The Seven Trumpets of Revelation

Chapter 12

--An Interlude with Jesus--

The Bible’s Most Amazing Oath

“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 must be linked closely to what follows. In this case what follows each “earth–sea” message is the seven thunders (vss 3-4) and that time is no longer delayed (vs 6).

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). 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, symbolizing God’s people (the Euphrates represents the wicked, the Hiddekel the righteous). The right hand was an oath of promise, the left was raised there, making an oath against His blood.

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 spilt 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.

Any time God’s hand is raised, it relates to either a time when apostate people are in captivity or deliverance of His choosen is about to occur. Here, and in Daniel, it is associated with the time God’s people are about to be delivered. Specifically, Jesus told Daniel that their deliverance (“wonders”) would come at the end of time, two times and a half time or three and a half years. Daniel also said that the special resurrection would occur at that time.

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. More on that shortly! To make sure we don’t mix up the times, in the next chapter John is told the period of persuceution will be 42 months (3½ years) (Revelation 11:2).

If Jesus takes an oath – legally “swares” – against the Father’s name, that is so solemn! Here and in Daniel that is seen within some of Scripture’s most amazing visions. What relates to those events and timing must be of utmost importance for us to understand. An oath, a timing message, a legal setting, divine appearances and events that bring history to its close. This must be a timing period just before Jesus comes again! And – that is exactly what it is. Scholars of many persuasions are recognizing that issue.

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 14:21, Judges 8:19, I Samuel 20:3). It placed the individual under it, under the authority and judgment of God. The phrase here “sware by him that liveth for ever and ever” adds “for ever, ever.” That is a phrase used often in Revelation (1:6; 4:9, 10; 11:15, 15:7). Why? The God of eternity is bringing time for man to a close!

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 would it 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 14:15, 17:24; Hebrews 11:3; Revelation 4:11, 14:7). But – in this incredible imagery of an oath about time, we are reminded of the Creator of time.

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 a simple phrase that time wouldn’t be delayed any longer. 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 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 that is specially remembered on the seventh-day Sabbath!

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.”³⁵

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. It states 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 8:19). This is explained further by Jesus Himself in Daniel 12. There, the “time of the end” (the same Hebrew words as in Daniel 8 and Habakkuk 2) would be when the sealed portion of Daniel’s scroll would be opened (12:4). Jesus further said that the great issues of that sealed vision would be three and a half years (12:7). What is Jesus meaning now here in Revelation 10:6? He is making a solemn declaration that the tarrying time has ended (“no longer a delay”). Since we’ve seen that amazing tie to Daniel 12 in these few verses, that announces that the beginning of the three and a half year period of Daniel 12:7 begins.

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 had 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 Babylon (“Babylon is fallen”): the ram, he-goat, little horn (second rise of the papacy – Daniel 11:30-45), Michael standing up, the great time of trouble, deliverance of God’s people and the resurrection. All of that great sequence now begins.

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 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 now 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 that time begins. What follows will be those events that start the three and a half years!

References:

¹The Home Missionary, 02/01/1890.

²Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 352 (1900).

³Selected Messages, bk 3, p. 392 (1891).

⁴Ibid., vol. 2, p. 105 (1896).

⁵Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 114-115 (emphasis added).

⁶Manuscript Releases, vol. 19, p. 320 (emphasis added).