Useful Bible Studies > Revelation Commentary > chapter 10
People lifted a hand towards heaven when they made a serious promise; Abraham did that in Genesis 14:22. Probably they were asking God to act as the witness of that promise. In other words, they were asking God to act against them if their words were untrue.
On this occasion, it was an angel, one of God’s special servants, who made the promise. With that promise, the angel also made a very serious declaration.
The angel’s right foot was upon the sea. He probably stood on the sea to show that the sea, and everything in it, belong to God. He declared that God had created all these things. Soon, God would act to claim back all these things from the evil forces that now control them.
The angel’s left foot was on the land. His message about the land was similar. God would claim back the land, and everything on it, and Christ’s rule on earth would begin.
The angel had raised his hand toward heaven. The devil has never been able to disturb God’s complete rule in heaven. However, the devil does have some power over the skies and the spirit world (Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 6:12). That power must end; God is acting to destroy all the power of the devil (1 John 3:8). The heavens, the skies, the spirit world and everything in them belong to God.
God has been very patient with this world’s people. He has waited to carry out his judgements so that people would have the opportunity to turn to him (2 Peter 3:9). However, in the end, God must act in judgement and the opportunity for people to turn to God will end. Soon, John would see the last events before Christ returns to rule.
Next part: The days of the 7th trumpet (Revelation 10:7)
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© 2016, Keith Simons.