1 AND I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, [ Same vision as Chapter 9 - seventh angel here. This chapter deals again with John were he is asked to remain on th earth until the Savior returns. The reason why and his responsibility - Perhaps we might asked the question that I am sure that John asked - What will I be doing during this time? Here we find the answers. ] clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, [ The token of God's merciful covenant with mankind. ] and his face was as it were the sun, [ So intensely glorious that it could not be looked on. ] and his feet as pillars of fire:

2 And he had in his hand a little book [ For the explaination of it's meaning see D&C 77:14. "14 Q. What are we to understand by the little book which was eaten by John, as mentioned in the 10th chapter of Revelation? A. We are to understand that it was a mission, and an ordinance, for him to gather the tribes of Israel; behold, this is Elias, who, as it is written, must come and restore all things." ] open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

[ The imagery used is derived from Ezek. 1, as follows:

Phrase Verse from Ezek. 1
------ ------------------
clothed with a cloud v. 4
rainbow was upon his head v. 28
face...as the...sun v. 13
feet as...fire v. 7

In using similar imagery John equates this "mighty" angel in
power and glory with Ezekiel's cherubim. ]

4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, [ or in other words he is touching all part of creation sea, land and heaven. see Philip 2:10 ]

6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: [ a better rendering of this text might be "there should no longer be a delay". ]

7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. [ All of God's mysteries including those things which are now obscure to mortal man will be fulfilled in the seventh seal. ]

8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.

9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; [ John is instructed to go an eat the tiny scroll in the angel's hand. The imagery is derived specifically from Ezek. 2:8-3:14, which also is related to Deut. 8:3. The scroll contains the word of God, and so it is sweet to the taste. But, what is says dooms mankind because of their rebellion, and so it makes John sick to his stomach, or as Ezekiel puts it "bitter". “John’s act of eating a book containing the word of God to him was in keeping with the custom and tradition of ancient Israel. The act signified that he was eating the bread of life, that he was partaking of the good word of God, that he was feasting upon the word of Christ—which was in his ‘mouth sweet as honey.’ But it made his ‘belly bitter’; that is the judgments and plagues promised those to whom the Lord’s word was sent caused him to despair and have sorrow of soul” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 3:507). “That the book was ‘sweet as honey’ in John’s mouth but ‘bitter’ in his belly (Revelation 10:10) may suggest that his mission would involve many sweet and joyous experiences but also rejection and painful experiences (see also Psalm 119:103)” (New Testament Student Manual [Church Educational System manual, 2014], 548). ] and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; [ “A great mission was given unto John because of his desire, and he is even now laboring as ‘a flaming fire and a ministering angel, for those who are heirs of salvation.’ In answer to a question as to the meaning of this vision of the book, At a conference of the Church, held June, 1831, Joseph Smith said ‘that John the Revelator was then among the ten tribes of Israel who had been led away by Shalmaneser, king of Assyria, to prepare them for their return from their long dispersion.’ (Documentary History of the Church, Vol. 1:176; Essentials in Church History, p. 126.)” (Smith, Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:48.) This is not referring to the remnants of Israel scattered among the various nations, but that supremely righteous segment of the Ten Tribes whom Moses said eventually would be gathered in from the “outmost parts of heaven.” Deuteronomy 30:4; see also Matthew 24:81; and D&C 138:7 and Pearl of Great Price 45:37. ] and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. [ See also D&C 7:1-3 as to why he was commanded to do so. When this mission was given, John was an old man far beyond the allotted years of three score and ten. Joseph Smith said: We are to understand that it was a mission, and an ordinance, for him to gather the tribes of Israel; behold, this is the Elias, who, as it is written must come and restore all things. (D. & C. 77:14.) In this case John's calling is different from Ezekiel's. John is called to preach to all of the house if Israel, where Ezekiel was called to preach specifically to specifically Judah only, cf. Ezek. 3:4-6. Why the difference? Because Israel/Judah has since been scattered to all nations. ] [ Compare this with: 1 Ne. 14: 18 And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me, saying: Look! 19 And I looked and beheld a man, and he was dressed in a white robe. 20 And the angel said unto me: Behold one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. 21 Behold, he shall see and write the remainder of these things; yea, and also many things which have been. 22 And he shall also write concerning the end of the world. 23 Wherefore, the things which he shall write are just and true; and behold they are written in the book which thou beheld proceeding out of the mouth of the Jew; and at the time they proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, or, at the time the book proceeded out of the mouth of the Jew, the things which were written were plain and pure, and most precious and easy to the understanding of all men. 24 And behold, the things which this apostle of the Lamb shall write are many things which thou hast seen; and behold, the remainder shalt thou see. 25 But the things which thou shalt see hereafter thou shalt not write; for the Lord God hath ordained the apostle of the Lamb of God that he should write them. 26 And also others who have been, to them hath he shown all things, and they have written them; and they are sealed up to come forth in their purity, according to the truth which is in the Lamb, in the own due time of the Lord, unto the house of Israel. 27 And I, Nephi, heard and bear record, that the name of the apostle of the Lamb was John, according to the word of the angel. Ezekiel 2:Verse 3a 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel... Ezekiel 2:7 And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: Ezekiel 2:9 And when I looked, behold, an hand [was] sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book [was] therein; Ezekiel 2:10 And he spread it before me; and it [was] written within and without: and [there was] written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe. Ezekiel 3:1 MOREOVER he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. Ezekiel 3:2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. Ezekiel 3:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat [it]; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. Ezekiel 3:4 And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them. Ezekiel 3:5 For thou [art] not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, [but] to the house of Israel;