October 20, 2022
During the days of the sixth trumpet, John sees another mighty angel coming down from heaven (Revelation 10:1). He is magnificently described (10:1,3) and descends to the earth setting his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land (v.2). In his hand is an open scroll that had previously been sealed (see Daniel 12:9). The angel appears and speaks with authority. He has come directly from the presence of Christ in heaven. The unsealing of this little scroll was a divine act, and the contents which were previously hidden are now revealed.
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 (vv.5-7).
The angel’s placement of his feet—on the sea and on the land—indicates that the authority he represents is over the whole earth. The worldwide significance of his message is undeniable. It is interesting that the two beasts of chapter 13 come from the sea and from the land. These beasts are empowered by the usurper, but that power is vastly overshadowed by the authority of the One from whom this mighty angel came.
In raising his hand to swear an oath, the angel is pointing John back to Daniel 12:5-7, the response to the question of how long before the persecution of the saints would be completed. That period, highlighted to us seven times in Scripture*, came to its completion exactly as prophesied. We have divine assurance that the time of the end has irrevocably been set into motion. God will deliver His faithful saints and bring to a close the history of fallen earth.
Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. Hebrews 6:17-18
*Daniel 7:25; 12:7; Revelation 11:2; 11:3; 12:6; 12:14; 13:5