March 31, 2022
[He] cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 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 10:3-4
The mighty angel’s cry, as when a lion roars, indicates that this message is from Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah. The immediate accompaniment of seven thunders symbolizes the voice of God. The use of the number seven indicates the fullness and totality of His divine plan. For John, it wasn’t only thundering sounds; he obviously understood what was being expressed and was ready to write it down. He was, however instructed not to write that part of the message. This seems quite strange, because elsewhere he is told to “Write the things that you have seen…” (1:19). Here we are reminded that The Lord will supply any relevant information necessary to equip us to carry out our assigned work. This unusual occurrence also creates a vivid contrast with the clearly articulated instruction to come later (vv.8-11).
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, 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 10:5-7
Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. Daniel 12:7
Revelation 10 echoes Daniel 12, with an important distinction: in Revelation 10:6 the phrase “there shall be time (or delay) no longer” replaces the phrase “a time, times, and half a time” (Daniel 12:7). The Revelation phrase shows us that we are near the end of earth’s history. The Daniel phrase is an explicit reference to the Dark Ages, the prophetic period of persecution of God’s people between 538AD and 1798AD, which is mentioned seven times in the scriptures (Daniel 7:25, 12:7, Revelation 11:2, 11:3, 12:6, 12:14, 13:5). Clearly God wants us to understand the time period of the Dark Ages as an important part of our preparation for the tribulation of the last days.
Daniel 7:25 gives us explicit details as to how the antichrist power, or “little horn,” operates in the medieval world through those who cooperate with him. It is mysterious to us that God allows counterfeit religion on such a massive scale, but we know that He has consistently declared that there would be opposition to the plan of salvation. Be encouraged, beloved, that the experience of seeking the Lord builds our ability to discern between the true and the false. Millions, though born directly under this “little horn” power, sincerely sought the Lord and were thus rewarded with opened eyes!
He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. Daniel 7:25