Revelation 10:5-7
The End Times
In my last post, we explored Revelation 10:1-4 dealing with the Little Scroll and Seven Thunders. In this post, we continue the exploration of Revelation 10 by examining verses 5-7 on the issue of No More Delay.
“Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted his right hand toward heaven 6 and swore by the One who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it: “There will be no more delay; 7 on the contrary, in the days of the sound from the seventh angel when he sounds his shofar, the hidden plan of God will be brought to completion, the Good News as he proclaimed it to his servants the prophets.” ~ Revelation 10:5-7 (CJB)
“Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted his right hand toward heaven 6 and swore by the One who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it: “There will be no more delay….” In my last post, I indicated my belief that this angel is none other than Yeshua Himself. His stance is that of an avenging conqueror declaring ownership of that which rightfully belongs to Him. It is a graphic depiction of Yeshua taking possession of the inheritance promised Him by His Father (Psalms 2:6-9).
“…on the contrary, in the days of the sound from the seventh angel when he sounds his shofar, the hidden plan of God will be brought to completion, the Good News as he proclaimed it to his servants the prophets.” Yochanan is told that when the seventh shofar angel begins to sound that God will very quickly conclude the hidden plan of God that has been meticulously unfolding for several chapters. What is this mystery? Scripture makes mention of many mysteries (see Ephesians 1:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:7; 1 Timothy 3:16; Colossians 2:2; Romans 11:25; Revelation 1:20; 17:7). Nevertheless, this would seem to be yet another mystery. The hidden plan of God is the Good News, the Besorah. It includes both judgment, as described in the book of Revelation, and the overall outworking of history, including the salvation of the Jewish people and of others who come to faith. God proclaimed it to his servants the prophets. This phrase echoes Daniel 9:6: “We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our leaders, our ancestors and to all the people of the land,” even though, since they lived centuries earlier, they did not fully understand it (see also Daniel 12:8ff.).
Special Comparative Note on Chapter 10:5-7 [1]
Historicist Approach:
Historicists contend that as the Jews had been given centuries to repent of their rebellion against God, so the apostate papal church had been given centuries to end its ways and return to God. The ministry of Yeshua and His emissaries represented the last opportunity for the Jewish nation to repent before its destruction in 70 CE. With the announcement that there will be no more delay, the papal church was being given its final opportunity to return to God before coming under divine judgment. This opportunity was embodied in the Reformation.
Preterist Approach:
Preterists believe that the hidden plan of God refers to the fact that the predominately Jewish nature of the church was ended by the destruction of the Temple. Gentiles would come into the church on an equal footing with the Jews, not first by becoming Jews themselves.
Futurist Approach:
Most Futurists concur the hidden plan of God refers to God allowing Satan to have his way on earth. He had been permitted to be the god of this age deceiving the nations and now the time has come when the mystery of God will be completed.
Idealist Approach:
Idealists view the hidden plan of God as Sha’ul describes in Colossians 2:2. Romans 16:25, and Ephesians 3:3-6.
In my next post, we continue to explore Revelation 10. We will unpack Revelation 10:8-11 where Yochanan Eats the Scroll.
[1] Material in this section is taken from “Revelation: Four Views, Revised & Updated” by Steve Gregg. The notations in parenthesis are my comments.
My Heart is for Israel 
Seems like all the approaches apply. In any event, we are seeing the signs come to pass.
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Sometimes they do agree, but not very often and certainly not about the timing of the events.
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I’m catching up on my reading. I’m appreciating the way you are approaching this from the different positions.
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Thanks, Patrick. I need to give a big shout out to Anthony Baker over at https://therecoveringlegalist.com/. Anthony introduced me to Steve Gregg’s book on Revelation.
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