THE MYSTERY OF GOD IS ANNOUNCED

The Mystery of God is Now Announced Vs. 5-7

"And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven," "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:" "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."

The Guarantee of the Truth of the Angel's Message vs. 5-6

Since the mission upon which he has to come is so important, this angel swears by the creator who made all things. This guarantees that his message is true.

The Substance of His Message is: "delay no longer." 6b

This does not mean that time comes to an end. For time had a beginning but will never have an end. Verse 7 explains the meaning. It here has reference to time in the sense of delay in the execution of a plan. Cf. Matt. 24:40-48. "My Lord delayeth his" (cronizei mou o kurioV).

The Mystery of God is to be Finished vs. 7a

"But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished...."

This mystery is to be finished at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. The nature of this mystery was "good tidings." See RV. The end of this mystery was announced to the prophets. The seventh angel begins to sound in the middle of the week (Rev. 11:15-19).

The Message Received and Recorded by the Prophets vs. 7b

This mystery was why a God of holiness and power allowed evil to go on unpunished and good to suffer. Why does God not establish his kingdom and rule over men? Hab. 1:4; Psa. 73.

"Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth."

When Christ came and was rejected, the mystery became deeper. The mysteries of the kingdom were set forth in 7 parables (Mark 4:11). The proof that this general interpretation is correct is recorded in Rev. 11:15-19.

"And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:"

"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." "And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God," "Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned." "And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth." "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail."