The Mystery Of God

VARIOUS SCHOLARS EXPLAINED THE MEANING OF REVELATION 10:7
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REVELATION 10:7 “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”
EXPLANATIONS:
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FBN (Family Bible Notes): REV. 10:7 The mystery of God; his glorious plan for overthrowing the kingdom of Satan, and establishing the kingdom of Christ, which is the great theme of the Apocalypse. Though many things which God has promised by his prophets are for a time delayed, yet in due season they will all be perfectly accomplished. Till then his people should labor, and if need be suffer, with patience and in hope.
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ABBOT: REV. 10:7.The mystery of God; the designs of God, thus designated because they are mysteries veiled from the view of men.
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BARNES: REV. 10:7 Verse 7. But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel. The days in the period of time embraced by the sounding of the seventh trumpet. That is, the affairs of this world would not be consummated in that period embraced in the sounding of the sixth trumpet, but in that embraced in the sounding of the seventh and last of the trumpets.
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Compare Re 11:15-19. When he shall begin to sound. That is, the events referred to will commence at the period when the angel shall begin to sound. It will not be merely during or in that period, but the sounding of the trumpet, and the beginning of those events, will be contemporaneous. In other words, then would commence the reign of righteousness – the kingdom of the Messiah – the dominion of the saints on the earth. The mystery of God should be finished. On the meaning of the word mystery,
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Cmt. on Eph 1:9. It means here, as elsewhere in the New Testament, the purpose or truth of God which had been concealed, and which had not before been communicated to man. Here the particular reference is to the Divine purpose which had been long concealed respecting the destiny of the world, or respecting the setting up of his kingdom, but which had been progressively unfolded by the prophets.
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That purpose would be “finished,” or consummated, in the time when the seventh angel should begin to sound. Then all the “mystery” would be revealed; the plan would be unfolded; the Divine purpose, so long concealed, would be manifested, and the kingdom of the Messiah and of the saints would be set up on the earth. Under that period, the affairs of the world would be ultimately wound up, and the whole work of redemption completed. As he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
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As he has from time to time disclosed his purposes to mankind through the prophets. The reference here is, doubtless, to the prophets of the Old Testament, though the language would include all who at any time had uttered any predictions respecting the final condition of the world. These prophecies had been scattered along through many ages; but the angel says that at that time all that had been said respecting the setting up of the kingdom of God, the reign of the saints, and the dominion of the Redeemer on the earth, would be accomplished.
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Cmt. on Re 11:15. From the passage thus explained, if the interpretation is correct, it will follow that the sounding of the seventh trumpet (Re 11:15-18) is properly the conclusion of this series of visions, and denotes a “catastrophe” in the action, and that what follows is the commencement of a new series of visions.
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This is clear, because (a) the whole seven seals, comprising the seven trumpets of the seventh seal, must embrace one view of all coming events – since this embraced all that there was in the volume seen in the hand of him that sat on the throne;
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(b) this is properly implied in the word here rendered “should be finished” – telesqh – the fair meaning of which is, that the “mystery” here referred to – the hitherto unrevealed purpose or plan of God – would, under that trumpet, be consummated or complete, (see the conclusive reasoning of Professor Stuart on the meaning of the word, vol. ii. p. 210, foot-note;) and
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(c) it will be found in the course of the exposition that, at Re 11:19, there commences a new series of visions, embracing a view of the world in its religious aspect, or ecclesiastical characteristics, reaching down to the same consummation, and stating at the close of that (Revelation 20) more fully what is here (Re 1:15-18) designated in a more summary way – the final triumph of religion, and the establishment of the kingdom of the saints.
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The present series of visions (Re 5:1-11:18) relates rather to the outward or secular changes which would occur on the earth, which were to affect the welfare of the church, to the final consummation; the next series (Re 11:19 and chapters 12-20) relates to the church internally, the rise of Antichrist, and the effect of the rise of that formidable power on the internal history of the church, to the time of the overthrow of that power, and the triumphant establishment of the kingdom of God.
