The angel has the book open. He swears that there shall be no more time. He gives the book to John, who eats it up.

10 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow upon his head. And his face was as the sun, and his feet as it were pillars of fire. ² And he had in his hand a little book open. And he put his right foot upon the sea and his left foot on the land, ³ and bellowed with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. And when he had cried out, seven thunders spoke their voices. ⁴ And when the seven thunders had spoken their voices, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Seal up those things that the seven thunders spoke, and write them not.

⁵ And the angel that I saw standing upon the sea and upon the land lifted his hand up to heaven, ⁶ and swore by him who lives forevermore, who created heaven and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that time shall be no more, ⁷ but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he begins to blow, even the mystery of God shall be finished, as he preached by his servants the prophets.

⁸ And the voice that I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, Go, and take the little book that is open in the hand of the angel that stands upon the sea and upon the land. ⁹ And I went to the angel and said to him, Give me the little book. And he said to me, Take it and eat it up; and it will make your belly bitter, but it will be in your mouth as sweet as honey. ¹⁰ And I took the little book out of his hand and ate it up. And it was in my mouth as sweet as honey; and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. ¹¹ And he said to me, You must prophesy again among the people and nations and tongues, and to many kings.