“And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up
his hand to heaven”
(Revelation 10:5).
When the Bible repeats a message, as it does here (from verses 1 and 2), God
is making a statement that links these verses closely together and to what
immediately follows. In this case, what follows these two “earth–sea”
message is (1) the Seven Thunders (vss 3-4) and (2) that time is no longer
delayed (vs 6). They are event-driven timing messages.
Let’s see how this plays out. First, there is emphasis on the sovereign
power of Jesus. God “put all things under his feet” (Ephesians 1:19-23; cf.
I Corinthians 15:23-25, Psalm 110:1-7, Isaiah 66:1, Matthew 5:31-35, Hebrews
10:12-13).
From a position of supreme authority comes two timing decrees: The Thunders
(audible voice of nature) and a movement forward in time (audible voice of
Jesus). From inanimate nature to a divine Being, something that tarried has
come to its end. Some clock is now ticking. What is to now be revealed must
be momentous and of great consequence.
In this prodigious and commanding position, He lifts up His hand to heaven.
Jesus is about to take an oath. He does it in a position of dominion and
jurisdiction over the earth. We must anticipate that something stunningly
important is about to be said!
The lifting of the right hand as an oath is noted elsewhere (Deuteronomy
32:40; Exodus 6:8; Ezekiel 20:5, 15, 23, 42; cf. Genesis 14:22-23). There is
one place that is unique, with direct ties to this vision. Daniel records an
angel above the waters, clothed totally with linen. He has both hands
raised, taking an oath (Daniel 12:7). That was Jesus, dressed in a priestly
garb above the waters of a river, which symbolizes God’s people (the
How amazing! That was a message related to that portion of Daniel’s vision
that was sealed. Here, that book is open – but this time Jesus raises only
one hand. He already spilled His blood! There, it was in promise to God’s
people. Here it is an oath, where He is in a command and control position,
seen as a judge in glory, ready for His second coming.
When God’s hand is raised, it relates to a time when His people are in
captivity and deliverance of those chosen is imminent. Here, and in Daniel,
it is associated with such a time. Specifically, Jesus told Daniel
that their deliverance (“wonders”) would come at the
end
of time – time, two times and half
a time or three and a half years. Daniel also said that the
special resurrection would occur at the same time! (12:2).
In the next verse we will see that Jesus tells us that time is no longer
delayed
(Revelation
10:6-7), depicting the beginning
of that three and a half years. Daniel shows what happens at its end. John
is even more event-driven and specific relative to its start. More on that
shortly! To make sure we don’t mix up the times, in the next chapter John is
told that the period of persecution will be 42 months (3½
years) (Revelation 11:2), exactly what Daniel reported!
If Jesus takes an oath – legally swears – especially against the Father’s
name, that is onerous, solemn, grave and even fearful. An oath, a promise
over a timing prophecy? What period could that be? Outside of what led to
His first advent, there is only one other period of such solemn import, and
that is the time just before He returns the second time. An oath, a timing
message, a legal setting and a divine appearance reveal prophetic events
that bring history to its close! This is the time period just before Jesus
comes again! That is why these are some of the most important prophecies in
the whole Bible! Scholars of many persuasions are recognizing that.
His hand is raised high. The other holds the unsealed book of Daniel. Now
Jesus speaks. Lean forward in your seat, listen carefully. Every word He
says relates to us – right now!
“And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the
things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and
the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no
longer:”
(Revelation 10:6).
The most common form of an oath in the Old Testament was the phrase, “as the
Lord lives” (Numbers
This invites us to elevate our thinking and draw on the eloquent theme that
the end of sin, heartache and woe is presently anticipated. Deliverance is
at hand. Jesus is about to tell us exactly how much time is left!
This introductory phrase (“and sware by him”) in this verse is taken from
(and here it is again) Daniel 12:7. Daniel had asked how long it would be
until redemptive history culminates [in the finale themes of Michael
“standing up,” the great time of trouble, deliverance of God’s people and
the special resurrection (Daniel 12:1-2)]. Jesus is about to complete the
answer to that question.
But first, something breathtaking is noted. The Being Who lives for ever and
ever is identified as the Creator. More than that, the three spheres
of life – heaven, earth and sea – are noted. Reference to God’s creative
activity is rare outside the Old Testament (cf. Acts
It is so fascinating! Jesus, in the previous verse had His feet on the sea
and earth, plus He raised His hand into the heavens. Here, the oath is made
to the Creator of those three areas and all that they
encompass. What does that all mean?