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In other words, this series of visions, terminating at Re 11:18, refers, as the leading thing, to what would occur in relation to the Roman empire considered as a secular power, in which the church would be interested; that which follows Re 11:19; 12:1-10. to the Roman power considered as a great apostasy, and setting up a mighty and most oppressive domination over the true church, manifested in deep corruption and bloody persecutions, running on in its disastrous influence on the world, until that power should be destroyed – Babylon fall – and the reign of the saints be introduced.
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{a} “seventh” Re 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.
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{b} “mystery” Ro 11:25; For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. Eph 3:5-9 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
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JFB (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary): REV. 10:7 The mystery of God; his glorious plan for overthrowing the kingdom of Satan, and establishing the kingdom of Christ, which is the great theme of the Apocalypse. Though many things which God has promised by his prophets are for a time delayed, yet in due season they will all be perfectly accomplished. Till then his people should labor, and if need be suffer, with patience and in hope.
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MHCC (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary): REV. 10:7 v1-7 The apostle saw another representation. The person communicating this discovery probably was our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, or it was to show his glory. He veils his glory, which is too great for mortal eyes to behold; and throws a veil upon his dispensations. A rainbow was upon his head; our Lord is always mindful of his covenant. His awful voice was echoed by seven thunders; solemn and terrible ways of discovering the mind of God.
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We know not the subjects of the seven thunders, nor the reasons for suppressing them. There are great events in history, perhaps relating to the Christian church, which are not noticed in open prophecy. The final salvation of the righteous, and the final success of true religion on earth, are engaged for by the unfailing word of the Lord. Though the time may not be yet, it cannot be far distant. Very soon, as to us, time will be no more; but if we are believers, a happy eternity will follow: we shall from heaven behold and rejoice in the triumphs of Christ, and his cause on earth.
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MHWBC (Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary):
REV.10:7 THE SEVEN THUNDERS. A. D. 95.
1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
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2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
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3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
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4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
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5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,
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6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
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7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets. Here we have an account of another vision the apostle was favoured with, between the sounding of the sixth trumpet and that of the seventh. And we observe,
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I. The person who was principally concerned in communicating this discovery to John – an angel from heaven, another mighty angel, who is so set forth as would induce one to think it could be no other than our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
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1. He was clothed with a cloud: he veils his glory, which is too great for mortality to behold; and he throws a veil upon his dispensations. Clouds and darkness are round about him.
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2. A rainbow was upon his head; he is always mindful of his covenant, and, when his conduct is most mysterious, yet it is perfectly just and faithful.

3. His face was as the sun, all bright, and full of lustre and majesty, Re 1:16.
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4. His feet were as pillars of fire; all his ways, both of grace and providence, are pure and steady.
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II. His station and posture: He set his right foot upon the sea and his left foot upon the earth, to show the absolute power and dominion he had over the world. And he held in his hand a little book opened, probably the same that was before sealed, but was now opened, and gradually fulfilled by him.
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III. His awful voice: He cried aloud, as when a lion roareth (Re 10:3), and his awful voice was echoed by seven thunders, seven solemn and terrible ways of discovering the mind of God.
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IV. The prohibition given to the apostle, that he should not publish, but conceal what he had learned from the seven thunders, Re 10:4. The apostle was for preserving and publishing every thing he saw and heard in these visions, but the time had not yet come.
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V. The solemn oath taken by this mighty angel.
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1. The manner of his swearing: He lifted up his hand to heaven, and swore by him that liveth for ever, by himself, as God often has done, or by God as God, to whom he, as Lord, Redeemer, and ruler of the world, now appeals.
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2. The matter of the oath: that there shall be time no longer; either,
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(1.) That there shall be now no longer delay in fulfilling the predictions of this book than till the last angel should sound; then every thing should be put into speedy execution: the mystery of God shall be finished, Re 10:7. Or,
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(2.) That when this mystery of God is finished time itself shall be no more, as being the measure of things that are in a mutable changing state; but all things shall be at length for ever fixed, and so time itself swallowed up in eternity.
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LEXICAL AID
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REV 10:7 “.. the mystery of God should be finished ..” #5055 Teleo from Telos #5056
(previous activity ceased, the person or thing ceases to be what he or it was. It doesn’t mean extinction. It means conclusion, it is finished.
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Termination of what was before. #5055 the goal, the end, it’s accomplished.
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Source: KJV Bible: SwordSearcher 4
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