Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 10:5

"And the angel that I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his right hand to heaven," — Revelation 10:5 (ASV)

The angel’s action of raising his right hand to heaven doubtless alludes to the Jewish oath-swearing procedure (Daniel 12:7). He swears that “there will be no more delay” (v.6). Clearly there is some type of progression in the seals, trumpets, and bowls that nears its conclusion as the seventh trumpet is about to sound (v.7). When the seventh trumpet is finally sounded, there is an announcement that “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ” and that the time has come to judge the dead, to reward the saints, and to destroy the earth destroyers (11:15, 18). These events are recorded in the remaining chapters of the book, which include the seven bowl judgments and the new heavens and the new earth. Thus, here in 10:7 it is announced that “the mystery of God” is accomplished. That mystery is his purposes for humanity and the world as revealed to both OT and NT prophets.

The way the NIV translates v.7 suggests that the consummation comes before the blowing of the seventh trumpet: “when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet....” While this is grammatically possible, it is also possible to render the expression “about to sound” as “when he shall sound.” Thus understood, the meaning is that during the time of the sound of the seventh trumpet, when the angel sounds, the final purposes of God will be completed. This rendering clarifies the statement in 11:14, “The second woe has passed: the third woe is coming soon,” a statement made just before the seventh trumpet sounds. Hence, the seventh trumpet will reveal the final judgments of the bowls and the final establishment of God’s rule on the earth.