At first glance, the answer does not actually seem like an answer. However, it is—and also a very important answer. It is the mighty appearance of the man in linen that makes it clear that it is an important answer. He raises his hands toward heaven and swears by the eternally Living One. The man in linen emphasizes with all that he has that the answer that is now coming is very important. The raising of the hands is the gesture that makes it clear that he is swearing, calling on God in heaven as a witness. Here it is the Son who swears by the Father as his witness. We see here how God swears by himself. That is not impossible. We also read about this in Hebrews 6:13: For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by who to swear, he swore by himself.
He swears by the One who lives eternally. The man in linen thus shows that the Lord has always been there and will always be there. He is the only God. Like the man in linen who stands above the water, so the Lord stands above time. He rules forever. Therefore, he is also the only One who can answer the question, How long will it be before these miraculous events come to an end?
Then comes the answer, “It would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.”
7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.