Before attempting to understand the vision in its completeness, it is helpful to take the symbols used in Revelation 10 and consider their significance as used generally in Scripture.
A Mighty Angel = the implementer of God's purpose
A Cloud = a multitude of people
Clothed with a cloud = the multitude given to him i.e. he is their leader
A Rainbow = the sign of God's covenant
Rainbow upon his head = crowned with a rainbow i.e. the King of God's covenant (with David)
Face as the sun = His countenance destroying with intense heat
Feet as pillars of fire = a march of destruction
The vision is of Jesus (the Mighty Angel), the king of the Davidic Covenant (the Rainbow being upon his head), clothed with the saintly host (the cloud), going forth with a destructive countenance (face as it were the sun) and treading his enemies under his feet (feet as pillars of fire).
It is the same symbolic man of the vision described in Revelation 1, concerning the 'one like unto the Son of man" (see Revelation 1:13).Revelation 1:13XWaiting for response It represents the same glorified community as that represented in Revelation 4, with the four living ones clothed about the occupant of the rainbow-encircled throne (see Revelation 4:3,6-8).Revelation 4:3,6-8XWaiting for response These two visions portrayed the multitudinous Son of man, Jesus and the saints, executing the judgments upon the nations in order to bring to an end their wickedness against God.
The subdivisions of Revelation - The seven thunders are last chronoligically as this vision jumps forward to Jesus' return to the earth
Another Mighty Angel – A Rainbow upon his Head
The vision particularly represents Jesus and the glorified saints conquering the nations, in order to implement that portion of God's purpose defined in the little scroll - rather than describing that complete purpose of God defined in the large, or seven-sealed scroll. The multitudinous Christ is depicted with his right foot upon the sea, symbolising his conquest over those imperial beasts which Daniel saw arising out of the sea (Daniel 7) - particularly the lion, the bear and the leopard (Daniel 7:3-6).Daniel 7:3-6XWaiting for response Revelation 13 describes these as ''the beast of the sea" (Revelation 13:1-2).Revelation 13:1-2XWaiting for response The multitudinous Christ is also depicted with his left foot upon the earth, symbolising his conquest over the diverse beast which Daniel saw (Daniel 7:7).Daniel 7:7XWaiting for response Revelation 13 describes this as the "beast coming up out of the earth" (Revelation 13:11).Revelation 13:11XWaiting for response These two areas are seen in the development of their opposition to Jesus and the saints in the following chapters. The seven thunders represented the judgments by which the saints execute vengeance upon Babylon.
The mighty angel sware by an oath, making the matter a divine undertaking which could never be broken, that the longsuffering of God would have an end. The judgments pronounced would certainly be carried out. The pouring out of the judgments was to be during the course of the soundings of the seventh angel, i.e. would be the subject of the seventh trumpet (3rd Woe) sounding v.7.Revelation 10:7XWaiting for response During the course of that sounding, the mystery of God (the Gospel of the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, and the inclusion of Gentiles in that purpose - e.g. Ephesians 3:3-9)Ephesians 3:3-9XWaiting for response would be fulfilled. The saints, being invited to take the little scroll out of the hand of the angel, were thereby invited to be the means of its fulfilment. They were to implement that plan recorded in the little scroll.
The Mystery of God should be Finished
The eating of the scroll symbolised the saints receiving the instructions contained in the little scroll (e.g. Jeremiah 15:16).Jeremiah 15:16XWaiting for response They were to take them in and digest the plan of action to be carried out. The scope of the plan was restricted to those things concerning the judgments of God upon Babylon, and related to a short time by comparison with the long time of God's total purpose revealed in the seven-sealed scroll. Nevertheless, this last stage of God's judgments was to be particularly severe. It was, as we would say, sweetness to the saints' ears that God's great foe was to be destroyed. He had been guilty of the blood of the saints of many ages. His day was coming. Nevertheless, there was a sense in which the matter, once digested, would bring a feeling of bitterness within the stomach of the saints. The joy developed by the prospect of justice being done at last, was immediately followed by bitterness evoked by the recollection of the terrible crimes perpetrated which merited such judgments. Only vengeance will expunge the deep feeling of bitterness against those that have shed so much righteous blood by the most foul means.
Take it and eat it up
The tenth chapter of Revelation commences a new phase in the symbolic representation of God's plan. As is the pattern of the book, it provides a vision of the end of the matter before going back in time to consider a particular line of developments which led to that end.