And they said to me [Note: The plural “they” may mean simply “it was told to me”], “You must prophesy again about many races, and nations, and language groups and kings.”
So, I took the little book from the angel’s hand and ate it. And [sure enough], it was sweet as honey to my taste, but after eating it, it gave me a sour stomach.
Then there was given to me a measuring stick that looked like a [tree] branch. I was told [Note: Neither the giver nor the speaker are identified], “Get up and measure the Temple of God, and the Altar and [count] those who worship there,
And people from among the races and tribes and language groups and nations will gaze at their dead bodies for three and a half days, and they will not permit their bodies to be buried.
Then I saw another angel flying in midair. He had eternal good news to proclaim to those who lived on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language group and race.
“And the ten horns you saw are ten kings, who have not received a kingdom yet, but for one hour they will receive authority as kings, along with the beast.
Then the angel [See verses 1,7] said to me, “The waters you saw, on which the prostitute sits [See verse 1] are races, crowds, nations and language groups.
And they sang a new song [which went like this]: “You deserve to take the book and break the seals on it, for you were killed and, with your blood, you purchased people for God from every tribe and language and race and nation,