The Greatest Mysteries in Daniel and Revelation

The historicist scholar George Eldon Ladd says that the three cycles of judgment—seven seals, seven trumpets and seven last plagues—is the greatest mystery in the book of Revelation. I believe the greatest mystery in the book of Daniel is that the end of all things was scheduled to occur just after the reign of four kingdoms (Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome) yet there is an appointed time of the end at the latter end of Greek rule (Da 8:17,19).

I believe I understand all these mysteries. How do you explain them?

Eugene Shubert

I think we disagree on the word mystery.

Rev 10:3-4 says, and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.”

We both understand that something was revealed to John and that he wasn’t allowed to write it down. That’s just a minor detail. It doesn’t affect our understanding of the book. But how can we understand Revelation without discerning the meaning of the seven seals, seven trumpets and seven last plagues?