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Thus Say The Prophets
The Revelation
This is most likely the same angel from East we met earlier:
Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of He Who sat on the throne a book written within and on the back, close sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaim with a great voice, Who is worthy to open the book and loosen its seals?
Revelation 7:2 And I saw another angel ascend from the East as the Sun rises, having the seal of the living God. He cried with a great voice to the four angels directed to hurt the earth and the sea.We continue parenthetically along this narration:
This messenger will come "down" from the Merkaba Throne of God that sits atop the dome-like firmament covering the plain of earthly existence. As explained before, the biblical presentation of the Earth is one of a vast plain rather than a globe.
10:2 He had in his hand a little open book. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the earth.
10:3 Then he cried with a great voice, as a lion roars: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices.
10:4 When the seven thunders uttered [their voices], I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, Seal up the things that the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.This, of course, is reminiscent of Daniel's experience:
Daniel 12:9 And [the messenger] said, Go your way, Daniel; for the words are shut up and sealed till the time of the end.The Creator will reveal ominous secrets to the Remnant of His people as these events transpire (Joel 2:28)! Jewish Prophecies tell us what we need to know but always leave some things concealed, partly due to human free will. We must be able to roll with the punches, so to speak, and not be caught off guard by unexpected events.
Let's consider another interesting interpretation. As before, this is just food for thought. First, the text:
10:5,6 The messenger I saw standing on the sea and the earth lifted his right hand to heaven and swore by Him that lives forever and ever, by He who created the heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein, that there will be no more delay:The most apparent meaning here is that the ages-long wait for the Theocratic Kingdom is now at an end and that Elohim is about to send His Mashiach to establish the Kingdom of the Olam Haba. This much is clear from the text.
However, even though the translation used here is correct in my opinion (i.e., hoti some chronos ou eti) meaning: "...that there will no longer be a delay," we note that the King James Version has it as "that there should be time no longer." This wording is fascinating: no more time. Could this be referencing that the conception of time experienced throughout the Olam Hazeh or present world order is to be replaced with a new perception of time in the Olam Haba as humanity is gradually purified and brought into a consciousness of eternality? Jewish and other prophecies indicate this, including the Mayan Prophecies. Short-lived beings like us time would certainly view the passage of time differently from those over whom it holds no real sway.
To this end, it seems worth noting that according to the Mayan prophecies (and others), what was supposed to happen on 12.21.2012 was not the "end of the world," as some erroneously said. The Mayan prophecies predicted the end of time as a concept, something far more intriguing! Their conception was of time being gradually compressed and simply ceasing to matter. There was a lot of fascinating speculation about what might happen on 12.21.2012. Since the King James Version presents this verse as: "...there should be time no longer," it has been argued that we have biblical corroboration of the 2012 prophecies here. Out of respect to the "King James Only" folks, not to mention the various exciting possibilities, this theory is all the more intriguing when we consider what was supposed to happen on this date (13.0.0.0.0 in the Long Count). There was supposed to be an extremely close conjunction of the Winter Solstice Sun with the crossing point of the Galactic Equator (i.e., the Equator of the Milky Way) and the Ecliptic (or path of the Sun). Indeed this unique configuration did come to resolution at precisely 11:11 am GMT on 12.21.2012. What happened then? Some say nothing. But the theories abound that something did happen, something so subtle that most people didn't realize it. Think of the world before and after that date. Many people with ethereal sensitivities have noted that on or near 12.21.2012, significant metaphysical changes with the luminous fibers took place (consider Ecclesiastes chapter 12). Today, it is obvious to many that we are likely in the foretold Times of Ya'akov's Trouble. Dating these days from December 2012 arguably has merit but lacks certainty.
Let's continue with our text:
10:7 But in the days of the seventh angel's voice, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God will be finished, according to the good tidings He declared to his servants the prophets.Accordinging to the text, Yochanan was told not to write down what the seven thunders uttered. However, he says the Seventh Trumpet will soon be sounded as Mashiach ben David takes his Throne. When he does this, "the mystery of God is finished, as He declared to his servants, the prophets."
The Bible is, first and foremost, a Book of Prophecy describing the passage from Paradise Lost to Paradise Restored. From its first direct prophecy in Genesis 3:16 to its last, the message is the promise that God will establish His Kingdom and redeem the Earth. God will establish the Olam Haba, and Gan Eden will eventually fill the earth. That is yet future to Yochanan's time and ours as we await the Messianic reign. Not until the Restoration is secured will the mystery of God be fulfilled. Until then, the greater Exodus continues.
The angel is declaring the utter truth and solemnity of the moment. What is taking place is happening by the sovereign Will of HaShem.
10:8 The voice I heard from heaven, [I heard it] again speaking with me, and saying, Go, take the book open in the hand of the angel standing upon the sea and the earth.
9 I went to the angel, telling him he should give me the little book. And he said to me, Take it, and eat it up; it will make your belly bitter, but it will be sweet as honey in your mouth.
10 And so I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it up, and it was in my mouth sweet as honey when I had eaten it, but it made my belly bitter.This Holy Book is the Book of God's Promise. With this "Book," Elohim covenanted with Noah and his descendants and gave humanity the Seven Holy Laws. With this "Book," Adonai Tsvaot covenanted with Avraham and Sarah, promising that through their offspring, the entire world would be blessed (Genesis 12:3). With this Holy "Book," HaShem established His Torah with Moses and the Hebrews/Israelites/Jews throughout our generations. Through this "Book," HaShem raised mighty prophets, warriors, teachers, poets, tzadikim, and others to help direct the Jewish people into living relationships with HaShem and, through them, as the nation of priests, to bring the entire world back to the Holy One and Gan Eden. This Book is sweet to the taste but bitter in practice because of our rebellions, as history has shown.
And now, through this Glorious Book, HaShem is revealing to Yochanan, and us, how Mashiach ben David will defeat Rex Mundi and establish the Kingdom God promised to Noah, to Avraham, and Sarah, to Moses, to the Jewish people, and the World. "And then Adonai will be king over all the earth. On that day Adonai will be one and his name one" (Zechariah 14:9, Christians should also consider I Corinthians 15:28).
Such a Book!
To Yochanan, the promise of the coming Kingdom was sweet. He experienced HaShem's love for humanity, His goodness, and mercy. But then he realized the depth of human depravity and sin, the lengths HaShem has gone to rescue us from our ungratefulness. Yochanan experienced the evil done to the people of HaShem and the high price the righteous have paid as His Suffering Servant, the Jews! Then he saw the things yet to come before the Kingdom would be established, and Yochanan was sickened to his stomach by the realization.
And...
10:11 They told me, You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings. The final war was not yet over.
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