A little scroll: this differs from the scroll in 5.1; this one is small and is not sealed, but lies open, that is, unrolled, in the angel’s hand (see Ezek 2.10). A Greek diminutive form for “scroll” is used, hence little scroll. Its contents can be seen. If a translation must specify which hand of the angel is meant, probably the right hand should be chosen. So another way of expressing this clause is “He held a small unrolled scroll (or, paper document) in his hand.”

His right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land: this indicates that the angel is gigantic. It is pointless to try to identify the sea as the Mediterranean. The picture is meant to show that the message is for the inhabitants of the whole earth. So it is possible to say “He put his right foot down upon (or, on the surface of) the oceans, and his left foot on the dry land.”

Quoted with permission from Bratcher, Robert G. and Hatton, Howard A. A Handbook on The Revelation to John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1993. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .