Revelation 10:5

“And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth, etc.] His right foot being on the one, and his left foot upon the other, as described in (<661002>Revelation 10:2); lifted up his hand to heaven; the Oriental versions read, “his right hand”; and so some copies, and the Complutensian edition: the man clothed in linen, (<271206>Daniel 12:6,7), who is the same with the angel here, held up both his hands; the lifting up of the hand was a gesture used in swearing: (see <011422> Genesis 14:22); so the Jews say f303, “the right hand”, or by the right hand, h[wby wz, “this is an oath”, according to (<271207>Daniel 12:7); or whether the right hand or the left, is an oath, according to…”

“lifted up his hand--So A and Vulgate read. But B, C, Aleph, Syriac, and Coptic, ". . . his right hand." It was customary to lift up the hand towards heaven, appealing to the God of truth, in taking a solemn oath. There is in this part of the vision an allusion to Dan 12:1-13. Compare Rev 10:4, with Dan 12:4, Dan 12:9; and Rev 10:5-6, end, with Dan 12:7. But there the angel clothed in linen, and standing upon the waters, sware "a time, times, and a half" were to interpose before the consummation; here, on the contrary, the angel standing with his left foot on the earth, and his right upon the sea, swears there shall be time no longer. There he lifted up both hands to heaven; here he has the…”

“And the angel which I saw stand ... - Revelation 10:2. That is, John saw him standing in this posture when he made the oath which he proceeds to record. Lifted up his hand to heaven - The usual attitude in taking an oath, as if one called heaven to witness. See Genesis 14:22; Deuteronomy 32:40; Ezekiel 20:5-6. Compare the notes on Daniel 12:7. return to 'Top of Page'”

“And the angel - This manifestation of things to come under the trumpet of the seventh angel hath a twofold introduction: first, the angel speaks for God, Rev 10:7; then Christ speaks for himself, Rev 11:3. The angel appeals to the prophets of former times; Christ, to his own two witnesses. Whom I saw standing upon the earth and upon the sea, lifted up his right hand toward heaven - As yet the dragon was in heaven. When he is cast thence he brings the third and most dreadful woe on the earth and sea: so that it seems as if there would be no end of calamities. Therefore the angel comprises, in his posture and in his oath, both heaven, sea, and earth, and makes on the part of the eternal God…”

“10:5-6 While raising one’s right hand is common in taking an oath today, it is rare in biblical literature (cp. Gen 14:22; 24:9; Dan 12:7). • When making an oath, Jews were very careful not to swear lightly by God’s name (see Exod 20:7). Jesus also rebuked insincere oath-taking (see Matt 5:33-37; 23:16-22). When God swore an oath, he did so in his own name as the highest possible point of reference (see Gen 22:16; Ps 89:35-36; Jer 22:5; Heb 6:13-18).”

“stand: Rev 10:2 lifted: Gen 14:22, Gen 22:15, Gen 22:16; Exo 6:8; Deu 32:40; Eze 20:5, Eze 20:15, Eze 20:23, Eze 20:28, Eze 20:42, Eze 36:7; Eze 47:14; Dan 12:7; Heb 6:13, by him, Rev 1:18, Rev 4:9; Jer 10:10, who, Rev 4:11, Rev 14:7; Gen. 1:1-2:25; Exo 20:11; Neh 9:6; Psa 95:3-6, Psa 146:5, Psa 148:1-7; Jer 10:11-13; Act 14:15, Act 17:23; Rom 1:20, that there, Rather, "the time should not be yet," χρονος \[Strong's G5550\], ουκ \[Strong's G3756\], εστι \[Strong's G2076\], ετι \[Strong's G2089\], that is, the time of those glorious things with which "the mystery of God should be finished." Rev 16:17; Dan 12:7 Revelation 10:7”