We have understood or explained the 6th verse as the language of the angel, but the 7th as a declaration of John; whereas both verses are the language of the angel, the 7th being a qualification or explanation of the 6th, showing the manner in which time should close. The angel of the Philadelphia church, having "an open door," gave the Midnight Cry with the solemn assurance of this oath. He swore, or positively declared, "That there should be time no longer, but in the days of the voice of the 7th angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets." - There are " days " (plural) in which the 7th angel begins to sound.
Whether these days are literal or symbolic, which is most in accordance with the character of this book, they denote a short period of time, in which not only the 7th angel begins to sound, but the mystery of God is finished also. Thus we see that the mystery is finished, not in a point but in a period , and while the mystery finishing, the 7th angel is beginning to sound. What is the mystery to be finished? "The mystery of the gospel," Eph. 6 : 19. "The mystery which was kept secret since the world began, but is now made manifest." The riches of the glory of this mystery is Christ in you, the hope of glory, Col. 1:27. "The mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs , and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel" Eph. 2:4-6.
It is the dispensation of the grace of God; ver. 2. These texts show that the mystery of God or Christ is the Gos. Dis.
It is the period of hope and heirship .