August 4: THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 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 10:5-6
Here we see a strong parallel to Daniel 12:7. The enactment of the most binding of oaths are sworn upon the name of the Immortal One, the Creator. God Himself swore upon His own name, for there is no one greater by whom to swear. Such an oath is meant as confirmation for the purpose of eradicating all doubt, question or dispute. (see Hebrews 6:13-16).
In our time and setting, with the return of Jesus fast approaching, it is crucial to understand the various references to time. Creation was accomplished in six 24-hour days. Yesterday, we saw the prophetic seven-count mention of the time period of papal Rome’s unhindered rampage. It reached the beginning point of being unhindered in AD538 and continued for 1260 years.
Today’s opening verses point us back to the fourth commandment, identifying the LORD as Creator (Exodus 20:11). This is the foundational identity of the one true God, for creating is the outpouring or expression of the essence of His nature: LOVE.
The phrase delay no longer is often translated time no longer. What does this mean? For one thing, it means that there is no time to waste. It means that the time has come to clear away the rubbish that has been piled for centuries upon the beautiful simplicity of the message of salvation. Every day that is spent in misunderstanding our God and Savior increases the prospect of spiritual confusion and deception in these last days (see Matthew 24:4).
As we will see in the unfolding of Daniel’s writings and the direct connection with the Revelation of Jesus Christ, prophetic time is very accurate and specific. But once the time of the end has been launched, it is purposefully non-specific. It leads up to a single day: the day of Christ’s return. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matthew 24:36). The intended precept behind not knowing the day nor hour of Christ’s return is to expect Him now! To get ready, to be ready, and to live in readiness!
We will continue to study this distinction regarding time. It involves understanding sanctuary language, for this is where God vividly illustrates for us His perfect solution for the sin problem. The reference to time or delay in our opening verses, which the angel declares with a solemn oath, addresses the “elephant in the room”: the long-standing tension created by the universal question of God’s faithful (both angels and people): “How long…?” (Daniel 8:13, Revelation 6:10). The longest time prophesy in the Bible is also the one that brings prophetic time to a close. Beyond that launching point, it is not for [us] to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority (Acts 1:7). But you can know the great freedom that comes when you walk with Jesus in the light of His word, whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (James 4:14, John 8:31-32)