John had earlier described how the dragon had been thrown out of heaven (God’s dwelling) and exiled to earth (Revelation 12:7–9), so that “heaven” was indisputably the domain of victorious Jesus Christ (Revelation 12:10). On earth the dragon and his beasts exercised their evil authority and sought to destroy the woman (the church) ransomed by the Saviour’s blood. This angel, however, has been sent from heaven (domain of the triumphant Christ) to earth (where the dragon is worshiped as the god of this age, Revelation 13:4; John 12:31; 2 Corinthians 4:4), specifically to the skies above the earth to deliver his heavenly message.
6 Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.