"But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel when he is about to trumpet,
are once again back to the Old Testament because in the New Testament one should not swear (Matt. 5:34-37). 6. Revelation 10:7 "But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel when he is about to trumpet, then the mystery of God is finished, as He has announced the good news to His own slaves the prophets." As soon as the seventh trumpet is blown, the mystery is over. B. God Telling John to Devour the Little Scroll (Revelation 10:8-11) "And the voice which I heard out of heaven, I heard again speaking with me and saying, Go, take the opened scroll in the hand of the Angel who is standing on the sea and on the land. And I went to the Angel and told Him to give me the little scroll. And He said to me, Take it and devour it, and it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey. And I took the little scroll out of the hand of the Angel and devoured it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth; and when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. And they said to me, You must prophesy again over many peoples and nations and tongues and kings." God commands John to devour the little scroll. This shows that God is eager to tell us the following facts. This agrees somewhat with Revelation 1:1-2. "Bitter" indicates bitterness (Ruth 1:20), and "sweet" indicates joy (Psa. 119:103). C. The Temple and the Altar (Revelation 11:1-2) 1. Revelation 11:1 "And there was given to me a reed like a rod, and someone said, Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship in it." What does "measure" mean? By reading Numbers 35:2, 5; Ezekiel 45:1-3; 42:15-20; and 48:8, 12, 15, we know that "measure" means protection, separation unto God. What does "a reed like a rod" mean? Revelation 21:15 through 17 speaks only of a golden reed for measuring. It does not mention a reed like a rod for measuring because, by the time of the new heaven and new earth, sin, Satan, Antichrist, and the false prophet have all been thrown into the lake of fire. Therefore, all is peaceful. The measuring in Revelation 11:1 means punishment (Prov. 10:13; Psa. 89:32). Everything within the measure of the rod is holy and is protected by God; everything beyond the measure of the rod is in danger and is of the world.