28. Uncertainty below, Certainty above

Rev 9:15...

I tried this message on twitter, and it took two tweets, and I still didn't think I did the verse or idea justice, so I thought I'd expand a little over here on the blog.

Studying prophecy often takes you far outside of prophecy (and that's a good thing!)

Take Revelation 9:15 in context. Here is what is happening, starting in Revelation 5:
(1) A worthy one to open the 7-sealed scroll has been found (Jesus!!), (2) the 7 Seals have been opened by Jesus Himself and the 7 judgments pronounced and consummated, and (3) the angels of God now blow their trumpets in announcement and causation of the next set of judgments from God. (4) Five angels have blown their trumpets, and the sixth sounds his trumpet in announcement of (5) the releasing of four other angels who have been bound at the great river Euphrates (Rev 9:13).

Regardless of whether this future event takes place in 2013 or 2023 (or 20230), for us, the timing of this event is uncertain; but for God the timing is exact and precise. Notice His preparation: these four angels had "been prepared for the hour and day and month and year" that they might be released. It could only have been more precise if God would have added "and minute and second". But I think that is contained in the verse, not explicitly but rather implicitly.

God "holds the whole world in His hand", and we tend to think of material holdings like birds and people and the world itself, but he also holds the times and seasons in his hand. Thank God that our times (and seasons) are in his control.
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