Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire.
Parallel translations
- WEB I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.
- KJV 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:
- BSB Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire.
- NKJV I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.
- NASB I saw another strong angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was on his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire;
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A mighty angel descends, robed in cloud with a rainbow, sun-bright face, and fiery feet. His glorious appearance signals a weighty message from God.
Overview
Between the sixth and seventh trumpets, this interlude introduces a radiant angel whose features—cloud, rainbow, shining face, fiery pillars—echo descriptions of God and the glorified Christ (Revelation 1; Ezekiel 1; Exodus 13:21). Whether a created angel bearing God's glory or a manifestation of Christ Himself is debated among faithful interpreters. Either way, the splendor marks the importance of what follows. The rainbow recalls God's covenant mercy (Genesis 9) even in the midst of judgment.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 25
- Ezek 1:28As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of Yahweh’s glory. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.
- Matt 17:2He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.
- Rev 1:15–16His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters.
- Dan 10:6his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as flaming torches, and his arms and his feet like burnished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
- Rev 5:2I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?”
- Rev 4:3that looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald to look at.
- Rev 8:2–5I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
- Rev 9:13–14The sixth angel sounded. I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God,
- Rev 8:13I saw, and I heard an eagle, flying in mid heaven, saying with a loud voice, “Woe! Woe! Woe for those who dwell on the earth, because of the other voices of the trumpets of the three angels, who are yet to sound!”
- Ps 104:3He lays the beams of his rooms in the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He walks on the wings of the wind.
- Rev 14:14–15I looked, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud one sitting like a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
- Ps 97:2Clouds and darkness are around him. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
- Rev 7:1–2After this, I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, so that no wind would blow on the earth, or on the sea, or on any tree.
- Gen 9:11–17I will establish my covenant with you: All flesh will not be cut off any more by the waters of the flood. There will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.”
- Luke 21:27Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
- Exod 16:10As Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, Yahweh’s glory appeared in the cloud.
- Rev 10:5–6The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky,
- Lev 16:2and Yahweh said to Moses, “Tell Aaron your brother, not to come at all times into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; lest he die: for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat.
- Song 5:15His legs are like pillars of marble set on sockets of fine gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
- Isa 19:1The burden of Egypt: “Behold, Yahweh rides on a swift cloud, and comes to Egypt. The idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence; and the heart of Egypt will melt within it.
- Dan 7:13I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
- Isa 54:9“For this is like the waters of Noah to me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah will no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.
- Rev 1:7Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
- Lam 3:44You have covered yourself with a cloud, so that no prayer can pass through.
- Acts 26:13at noon, O king, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me.
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Christ at the center
Revelation ends the story with the slain-yet-standing Lamb who is worthy, the Lion of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the returning King who makes all things new and dwells with his people forever.
How Revelation 10:1 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.