Apocalypse Revealed #474
474. Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever. (10:6; 10:6) This symbolizes an attestation and testification of the Lord on His own authority.
The angel standing on the sea and on the land means the Lord (no. 470). Lifting up the hand to heaven symbolizes an attestation, here that there should be no more time (verse 6). Swearing symbolizes a testification, here that in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel the mystery of God would be concluded (verse 7). He who lives forever and ever means the Lord, as in Revelation 1:18; 4:9-10, and 5:14 above, and in Daniel 4:34. That the Lord swears on His own authority will be seen shortly.
It is apparent from this that the statement, "Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever," symbolizes an attestation and testification of the Lord on His own authority.
[2] That Jehovah swears or testifies on His own authority is clear from the following passages:
I have sworn by Myself; a word has gone out of My mouth (which) shall not return... (Isaiah 45:23)
I swear by Myself... that this house shall become a desolation. (Jeremiah 22:5)
Jehovah... has sworn by His soul. (Jeremiah 51:14, Amos 6:8)
...Jehovah has sworn by His holiness. (Amos 4:2)
Jehovah has sworn by His right hand and by the arm of His strength. (Isaiah 62:8)
Behold, I have sworn by My great name... (Jeremiah 44:26)
That Jehovah, which is to say, the Lord, swore by Himself or on His own authority means, symbolically, that Divine truth attests; for the Lord is Divine truth itself, and this attests of itself and on its own authority.
In addition to these passages, that Jehovah swore may be seen in Isaiah 14:24; 54:9, Psalms 89:3, 35; 95:11; 110:4; 132:11.
We are told that Jehovah swore because the church established with the children of Israel was a representational church, and the conjunction of the Lord with the church was represented by a covenant, like one made between two parties who swear to their compact. Therefore, because an oath was a part of any covenant, we are told that Jehovah swore. Still, this does not mean that He swore, but that Divine truth attests to something.
[3] That an oath was a part of any covenant is apparent from the following:
I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, so that you became Mine... (Ezekiel 16:8)
...to remember His covenant, the oath which He swore... (Luke 1:72-73; cf. Psalms 105:9, Jeremiah 11:5; 32:22, Deuteronomy 1:34; 10:11; 11:9, 21; 26:3, 15; 31:20; 34:4)
Because the covenant was representative of the conjunction of the Lord with the church, and reciprocally of the church with the Lord, and because an oath was a part of any covenant and was to be sworn on the ground of the truth in it, being sworn thus also in appeal to that truth, therefore the children of Israel were permitted to swear by Jehovah, and so in appeal to Divine truth (Exodus 20:7, Leviticus 19:12, Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20, Isaiah 48:1; 65:16, Jeremiah 4:2, Zechariah 5:4).
After the representative constituents of the church were abrogated, however, the Lord also abrogated oaths to covenants (Matthew 5:33-37; 23:16-22).
Psalms 89
1
I will sing of the loving kindness of Yahweh forever. With my mouth, I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
2
I indeed declare, "Love stands firm forever. You established the heavens. Your faithfulness is in them."
3
"I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David, my servant,
4
'I will establish your seed forever, and build up your throne to all generations.'" Selah.
5
The heavens will praise your wonders, Yahweh; your faithfulness also in the assembly of the holy ones.
6
For who in the skies can be compared to Yahweh? Who among the sons of the heavenly beings is like Yahweh,
7
a very awesome God in the council of the holy ones, to be feared above all those who are around him?
8
Yahweh, God of Armies, who is a mighty one, like you? Yah, your faithfulness is around you.
9
You rule the pride of the sea. When its waves rise up, you calm them.
10
You have broken Rahab in pieces, like one of the slain. You have scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.
11
The heavens are yours. The earth also is yours; the world and its fullness. You have founded them.
12
The north and the south, you have created them. Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name.
13
You have a mighty arm. Your hand is strong, and your right hand is exalted.
14
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before your face.
15
Blessed are the people who learn to acclaim you. They walk in the light of your presence, Yahweh.
16
In your name they rejoice all day. In your righteousness, they are exalted.
17
For you are the glory of their strength. In your favor, our horn will be exalted.
18
For our shield belongs to Yahweh; our king to the Holy One of Israel.
19
Then you spoke in vision to your saints, and said, "I have bestowed strength on the warrior. I have exalted a young man from the people.
20
I have found David, my servant. I have anointed him with my holy oil,
21
with whom my hand shall be established. My arm will also strengthen him.
22
No enemy will tax him. No wicked man will oppress him.
23
I will beat down his adversaries before him, and strike those who hate him.
24
But my faithfulness and my loving kindness will be with him. In my name, his horn will be exalted.
25
I will set his hand also on the sea, and his right hand on the rivers.
26
He will call to me, 'You are my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation!'
27
I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
28
I will keep my loving kindness for him forevermore. My covenant will stand firm with him.
29
I will also make his seed endure forever, and his throne as the days of heaven.
30
If his children forsake my law, and don't walk in my ordinances;
31
if they break my statutes, and don't keep my commandments;
32
then I will punish their sin with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.
33
But I will not completely take my loving kindness from him, nor allow my faithfulness to fail.
34
I will not break my covenant, nor alter what my lips have uttered.
35
Once have I sworn by my holiness, I will not lie to David.
36
His seed will endure forever, his throne like the sun before me.
37
It will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky." Selah.
38
But you have rejected and spurned. You have been angry with your anointed.
39
You have renounced the covenant of your servant. You have defiled his crown in the dust.
40
You have broken down all his hedges. You have brought his strongholds to ruin.
41
All who pass by the way rob him. He has become a reproach to his neighbors.
42
You have exalted the right hand of his adversaries. You have made all of his enemies rejoice.
43
Yes, you turn back the edge of his sword, and haven't supported him in battle.
44
You have ended his splendor, and thrown his throne down to the ground.
45
You have shortened the days of his youth. You have covered him with shame. Selah.
46
How long, Yahweh? Will you hide yourself forever? Will your wrath burn like fire?
47
Remember how short my time is! For what vanity have you created all the children of men!
48
What man is he who shall live and not see death, who shall deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Selah.
49
Lord, where are your former loving kindnesses, which you swore to David in your faithfulness?
50
Remember, Lord, the reproach of your servants, how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the mighty peoples,
51
With which your enemies have mocked, Yahweh, with which they have mocked the footsteps of your anointed one.
52
Blessed be Yahweh forevermore. Amen, and Amen. BOOK IV A Prayer by Moses, the man of God.