The stimulating buildup is all over when a simple phrase
that time wouldn’t be delayed any
longer comes. BUT – and this is a provocative issue – when we tie these
thoughts elsewhere to similar areas in the Bible, a solemn message unfolds!
The reference to God’s creative activity is noted many places in the Old
Testament (Genesis 1:1; cf. Psalm 33:6, 102:25, 145:6; Isaiah 37:16, 42:5;
Jeremiah 32:17, 51:15), but in only one place is that special
little phrase, “and the things that therein are.” John is repeating part of
the Sabbath commandment in Exodus 20:10-11. These phrases remind us not only
of Daniel’s prophecy but of the God of creation Who is specially remembered
on the seventh-day Sabbath! It also honors the promised deliverance of God’s
people (Deuteronomy
The “time” that Daniel alludes to, the time that Jesus is about to unfold,
relates to when the Sabbath issue will link all these end-time events! This
is awesome. It means the Sabbath will be a great subject matter at the time
of Daniel 12 and Revelation 10!
Has that ever been observed before? Amazingly, yes. A Bible expositor from
the 1800’s knew all about that.
“The contest will be decided over the Sabbath question, which will agitate
the whole world.”[1]
“The Sabbath question is to be the issue in the great final conflict in
which all the world will act a part.”[2]
“The fourth commandment will be a great point at issue, for in the Sabbath
commandment the great Lawgiver identifies Himself as the Creator of the
heavens and the earth.”[3]
“The book that was sealed was not the book of Revelation, but that portion
of the prophecy of Daniel which related to the last days. The Scripture
says, ‘But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the
time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be
increased’ (Dan. 12:4). When the book was opened, the proclamation was made,
‘Time shall be no longer.’ (See Revelation 10:6.) The book of Daniel is now
unsealed, and the revelation made by Christ to John is to come to all the
inhabitants of the earth. By the increase of knowledge a people is to be
prepared to stand in the latter days.”[4]
“Twice Daniel inquired, How long shall it be to the end of time?
(Daniel 12).
“The book of Daniel is unsealed in the revelation to John, and
carries us forward to the last scenes of this earth’s history.”[5]
E. G. White makes a distinction in her writings between the unsealing of
Daniel and Daniel “standing in his lot.” That is important to grasp when
studying her works. She took the issue of those two prophetic books even
further.
“Daniel shall stand in his lot at the end of the days. John sees the little
book unsealed. Then Daniel’s prophecies have their proper place in the
first, second, and third angels’ messages to be given to the world. The
unsealing of the little book was the message in relation to
time.”[6]
There it is! Though this vision is event-driven (Seven Thunders) and
spiritually discerned, it is couched (as are most end-time prophecies)
within a timing framework. Would God have it any other way? Never! God
always sees that man’s hope is based on reasonable expectations. Timing
prophecies tied to the end of time are part of His beautiful way of
communicating truth to us.
What does it mean “that there should be time no longer?” The King James
Version does not convey the deeper meaning. More dynamic or clear versions
state that “there will be no more delay” (NIV) or “there should be no more
delay” (RSV).
What delay comes to an end? A tarrying time. Habakkuk 2:2-3 describes in
language related to the eschaton that at the
appointed time the tarrying time
or delay comes to an end. Daniel picks up this timing theme and states that
the appointed time is at the end
of time (Daniel
Further – and this is exciting! – that means that all of the chazown
vision of Daniel 8–12, the sealed portion, will begin to occur! Daniel 8–12
has two visions. One, the mareh, which was never sealed. The second,
the chazown, which was sealed and now is open. The Loud Cry can now
begin!
What does the chazown vision include? Everything after the fall of
What did E. G. White say? All those things were in relation to time and will
tie to the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14 right at the end of time.
That is when the Sabbath question will become a major issue. Not until all
this occurs can the seventh Trumpet begin to sound and the “mystery of God
be finished.”
The great question of Daniel was “How long will it be?” (Daniel 12:6). The
time period just preceding the eschaton, predicted by Daniel, has arrived.
Nothing can hold it back now.
The designations for three and a half years have not appeared yet in
Revelation. But during this interlude they will be presented to make certain
the link with Daniel isn’t lost (11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5). A three and a half
year period instigates the final events of earth’s history. It ends at the
deliverance of God’s people.
Daniel 12 gave us the events that ended that three and a half year period.
Here, Jesus declares when that time begins. What follows will be those
events that start and occur during that three and a half years!