October 2026, The Great Commission in Revelation, pt8
The Great Commission in the New Testament The Mighty Book of Revelation, part 8
Welcome back to our ongoing series on the Great Commission in the Book of Revelation. We have been looking at five reasons why I believe that ch10 is the Great Commission of Revelation.
Reason #1, the identity of the Mighty Angel, whom we identified as Jesus. Reason #2 is where He is standing, with one foot on the sea and one foot on the land. We saw in that picture the authority of the Great Commissioner: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations.”
Now, reason #3: Because of the fulfillment of the mystery of God.
Revelation 10:5-7, 5"The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 6and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, 7but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets."
In contemplating these verses, I am convinced that they speak to something beyond an otherwise narrow eschatological picture (which makes 'mystery' about the end times).
Notice the repetitive words of 'sea' and 'earth' (v5-6), notice the introduction of 'heaven' also in v5-6, notice the repeated phrase, 'and the things that are in it' referring to heaven, earth, and sea in v6, and notice the way that each phrase is listed, so that we cannot make any mistake and exclude anything that is called a thing, or any place that can be called a place.
The beginning of v6, 'Him who lives forever and ever', a repeated phrase from ch4:10 and 5:14, as though John makes sure that we know who he is talking about! I think these things were said deliberately to send us in a direction in our understanding.
So, what are we looking at? The view of ch10 has expanded from what appears to be 'earth' centric in v2, in other words, one nation, one period of history, or one isolated prophetic event, so that now we zoom all the way out, and take in the whole of creation, even before time was made, when He 'created heaven and things that are in it'.
In the scope of eternity, John is walking us right up to v7, "but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets."
Paul uses very similar mystery language in Ephesians 1:9-10. God has “made known to us the mystery of His will,” His purpose that in the fullness of the times He would “gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.” His will in time past was a mystery, but now, in Christ the mystery is no more.
Ephesians 3:9-10, 9"and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places" The mystery made known.
Colossians 1:25-26, 25"....to fulfill the word of God, 26the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints."
So, when ch10:7 says “the mystery of God would be finished,” I read that as the mystery is finished because that which was mysterious has now been revealed in the Gospel. And that is why ch10 is the Great Commission chapter of Revelation.
I think Revelation 10 is giving us a zoomed-out picture of the plan and purpose of God from beginning to end. The God who created heaven, earth, sea, and everything in them has been revealing His purpose throughout history, line upon line, precept upon precept. He spoke through His servants the prophets in time past. He revealed Himself in types and shadows, through promises, covenants. But He didn't show them the whole picture.
In those days, there was still a mystery.
But now John says that mystery is being brought to its fulfillment.
Look at that again, y’all: the hidden mystery of God, in the fullness of time, and all things in heaven and earth brought together in Christ, revealed to His saints. In almost every context in the NT, the hidden mystery of God now revealed is the Gospel.
Paul finished the book of Romans this way: (lemme highlight the highlights!)
Romans 16:25-27, 25"Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26but now made manifest (ch10:7b, "the mystery of God would be finished"), and by the prophetic Scriptures (Revelation 10:7c, "as He declared to His servants the prophets") made known to all nations (aka, The Great Commission! The Mighty Angel with one foot on the sea, and one foot on the land), according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— 27to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever (and we close with the same view of eternity that John brought us to). Amen."
There it is, y'all! The mystery kept secret since the world began, now revealed in the Gospel, declared by the prophets, and made known to all nations! The mystery is finished. The Gospel has been revealed. Now it's our job to go tell somebody!
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