Revelation 10:6

And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

And {G2532} sware {G3660} by {G1722} him that liveth {G2198} for {G1519} ever {G165} and ever {G165}, who {G3739} created {G2936} heaven {G3772}, and {G2532} the things that therein are {G1722}{G846}, and {G2532} the earth {G1093}, and {G2532} the things that therein are {G1722}{G846}, and {G2532} the sea {G2281}, and {G2532} the things which are therein {G1722}{G846}, that {G3754} there should be {G2071} time {G5550} no {G3756} longer {G2089}:

and swore by the One who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it: “There will be no more delay;

And he swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and everything in it, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it: “There will be no more delay!

and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein, that there shall be delay no longer:

Commentary

Revelation 10:6 features a solemn declaration by a mighty angel, swearing by God, the eternal Creator, that there will be "time no longer." This pivotal verse marks a significant turning point in the unfolding prophetic narrative of the Book of Revelation, signaling the imminent conclusion of God's long-foretold plan.

Context

This verse is part of an interlude positioned between the sixth and seventh trumpet judgments in Revelation. A powerful angel, described in Revelation 10:1-3, descends from heaven, holding a small scroll or 'little book'. The angel's declaration in verse 6 serves as a divine affirmation of the certainty and immediacy of what is about to transpire. It precedes John's instruction to eat the scroll, symbolizing his prophetic commission to proclaim further prophecies (Revelation 10:9-11).

Key Themes

  • God's Absolute Sovereignty and Eternality: The oath is sworn "by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven... earth... and the sea." This emphasizes God's supreme authority as the Creator of all things and His timeless existence (Psalm 90:2). It underscores that the declaration is not from the angel's own power but from the ultimate divine source.
  • The End of Delay: The phrase "that there should be time no longer" is crucial. While it might sound like an end to all chronology, the Greek word for 'time' here is chronos (χρόνος), and the more accurate interpretation in this context is "no more delay" or "no more postponement." It signifies that God's patience has reached its limit, and the final sequence of His judgments and the establishment of His kingdom will now proceed without further deferral.
  • Certainty of Prophetic Fulfillment: This declaration guarantees that the divine timetable for the consummation of all things is fixed and will be executed precisely as foretold. The prophecies concerning the end times are not subject to change or indefinite suspension.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase for "time no longer" is chronos ouketi estai (χρόνος οὐκέτι ἔσται). The nuance of ouketi ("no longer") combined with chronos often implies the cessation of a previous state, in this case, the period of waiting or delay. This is distinct from the concept of eternity, which is often conveyed by other Greek terms. The angel's oath confirms that the period of divine forbearance and the unfolding of history as we know it, characterized by a delay in final judgment, is drawing to a definitive close.

Practical Application

For believers, Revelation 10:6 serves as a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and the certainty of His Word. It calls for a life of urgency and expectation, knowing that God's plans will be fulfilled in His perfect timing. It encourages believers to remain watchful and faithful, recognizing that the period of delay for His ultimate kingdom to come to full fruition is finite. This verse reinforces the importance of living in light of God's ultimate victory and the soon-coming establishment of His eternal kingdom.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Revelation 4:11

    Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

  • Revelation 4:9

    And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

  • Revelation 16:17

    ¶ And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.
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