The Revelation of St. John (1558) - Page 17

An angel clothed in a cloud, with a rainbow upon his head,
his feet like columns; the right upon the sea, the
left upon the land. A book from his hand
is devoured. Revelation 10.
original Latin: "Angelus amictus nube, iride in capite, pedes ut columnæ, dexter super mare, sinister super terram. Liber de manu eius deuoratur. Apocal. 10."

An angel surrounded by the cloud and rain-
bow / his feet like pillars / upon
the Sea and Land. The opened
book was eaten from his hand. Revelation 10.
original German: "Engel mit dem wolcken vnd regenbogen vmbgeben/ des füß wie pfeiler / auff dem Meer vnd Land. Das auffgethan bůch ward von seiner hand geſſen. Apocal. 10."

This passage describes the arrival of a "Mighty Angel" who marks a pause between the Sixth and Seventh Trumpets. The imagery of the cloud and rainbow emphasizes his divine authority, while his stance—one foot on the sea and one on the land—symbolizes God’s sovereignty over the entire world.

The "devouring of the book" refers to a symbolic act performed by Saint John. In the biblical text, he is told to eat the small scroll; it tastes as sweet as honey in his mouth but becomes bitter in his stomach, representing the dual nature of God's word: it is sweet to receive but contains bitter news of judgment and suffering for the world.