Pof ope

l d
The Gospel
in Revelation re u es
thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression” (Daniel 9:24). The word
“finish” here is the Hebrew kala (pronounced kaw law). It means “to restrain” or “shut
up.” This same word is used in the Psalms where Christ was prophetically portrayed as
suffering God’s wrath:
“I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath
no strength: free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom Thou
rememberest no more: and they are cut off from Thy hand. Thou hast laid me in the
lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and Thou hast
afflicted me with all Thy waves. Selah. Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from
therefore, is that people are to enter the new situation of reconciliation already existing
‘in Christ Jesus’ (Ephesians 2:13), who ‘is our peace’ (verse 14)” (Handbook of SDA
Theology, Commentary Reference Series, vol. 12, p. 287; emphasis supplied).
In other words, if reconciliation has already been achieved by the cross, all that
is wanting is acceptance by those who would believe it. God’s prophecy is totally one-
sided. There is no half-and-half work here—no you-do-your-part-and-I-will-do-mine.
He has already done it all, every last bit of it. This is New Covenant theology and we
need it desperately. Christ’s sacrificial atonement on the cross is complete. It cannot be
diminished by ours sins or increased by our works. It stands alone as the only means of
H The Seven Thunders
me; Thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come our reconciliation to God, awaiting our acceptance. God longs for a faith response to
forth” (Psalm 88:4-8).
The term “shut up” is kala in Hebrew. According to Daniel 9:24, transgression
His New Covenant promises.
The next thunderous message in Daniel 9:24 is that the Messiah will “bring T ucked away in the book of Revelation we find a message that comes to John in
the peal of seven thunders. Curiously, John is told not to write this seven-thunder
message, so we might logically assume that this message is not for us to know—or is
would be “finished,” kala. According to the prophecy in Psalm 88, Christ was in everlasting righteousness.” This points to the gospel, in which we find the
“finished,” “shut up,” kala. This prophecy was fulfilled in Christ because He became “righteousness of God” revealed (Romans 1:16-17). If the gospel contains the it? Let’s find out as we pick up our study with Revelation [Link]
sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21). Christ was identified as the transgressor and was “shut righteousness of God, then the “everlasting righteousness” in Daniel 9:24 parallels the “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud:
up” and forsaken by the Father (Matthew 27:46). “everlasting gospel” in Revelation 14:6. Indeed, the summation of this prophecy in and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as
Now look at the next phrase in the prophecy. Christ not only shut up sin in Daniel 9 is found in Revelation’s glorious proclamation of the everlasting gospel: “Fear pillars of fire: and he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon
Himself on the cross, but He “made an end of sins.” The book of Hebrews elucidates God and give glory to Him for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him the sea, and his left foot on the earth, and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion
this wonderful truth when it says, “He has been manifested to put away sin by the that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters” (Revelation 14:7). roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the
sacrifice of Himself ” (Hebrews 9:26, NAS). Christ fulfilled the sacrificial sin offerings To “fear God” directs us to trust in His forgiveness and mercy (Psalm 130:3-4; 147:11). seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from
of the earthly sanctuary. His death was the once-and-for-all sacrifice for sin. Just as To “give glory to Him” is a call to acknowledge before a holy God that Christ is our heaven saying unto me, ‘Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and
the morning and evening sacrifice was made before any individual sinner approached “righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). The call write them not’” (Revelation 10:1-4).
the sanctuary with a personal offering, Christ’s self-sacrifice was made for all people to worship God in Revelation 14:7 is a direct quotation from the Sabbath commandment
regardless of their personal repentance or confession. (Exodus 20:8-11). It is a reminder to rest in what God has already done for us without Clues in Daniel
Earlier in this study we read in Romans 5 a most profound fulfillment of the next us. It is a call to enter into God’s eternal purpose, and rest in Christ’s life, death and The mighty angel that delivers this message fits the description of a messenger
phrase in Daniel’s 9:24 prophecy, “make reconciliation for iniquity”: “For when we were resurrection, trusting in His works for salvation and not our own (Hebrews 4:1-11). that appeared to Daniel (Daniel 10:5-6). This is one of several clues tying the
yet without strength, in due time [set or appointed time] Christ died for the ungodly. . . . The everlasting gospel of Revelation 14 proposes to do for us what we are message of the seven thunders in Revelation to the book of Daniel. Actually, a series
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much powerless to do for ourselves. It lays the glory of man in the dust, placing Christ’s of prophetic visions in Daniel complement those of Revelation.
more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:6, 10). righteousness not only as our title, but also as our fitness for heaven. A second clue is the description of the “little book” as “open” in the hand of this
In order to grasp the idea of reconciliation, we might ask, “Who was reconciled to This, then, is the message of the seven thunders found in Revelation 10. In symbolic mighty messenger. Daniel is the only book of the Bible that was ever closed or sealed.
