What role do "the prophets" play in understanding Revelation 10:7's message? Setting the Scene: The Seventh Trumpet and the Mystery of God “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, as He proclaimed to His servants, the prophets.” “Servants the Prophets” – A Chain of Witnesses • God chose the prophets as trusted heralds. • Each one carried forward a portion of the same “mystery”—the full unveiling of His redemptive plan. • Revelation affirms continuity: what the seventh trumpet finishes is exactly what the prophets started announcing. Prophets as Interpreters of the Mystery The “mystery of God” does not arrive unannounced. It has been: 1. Revealed in pieces (Daniel 2:28 – “But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries…”) 2. Guarded until the right moment (Daniel 12:9 – “the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end”) 3. Clarified through the gospel (Ephesians 3:5 – “this mystery was made known… to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit”) 4. Brought to its climax when the seventh angel sounds. Key Prophetic Themes That Converge in Revelation 10:7 • The Day of the LORD – Joel 2:31; Zephaniah 3:8 • Final restoration of Israel – Ezekiel 37:21–28; Amos 9:11–15 • Judgment of the nations – Isaiah 24:21–23; Zechariah 14:3–9 • Messianic Kingdom – Isaiah 11:1–10; Daniel 7:13–14 • New heavens and new earth – Isaiah 65:17; 66:22 How the Prophets Shape Our Reading of Revelation • Provide vocabulary: trumpets, plagues, beasts, the Day of the LORD. • Supply timelines: “time, times, and half a time” (Daniel 7:25) echoed in Revelation 12:14. • Confirm literal fulfillments: historical judgments that preview future global events. • Offer assurance: every promise already kept in history (e.g., Israel’s return from exile) guarantees the remaining promises will be kept. Scripture’s Own Commentary on Prophetic Certainty • Amos 3:7 – “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets.” • Isaiah 46:10 – “I declare the end from the beginning, and from ancient times what is still to come.” • 2 Peter 1:19 – “We also have the prophetic word as something more reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place…” Living Response: Why Their Role Matters Today • Confidence: Prophetic accuracy undergirds trust in God’s unfolding plan. • Clarity: The prophets supply the framework, preventing speculation. • Continuity: The same God who spoke through Isaiah, Daniel, and Joel speaks in Revelation—one story, one Author, one finale. |
    |