But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
REVELATION 10:7KJVWhat does Revelation 10:7 mean?
Revelation 10:7 says that when the seventh angel begins to sound his trumpet, the hidden plan or "mystery" of God will be completed, just as God had announced to His servants, the prophets. This verse points to a moment when God's purposes, long kept secret, will reach their fulfillment.
In the book of Revelation, the speaker is an angel delivering a message to John, who is writing to early Christian communities. The "seventh angel" refers to one of a series of angels who each sound a trumpet, marking major events in the vision. The verse highlights that God's "mystery"—a word often used in the Bible for things previously hidden but now revealed—will finally be accomplished, fulfilling what God had promised through earlier prophets.
The Greek behind Revelation 10:7
- μυστήριον (mystērion): This word, transliterated as mystērion, means "mystery" or "secret." In the New Testament, it often refers to God's hidden plans that are now being revealed. Here, it emphasizes that something God has kept secret will soon be fully understood.
- ἐτελέσθη (etelesthē): This is from the verb meaning "to finish" or "to complete." The Greek here carries the sense that God's plan will reach its intended end, not just stop, but be brought to full completion.
- εὐηγγέλισεν (euēngelisēn): This verb means "to announce good news" or "to proclaim." The verse says God "declared" this mystery to His servants, the prophets, showing that the fulfillment is not a surprise but something God had already made known, though not fully understood until now.
Why Revelation 10:7 matters
- Revelation 10:7 clarifies that God's plan is not random or last-minute; it is the fulfillment of promises made long ago through the prophets, showing continuity between the Old Testament and Revelation.
- The verse helps readers see that the "mystery" of God is not about something forever hidden, but about something that is finally being revealed and completed at this climactic moment.
- By connecting the seventh angel's trumpet to the completion of God's mystery, the verse marks a turning point in the book, signaling that a major part of God's purpose is about to unfold.