God by the death of His Son?” Paul answered that question in the previous verse and terms, the seven thunders represent a message from God that is perfect and complete. It Now it is opened in the book of Revelation. Daniel was told this would happen in the
in the following: points to Jesus Christ as the consummation of all God’s promises and our only hope. time of the end:
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus If you are hoping to accumulate enough good deeds to your credit to slip into “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end;
Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ heaven and enough charity and service for others to overrule your sins, then the seven- many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 12:4, NKJV).
reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has thunder message is for you. Daniel’s prophetic book was sealed because, though he was a faithful prophet of
committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18-19, NKJV). Turn from your works to Christ’s and appreciate what God in Christ has done for God, Daniel did not understand the meaning of his visions. Most of Daniel’s prophecies
Paul’s inspired answer to the question, “Who was reconciled by the cross?” is you in spite of your sins. Believe that nothing can separate you from the love of God in were to reach fulfillment at a time future to when he wrote them. This is verified by the
“God’s enemies,” “the world.” By His death, Christ made reconciliation for the sins of Christ Jesus, and allow the mystery of God to be completed in you (Revelation 10:7). significant heavenly conversations Daniel heard after he was told to seal up his visions:
the world, for all of us, while we were yet sinners. No sin can be committed for which “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is “Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side
satisfaction has not been met on Calvary. faithful” (Hebrews 10:23, NKJV). Amen. of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one
Therefore, “While reconciliation involves the experience of restored relations said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, ‘How long
with God, it is first an objective event before it is subjective. According to
2 Corinthians 5:18-19 and 21, reconciliation is achieved by the cross. This objective
event in the past history of salvation is the presupposition of reconciliation, whereby
the possibility for humans to be reconciled with God on the experiential level is made
available through the apostolic appeal to “be reconciled to God” (verse 20). In the The Gospel in Revelation
apostolic preaching the already-won reconciliation projects itself toward every person, and Study No. 7 of 10
PO Box 1888 • Malo, WA 99150
seeks lodgment in the experience of those who believe. . . . What the gospel announces, (509)779-4444 • [Link]
 The Gospel in Revelation
shall it be to the end of these wonders?’ And I heard the man clothed in linen, which the vision, for it concerns the distant future” (Daniel 8:26, NIV). 6) seal up the prophecy
was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto At this point, Daniel searched deeply and fasted to seek the Lord for understanding: 7) and anoint the most Holy.
heaven, and sware by him that liveth forever that it shall be for a time, times, and an “In the first year of his [Darius] reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the Could these seven phrases be the seven thunders alluded to in the little book now
half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all years, whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish open in Revelation 10? Let’s consider the verse that follows Daniel 9:24. It promised
these things shall be finished. And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, ‘O my seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek that Messiah would arrive before the appointed time had ended:
Lord, what shall be the end of these things?’ And he said, ‘Go thy way, Daniel: for the by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes” (Daniel 9:1-3). “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment
words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end’” (Daniel 12:5-9). And while Daniel was seeking the Lord in prayer, an immediate answer came: to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and
“And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of threescore and two weeks” (Daniel 9:25).
Understanding the Sealed Book my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy The first two verbs, “know” and “understand,” tell the whole story—the Jews’ story
In Revelation John hears seven thunders in conjunction with Daniel’s now-open mountain of my God; yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom and our story. Know means “perceive, discern, discriminate, recognize,” and understand
book. What do the seven thunders symbolize? The number seven in the Bible has come I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about means “give attention to, consider, ponder, have insight, comprehend.” Know therefore
to represent perfection or completion (Genesis 2:1-3, Exodus 20:8-11). And thunder the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O and understand. The “therefore” of this verse pointed the entire thought directly back to
represents the voice of God. The Bible says, for example, that when God spoke to Jesus Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of what had been said previously. The message then becomes unmistakable:
in an audible voice, “the crowd standing there heard it and said that it had thundered” thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art Based on this promise, God, through the Messiah, would accomplish the seven tasks
(John 12:28-29, RSV; Psalm 18:13). greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Seventy weeks outlined in verse 24 before the 490 prophetic days were concluded. In the prophecy, the
When we put these two definitions together, we find a Biblical explanation for are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and Prince would be anointed after 69 weeks or 483 prophetic days. In precise fulfillment,
what John hears when the book of Daniel is opened. He hears a perfect and complete to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting Jesus was anointed in 27 A.D., with just one prophetic week left. In the midst of that
message coming from God—so perfect and complete that, according to verse 7, it will righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know final week Christ cried out, “It is finished!” It was done! He had accomplished what He
finish the mystery of God, “Christ in us” (Revelation 10:7; Colossians 1:26-28). therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and had come to do—what only He could do—for our salvation. Praise God!
