This Almighty Angel is the Lord, because he stands supreme over the sea meaning humanity and over the land meaning Creation/Genesis. He swears to his highest office by himself. This Almighty Angel is the Angel of Yahweh's presence. Jesus would use the same manner of speech, for example:
I go up to my Father and your Father and my God and your God.
If we used your train of thought then you would rule out that Jesus is God right? .
We know that Jesus is God and what gives it away as far as this Almighty Angel, is that he has a rainbow above his head and when he speaks the seven thunders speak. The seven thunders is the Word coming directly from the mouth of God
Adam Clarke Commentaries:
Verse 1. Another mighty angel
Either Christ or his representative;
clothed with a cloud; a symbol of the Divine majesty.
A rainbow was upon his head
The token of God's merciful covenant with mankind.
His face was as it were the sun
So intensely glorious that it could not be looked on.
His feet as pillars of fire
To denote the rapidity and energy of his motions, and the stability of his counsels.
Verse 2. A little book open
Meaning probably some
design of God long concealed, but now about to be made manifest. But who knows what it means?
His right foot upon the sea, and his left-on the earth
To show that he had the command of each, and that his power was universal, all things being under his feet.
Coffman Commentaries:
I saw another strong angel ...
Some take this being to be Christ himself; but, as Earle wrote, "It is generally agreed that another mighty angel would not refer to the Son of God."
F12 Still it is true that this angel's description resembles that of the glorified Christ (
Revelation 1:16). Some have identified this angel as Gabriel,
F13 or Martin Luther;
F14 but it is our view that the rank and importance of this celestial being is to be stressed rather than his personal identity, which is not given. "Of all the angels who inhabit the pages of John's book, only three are called mighty.
Barnes Notes:
An angel descends from heaven, and the attention of the seer is for a time turned from the contemplation of what was passing in heaven to this new vision that appeared on the earth. This angel is clothed with a cloud; he is encircled by a rainbow; his face is as the sun, am/his feet like pillars of fire:--all indicating his exalted rank, and all such accompaniments as became a heavenly messenger.
John Darby:
Christ comes down and affirms His right to all below; puts His right foot on the sea, the left on the earth, and utters the voice of His might, to which the voice of the Almighty in power answers. But its revelations were sealed up; but Christ swears by Him who lives for ever and ever that there should be no more delay.
John Gill Commentaries:
(I hope you will laugh at this one! Can you even imagine "A mighty angel" and someone thinks this is referring to a man?)
And I saw another mighty angel…
Not any mere man, as Justin the emperor, as some have thought, who sent letters abroad in favour of the orthodox doctrine, against the Arians, which they suppose is meant by the little book open in his right hand; and still less the pope of Rome, whether in the sense of Papists or Protestants, which latter represent him as a tyrant, treading upon men both in the islands and in the continent, and holding forth the book of canons and decrees; rather, as Mr. Daubuz thinks, Luther, with the rest of the reformers, is intended, and especially since the prophecy of this chapter respects the Reformation, which began before the end of the sixth trumpet;
"but the uncreated Angel, the Lord Jesus Christ, seems rather designed, as appears both by comparing this with (
Daniel 12:7) (
10:5,6) ; and from the power lie gave to the two witnesses, (
Revelation 11:3)"
David Guzik:
Another mighty angel coming down from heaven: Many have identified this mighty angel, this messenger, as Jesus because some of the imagery also applies to Him. Revelation 1:15-16 also describes Jesus with
His countenance . . . like the sun shining in its strength.
i. But, angels are never clearly identified with Jesus in Revelation or in the New Testament, though He is clearly associated with the "Angel of the LORD" in the Old Testament. A better identification is with Michael, because there are also similarities to this mighty angel and to Michael as he is described in Daniel 12:1 and 12:6-7.
c. A rainbow was on his head: Not only is the rainbow a reminder of God's promise to man, but it is also a natural result when the sun shines through a cloud.
d. Whoever his exact identity, "clearly this angel has come from the very presence of God" (Barclay), and shows great might and authority.
Jamieson, Fausset, Brown Commentaries:
1. another mighty angel--as distinguished from the
mighty angel who asked as to the former and more comprehensive book (
Re 5:2), "Who is worthy to open the book?"
clothed with a cloud--the emblem of God coming in judgment.
a--A, B, C, and
Aleph read "the"; referring to (
Re 4:3)
the rainbow already mentioned.
rainbow upon his head--the emblem of covenant mercy to God's people, amidst judgments on God's foes. Resumed from
Re 4:3 (see on
Re 4:3).
face as . . . the sun-- (
Re 1:16; 18:1).
feet as pillars of fire-- (
Re 1:15; Eze 1:7). The angel, as representative of Christ, reflects His glory and bears the insignia attributed in
Re 1:15, 16; 4:3, to Christ Himself. The
pillar of fire by night led Israel through the wilderness, and was the symbol of God's presence.
Matthew Henry Commentaries:
I. The person who was principally concerned in communicating this discovery to John--an angel from heaven,
another mighty angel, who is so set forth as would induce one to think it could be no other than our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! 1. He was
clothed with a cloud: he veils his glory, which is too great for mortality to behold; and he throws a veil upon his dispensations.
Clouds and darkness are round about him. 2.
A rainbow was upon his head; he is always mindful of his covenant, and, when his conduct is most mysterious, yet it is perfectly just and faithful. 3.
His face was as the sun, all bright, and full of lustre and majesty,
Revelation 1:16. 4.
His feet were as pillars of fire; all his ways, both of grace and providence, are pure and steady.
II. His station and posture:
He set his right foot upon the sea and his left foot upon the earth, to show the absolute power and dominion he had over the world.
And he held in his hand a little book opened, probably the same that was before sealed, but was now opened, and gradually fulfilled by him.
III. His awful voice:
He cried aloud, as when a lion roareth (
Revelation 10:3), and his awful voice was echoed by
seven thunders, seven solemn and terrible ways of discovering the mind of God.
IV. The prohibition given to the apostle, that he should not publish, but conceal what he had learned from the seven thunders,
Revelation 10:4. The apostle was for preserving and publishing every thing he saw and heard in these visions, but the time had not yet come.
V. The solemn oath taken by this mighty angel. 1. The manner of his swearing:
He lifted up his hand to heaven, and swore by him that liveth for ever, by himself, as God often has done, or by God as God, to whom he, as Lord, Redeemer, and ruler of the world, now appeals. 2. The matter of the oath: that
there shall be time no longer; either, (1.) That there shall be now no longer delay in fulfilling the predictions of this book than till the last angel should sound; then every thing should be put into speedy execution:
Robertson's Word Pictures:
After discussing how this angel appeared wrote, "still no proof that this angel is Christ."
There you have it: the "experts" don't agree: Some think it is Jesus - yet some don't.
