Seal Up What the Seven Thunders Said

When he [the mighty angel] shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.” (Revelation 10:3a-4, NIV 1984).

My Musings – The identity of the seven thunders is not explained, and perhaps John assumes it will be known to his readers.  They may be heavenly voices or God’s voice. God’s voice is often compared to thunder (Psalms 29; Job 26:14; 37:5; John 12:28–29), and seven is the number of completion and perfection. The number seven (sevenfold) is also connected to the Holy Spirit.

The verse indicates that John was going to write down what they said, which suggests that the thunder was more than just noise, or literal peals of thunder. John was forbidden to record what the seven thunders said. Revelation is primarily designed to reveal and not to conceal God’s purpose and future events. However, this specific “revelation” from the seven thunders, for reasons known only to God, was meant to be kept hidden.

At the time of the end, the things that were sealed in Daniel’s vision were to be revealed.  This is not the case with the voices of these thunders. Though they were heard by John, they were not to be recorded by him in this book of Revelation.  Perhaps they are so terrible that God in mercy withholds prior knowledge of them. Thus, the Godly are kept from morbid ponderings over the evil to come and the ungodly are not driven by despair into reckless abandon.  

This also may indicate that besides the terrors that are foretold and not sealed, “the arrows of God’s quiver are not exhausted,” and contains others that are unutterable and more horrifying.  Beyond this we are not told why John was forbidden to write what the seven thunders uttered. They are the only sealed thing in an otherwise unsealed book (see Daniel 12:9; Revelation 22:10). While it is tempting to do so, it is pointless to speculate when God chooses to veil His truth (Deuteronomy 29:29).

My Advice – Let’s not focus on what is not revealed, nor read into what is revealed what may not be intended. For we cannot “fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty. They are higher than the heavens—what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave—what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.” (Job 11:7–9, NIV 1984).

There is enough that is revealed that we need to pay attention to. Above all else, “in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” (Ephesians 1:7–10, NIV 1984).

The times may be soon reaching their fulfillment that will “bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.” But “all things” does not include those who will be thrown “into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:30, NIV 1984). You can make the choice to avoid this destiny. If you have already made that choice, thank God for His amazing grace!

Resources:

Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Re 10:3). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.

Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Re 10:3). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 597). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Walvoord, John F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 954). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 574). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.