This perfect and complete message, spoken with God’s voice, brings instant to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and God stated the task, an impossible one for man. Then He assured us of the
excitement to John. He is about to write this message, but is stayed by another voice two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after solution: “My Son, the Prince, the anointed one, will be here. In due time, on time, He
from heaven. “Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself: and the people will arrive. Christ will accomplish every specification of this prophecy, all that I have
not” (Revelation 10:4). Now this makes sense only if what John is about to write has of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof pledged.” And God keeps His promises.
already been written. If this little open book from which the seven thunders utter their shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And He The Apostle Paul directed us to this very same truth in Romans 5 when he wrote:
voices is indeed the book of Daniel, then there is no need for John to write God’s shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week He shall “For when we were yet without strength, in due time [set or appointed] Christ died for
prophecies again. Instead, John is told to go get the book from the angel and eat it: cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations He the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good
“Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that,
upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give upon the desolate” (Daniel 9:20-27). while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by
me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy These eight verses of Scripture came from heaven in response to Daniel’s heart-felt His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies,
belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. And I took the little book out humility and prayerful appeals. The truth they revealed was the zenith, not only of Daniel’s we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we
of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon prophecy, but of the entire Bible. They imparted in prophetic language a specific time line shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:6-10).
as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again for the coming of the Messiah—to be born, anointed and to die as the Savior of the world. We had no strength, and we have no strength still. Yet this prophecy was not
before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings” (Revelation 10:8-11). The language was symbolic, but one thought immediately stands out above the contingent on our ability, but on God’s. Jesus the Messiah made “reconciliation for
In this unusual imagery, God is saying to John and to us: “What I have revealed to you rest: “After threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself.” iniquity.” He accomplished this by His death before the ending of the time prophecy.
in the seven thunders is already recorded in the book of Daniel. All who would understand The Messiah referred to Christ, “the anointed One.” The words “cut off ” implied His No one else could or would do what Christ did by His life and death.
My perfect message, the voice of My salvation, need only to study and assimilate (eat, take separation from God. Christ was to be forsaken of the Father, but not for Himself. He
into yourselves) what has already been given” (Revelation 10:4, 8-9, paraphrase). would die for “the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6) He would taste death for every man, Salvation in Christ
So what is this perfect message exactly? Our best clue to understanding the seven woman and child who ever lived or ever would live (Hebrews 2:9). A recent survey completed by Barna Research has found that 50 percent of the
thunders is the “little book open” phrase of Revelation 10:2. Since the only book of the Christians in America believe that anyone who is “generally good or who does enough
Bible ever sealed is the book of Daniel, we must simply know the message of that little Seven Salvation Promises good things for others during their life will earn a place in heaven” (Adventist Review,
book in order to know the message of the seven thunders. This prophecy unfolded the wonderful gospel promise of a redeemer and everything that November 21, 2002, p. 21). This type of thinking is no different from Islam, for
Now, Daniel’s prophecies were not sealed by sticking all the pages together. Their God would accomplish through Him for the world He so loves (John 3:16). Before the seventy Muslims openly believe that “God’s going to judge us, [our] good and bad deeds. [If
meaning was sealed in the sense that Daniel could not fully understand them: “I, Daniel, weeks were over, before the 490 prophetic days were fulfilled, God through Christ would: the] bad outweighs the good, you go to hell; if the good outweighs the bad, you go to
was exhausted and lay ill for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s 1) finish transgression heaven” (Mohammed Ali, quoted in Reader’s Digest, December, 2001). The gospel,
business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding” (Daniel 8:27, NIV). 2) make an end of sins however, teaches that no one will ever be saved based on the ratio of their good works to
This was because, as Daniel was informed by the messenger, a portion of Daniel’s 3) make reconciliation for iniquity their bad ones. Salvation by grace through faith is the very core of the gospel. Daniel 9
visions were about the distant future and events far from his current time and history: 4) bring in everlasting righteousness brought that clear message home.
“The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up 5) seal up the vision Let’s examine the first part of the prophecy: “Seventy weeks are determined upon