1 And I saw another mighty angel coming down out of heaven,…

2 He held in his hand a small scroll, which lay open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.

5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven.

6 And he swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it: “There will be no more delay!

7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he begins to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, just as He proclaimed to His servants the prophets.”

— Revelation 10:1-2, 5-7

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

— Colossians 1:27

9 And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ

10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.

— Ephesians 1:9-10

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, salvation and joy from Jesus Christ to you.

After the plagues of the first 6 trumpets, John said, “The I saw” which introduces another of his visions. This scene brings new life, joy, and energy instead of one terrible judgment after another. John saw another mighty angel, with the almost unmatched splendor, coming down from heaven and holding a scroll in his hand. This angel planted one foot firmly upon the sea and the other on land, which hints that the message of the scroll in his hand is for the entire world. Indeed God’s plan and purpose involves all of humanity and this scene depicts of a coming reality that heaven directly engages with earth.

The angel that stands over the world raises his right hand toward heaven. The angel swore the only oath recorded in Revelation that in the name of God who created the heavens, the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, there will be no more delay! This announcement signals God’s time for judgment and the fulfillment of His purposes is at hand. The angel vows, “When the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished.” The mystery of a hidden purpose of God will be revealed. Jesus’s first coming and the gospel of His grace reveals God’s mystery concerning Jesus Christ. Now the seventh trumpet will announce God’s completed purpose to exalt His Son over all things.