence.