Author: Charlie Garrett

Saturday, 30 January 2021

but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. Revelation 10:7

The wording of this verse anticipates what is coming in Chapter 11. In verse 11:15, the seventh angel will sound. For now, and in anticipation of that, it says, “but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel.” The words are based upon what was said in the previous verse. There, it said, “that there should be delay no longer.”

The words here are given to confirm that thought. However, there is not a set moment that he is referring to. Instead, it details events occurring over a period of time. As it says, “in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel.” In other words, one might look at the birth of Christ. That happened at a set moment. However, someone may write about the events that were to occur at that time. In this, he would write, “In the days of the coming of Messiah such and such will be the state of the world.”

The sounding of the trumpet is a set event at a set moment, but the events leading up to it actually precede the event. This is then confirmed by the words, “when he is about to sound.”

The way these words are translated will make all the difference in how the events will be interpreted. Some translations to consider –

when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished – NKJV
When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled – NLT
but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled – ESV
but in the days of the sound of the seventh angel, when he will blow his trumpet, then God’s hidden plan will be completed – HCSB
When the time approaches for the seventh angel to blow his trumpet, God’s secret plan will be fulfilled – ISV
but in the days of the voice of the seventh messenger, when he may be about to sound, and the secret of God may be finished – YLT

These are but a few variations of these difficult words. In them are a variety of ideas about how the events will occur. However, the main two ideas are that either 1) the events will occur upon the sounding of the trumpet, or 2) the events will occur before the sounding. The verb is present subjunctive. The other two uses of the verb in this same form are found in Mark 13:4 and Luke 21:7. But even there, the words are variously translated.

The idea is that things will happen in a period of time surrounding the sounding. Thus, the words “when he is about to sound” give the right sense. The timing of the sounding of the seventh trumpet completes the set of events that occur. It does not initiate them. It is during this period that “the mystery of God would be finished.”

The word used as “mystery” signifies the things known only to God, but which are revealed by the unfolding of His plans. It is something not knowable except as is revealed specifically by Him. Thus, the mystery here is the consummation of the hidden things of God. It is their final unveiling. With that understood, John finishes the verse with “as He declared to His servants the prophets.”

Here the word signifying the gospel, or good news, is translated as “declared.” God has declared that things will be made right. The world will receive its renewal, and wickedness will be eradicated. In the time when the seventh angel is about to sound, these things will be fully revealed. Matthew Poole seems to be correct when he says of this, “generally, whatsoever God hath revealed concerning the propagation of the gospel, the ruin of antichrist, and the end of the world.”

All of these things will have come to their completion when the seventh trumpet is sounded. John writes about it as if it is already accomplished because God is there at the end, revealing it to him for us to know that He is in control of what is coming.

Life application: A mystery in the New Testament is something that was previously unknown, and which is now revealed. There are several mysteries spoken of by Jesus and the apostles. The Old Testament saints saw, for example, a time when there would be great tribulation on earth and they also saw a time when there would be a reign of righteousness on earth. When these and many other things were declared to them, they wrote them down, but they didn’t understand how these things tied together with the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Peter describes this process in his first epistle –

“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, ¹¹ searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. ¹² To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.” 1 Peter 1:10-12

We now have a fuller description of these things, and many of the things that were hidden are now more fully explained. However, the actual events still need to be unfolded in the stream of time. We are provided with the outline of those events. These are stated as absolute assurances, or as accomplished facts, thus giving us complete confidence that what is prophesied is as good as done. With this thought, we can then be fully assured that we will be tended to as God has promised. As we who have called on Him through Christ are now “in Christ,” our worries should be behind us. He could no more reject or abandon us than He would do so to His own dear Son, JESUS.

O God! How blessed we are to read the words of Scripture and to see that it is all accomplished in Your mind. We are just watching the events that You have told us about unfold before our eyes. May we handle this knowledge with great care, knowing that it has been given for our understanding of what is to come and for our comfort that You have it all under control. Amen.

Friday, 29 January 2021

and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, Revelation 10:6

The words continue from the previous verse where the mighty Angel raised His hand to heaven. John now says, “and swore by Him who lives forever and ever.” Rather than “by,” the Greek reads “in.” He “swore in Him who lives forever and ever.”

As noted in the previous verse, this is something the Lord does in the Old Testament. He will swear by Himself in order to stress the importance of a matter –

“‘But if you will not hear these words, I swear by [Hebrew bi: in] Myself,’ says the Lord, ‘that this house shall become a desolation.’” Jeremiah 22:5

Therefore, the words now conveyed by John do not negate the possibility of the Angel being the Lord Jesus, as some commentaries state. The words “forever and ever” are repeated from earlier in Revelation when speaking of Jesus, such as in verse 4:9, 10; 5:13, 14; and 7:12. It is He “who created heaven and the things that are in it.”

This is Jesus, as noted by Paul in Colossians 1:15 –

“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven…”

John continues with, “the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it.” This is Jesus, as noted by Paul in the continuance of Colossians 1:15 –

“…and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

The reason for swearing in this manner is to demonstrate the absolute surety of the statement to come. Just as the Lord has created all things in heaven and in earth by His own power and wisdom, so He is in control over those things. What He will speak is as certain to us as the nature of the very universe He spoke into existence. And even more certain because it is a result of His word. And the oath He makes is “that there should be delay no longer.”

The Greek literally reads, “time no longer shall be.” Various interpretations have arisen as to the meaning of this. One is that time, as it now exists, will end. In other words, the eternal state will commence. Another is that presented by the NKJV, “there should be delay no longer.”

The second is correct. However, even that is then debated. Is it referring to an end to a time of repentance? Is it that when the seventh trumpet is sounded (see next verse) the end of the time set forth will come?

What may be the case is that the angel is responding to the call made back in verse 6:10 –

“And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’”

The answer to their question was that “they should rest a little while longer.” The Angel’s oath now may be that the time to avenge their blood has come. It is hard to be dogmatic over the words as they are future to us now. However, because of the fact that the oath is made by the Lord Himself, that which is promised will surely come to pass.

Life application: What is seen here is a binding oath. It is one that reflects the very nature of God, who is everlasting. As the Creator, he existed before the creation and He will endure for all time, throughout eternal ages. The vow is eternal in nature and cannot be changed.

If this vow refers to the opportunity for repentance, it indicates that there is only a short time left to turn to righteousness. When the judgments arrive, it will be too late. With that thought in mind, it should be noted that each human already faces such a deadline. In reality, we don’t know the moment of our death. It could be today in an accident or by the stopping of our heart. We could be killed by an intruder or choke on our dinner. We simply don’t know the time of our end, and therefore we must be ready at every moment for the Lord to come for us. Let us be found ready.

And to be found ready means to be right with God. To be right with God is to have faith in His provision. And that provision is only found in the giving of His Son for our sin. Be right with God today. Call out to Him through JESUS.

Lord God, we have a date to meet You that was set before the creation of the world. And we do not know when that moment will arrive. Each of us is destined to stand before You in judgment. In Your wisdom, You created us and have allowed us to decide which path we will follow. May we make the right decision that is pleasing to You by calling out to Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins now. Help us to be wise in this. Amen.

Thursday, 28 January 2021

The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven Revelation 10:5

John continues the vision of the “mighty angel” who came down from heaven as noted in verse 10:1. Of this Angel (capitalized because it is certainly referring to the Lord Jesus), John says, “The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land.” That was noted in verse 10:2, and it was a note of claiming rule and authority over both the sea and the land and all business conducted in connection with them. It is a note of supreme authority.

While in this stance, John says He “raised up his hand to heaven.” Many manuscripts say, “his right hand,” and this might be the case here. The right hand is the hand that is often used in such instances of vows, blessing, and the like. Raising one’s hand in an oath goes back even to the book of Genesis –

“But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, ²³ that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, “I have made Abram rich”— ²⁴ except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.’” Genesis 14:22-24

The symbolism is that of calling on heaven to witness the act, and thus it is a solemn affirmation that what is stated will be performed.

This verse, combined with the next one to come, provides a reason why scholars have denied that this Angel is Jesus. In the next verse, the raising of the hand is accompanied by swearing by “Him who lives forever and ever.” If this Angel is swearing by “Him who lives for ever and ever,” the thought is that it cannot be Jesus because Jesus is God and it is He who lives for ever and ever. This logic is incorrect.

Deuteronomy 32:40, Jeremiah 22:5, Daniel 12:7, and elsewhere contain such vows made by the Lord when speaking of Himself. For the Angel to raise His hand to heaven and make such a statement in no way negates His deity.

The only thing that can be inferred from this verse is that an oath is going to be made, and it is being made by One who has authority over the sea and the land. Here is how the Lord presents His vow in Deuteronomy 32 –

“For I raise My hand to heaven,
And say, “As I live forever,
⁴¹ If I whet My glittering sword,
And My hand takes hold on judgment,
I will render vengeance to My enemies,
And repay those who hate Me.” Deuteronomy 32:40, 21

Life application: When God swears by Himself, in either testament, it is making a proclamation that what is said will absolutely and assuredly come to pass. We have every confidence that what God speaks is absolute truth and that the Bible is God’s word.

Whatever God says, as is recorded in His word, is as an oath. This is because God is unchanging in His being. What He speaks forth will come to pass. And any promise He has made shall be fulfilled. God has spoken in His word that those who come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ will be granted eternal life. Be comforted in this thought and be confident in your salvation. God has spoken, and His Son has performed according to that word. We have a sure and eternal hope because of God’s unfailing promise – the giving of JESUS.

We know, O God, that You can do all things and that You have all authority and all power. We also know that Your word is truth and that what You proclaim will surely come to pass. Thank You for having given us such confidence. By resting in Your truth, we can live at peace in this world full of trouble and trial. Amen.

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.” Revelation 10:4

In this verse is an enduring enigma that has both tempted and frustrated scholars for millennia. John just wrote in the previous verse that when the conquering Angel cried out, the “seven thunders uttered their voices.” John now continues that thought by saying, “Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices.”

In other words, we are being shown – explicitly – that John wrote Revelation as the events came to his eyes. That corresponds with verse 1:11. There, it said, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches.” John didn’t see the events and then write them down at some later point, but he was writing as he saw the visions. That is confirmed by the words, “I was about to write.”

Like a journalist taking down the events as they occurred, so John was compiling what he saw. This gives us the surety that what he saw was carefully and accurately detailed. With a large number of events, with many details in events, or with time between events, things can get jumbled up in the mind. To ensure that what was seen was recorded without any of these problems, John chronicled the events as they occurred. In the case of the seven thunders, John was just about to write them down. However, he was stopped from doing so. As it says, “but a voice from heaven said to me.”

Like several other times in Revelation, a voice speaks even though the speaker remains unidentified. However, it can be inferred that this is the Lord Jesus. This is because the Lord instructed him to write in the first place. As this is so, it would be the continued voice of the Lord, speaking out instruction concerning His word to the churches (as indicated above).

With this in mind, the voice then says to John, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.” The seven thunders are the voice of the Lord speaking out seven truths, commands, prophecies, or etc. The Greek word translated as “thunder” is found only two times outside of Revelation. One is in the naming of John and his brother James “Sons of Thunder” in Mark 3:17. The other time is in John 12 –

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
²⁹ Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
³⁰ Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.” John 12:27-30

John is specifically told to not write down what these thunders state, clearly indicating that the thunders are conveyed as intelligent words. However, what is uttered is not to be recorded. This is similar to what was conveyed to Daniel –

“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Daniel 12:4

Daniel was given the word, but he did not understand what he was presented. Because of this, he asked about the matter (Daniel 12:8). From there, the answer was –

“Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” Daniel 12:9

What then is a possibility concerning these seven thunders is that the events that are now being recorded actually occur chronologically in conjunction with what is said in Revelation 8 where the same word translated as “thunder” is used –

“Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.” Revelation 8:5

In other words, like the opening of the seventh seal (Revelation 8:1) which may actually have preceded the events of Chapter 7, this vision John is now seeing is chronologically occurring before, or in conjunction with, the sounding of the seven trumpets. As confusing as this may seem, it must be remembered that the events from verse 10:1 through 11:14 are being inserted between the sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpet, just as the events of Chapter 7 occurred between the loosing of the sixth and seventh seal.

As noted in the Revelation 8:1 commentary, the same happens numerous times elsewhere in Scripture, such as where the book of Ruth follows the book of Judges, but its events occur during the time of the Judges. Thus, the main events of Judges are laid out, and then the information of Ruth (that occurred during Judges) is filled in afterward.

This seems more certain when considering what it will say in verse 10:7 –

“but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.”

The mystery of God is finished at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. When the seventh trumpet is sounded (verse 11:15), it will say, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

Therefore, the words of “seven thunders” are unknown, but the function of them is not. They are given to direct the events of the apocalypse through to its completion.

Life application: Because the voice of this verse comes from heaven and directs the Angel, some scholars have decided that the Angel can’t be Jesus. But we have already seen on several occasions that Jesus fulfills sequential roles of the heavenly court – such as in Revelation 4 and 5 where Jesus is sitting on the throne and then hands the scroll to the Lamb who is Jesus. In other words, we are seeing the “unveiling” or “revealing” of Jesus. Just because we see sequential things occur from different places, and which include interaction between individuals who are present, it doesn’t negate that they are all Jesus.

As for the words from Daniel 12 that were cited above, the book of Revelation is the “time of the end.” It is revealing the things Daniel wasn’t understanding. However, even in Revelation, there are things that are sealed. God has chosen to reveal His Son in the way which He has determined, and we are not privy to all of the information concerning the coming time of tribulation. His plan will come to pass as He directs, and in order for that to happen, the seven thunders must remain hidden.

Though what is said isn’t revealed, it is surely a call for judgment. In Job 37, we read this parallel –

“At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
² Hear attentively the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
³ He sends it forth under the whole heaven,
His lightning to the ends of the earth.
⁴ After it a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
⁵ God thunders marvelously with His voice;
He does great things which we cannot comprehend.” Job 37:1-5

In the end, we may not have the words of the seven thunders, but we can understand their function. Like the voice that thundered in John 12 (above), the purpose of the voice of the Lord is ultimately to reveal to us JESUS.

Lord God, it sure is exciting to see the events of redemptive history unfolding before our very eyes. And yet, there are things that are hidden from us as well. Because of this, we when we read Your word, we stretch our minds – hoping to see that which is beyond our eyes. How wise You are in how You have presented the future to us. You provide enough so that we can know when You have acted to fulfill prophecy, but You withhold enough so that we must wait for the prophecies to come about. Thank You, O God, for giving us both hope in Your word, and surety in what it proclaims as it comes to pass. Amen.

Tuesday, 26 January 2021

and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. Revelation 10:3

The words now refer to the mighty angel of the previous verses. It said he had a little book open in his hand, and he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. With that done, it now says he “cried with a loud voice.” The words are certainly stated to provide emphasis. Having placed His feet on the sea and on the land, He was making an absolute claim over them both. The loud voice crying out accompanies that act in order to proclaim this. John then says, “as when a lion roars.”

The Greek work mukaomai, translated as “roar,” is found only here in the Bible. Vincent’s Word Studies notes, “The verb here is originally applied to the lowing of cattle, expressing the sound, moo-ka-omai. Both Aristophanes and Theocritus use it of the roar of the lion, and the former of thunder.” Bengel then says that it “expresses the voice of an animal under the influence of hunger or anger.”

This note of the roaring continues the emphasis. The lion is the king of his realm and the fiercest animal of his domain. When he roars, it is a sound of terror to those who hear it. The symbolism is one of ferocity and a source of great fear for all who hear it. It is loud and it elicits fear. The connection seems to be that the claim over the land and sea is made, but there are those who are rebellious still. The roaring is intended to let them know that the peaceful Lamb is also the terrifying Lion – the Lion of Judah (verse 5:5). In other words, this is another clue that the angel is, in fact, the Lord Jesus.

With this noted by John, he next says, “When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.” The Greek bears the definite article which should not be excluded – “the seven thunders.” Much speculation is made concerning what these are. This is especially so because they are not mentioned anywhere else. However, a few points to consider are that the word translated as “thunder” is found seven times outside of Revelation 10 (meaning ten times total). It is always connected with events that occur around the heavenly throne. Also, the first time the thunders are mentioned was in verse 4:5 –

“And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”

It may be that the seven thunders are voices speaking out revelation from these seven Spirits of God. This seems more assured when considering that the voice of the Lord speaks out seven voices in Psalm 29 –

Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones,
Give unto the Lord glory and strength.
² Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name;
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
³ The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The Lord is over many waters.
⁴ The voice of the Lord is powerful;
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
⁵ The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars,
Yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon.
⁶ He makes them also skip like a calf,
Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.
⁷ The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire.
⁸ The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
The Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh.
⁹ The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth,
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”
¹⁰ The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood,
And the Lord sits as King forever.
¹¹ The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.

Life application: The voice of God is majestic and marvelous, and with His utterances, great things occur. As the voice of God is recorded in the pages of the Bible, we should be looking there for our instruction, insight, wisdom, and counsel. Let us never fail to pay heed to what it says, applying His word to our conduct at all times.

We cannot know God without knowing Jesus, and we cannot know Jesus without knowing the Bible. Do you want to have intimacy with God? Read the Bible and there you will find the highest expression of His love and tender care for you. There you will find JESUS.

Lord, we know that we as humans have two choices: to hear Your tender call as the Shepherd of Your saved sheep, or to hear Your terrifying voice as the great Judge of lost humanity. We thank You for having called us out of darkness into Your light,and we pray for those we love who have not yet responded to this call. May You work upon their hearts and bring them to You. Amen.