What Does Revelation 10:4 Mean?

And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. Then I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down!"

Revelation 10:4(HCSB)

Verse of the Day

There is a blessing in the book of Revelation for all those who read it, listen to it being read aloud, and take to heart all that is written therein. This prophetic book paints an incredibly detailed word-picture of what will one day take place during the time of the seven-year Tribulation period which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, and includes the terrible time of Jacob's Trouble.

But although a panoramic view of God's wrath being poured out on a Christ-rejecting, God-hating, sinful world was shown to the apostle John, there is one part of his vision that God has clearly hidden from our view. It was when the seven thunders spoke, that John heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down." John clearly understood the message that these seven thunders conveyed, and he was about to record the awe-inspiring truth, but John was forbidden by God to disclose to this generation the mystery of the seven thunders.

As Church age believers, we are not party to this aspect of God's judgement on the world. Although we are instructed to know and take to heart the truth in John's prophetic book, the seven thunders must, for the time-being, remain one of the mysteries of God that we are forbidden to look into: "For the secret things belong to the LORD our God."

'The Revelation of Jesus Christ' is a prophetic book that opens up our knowledge and understanding of our Saviour: "And when we finally see Him we will know Him as we are known." - but for the time being there is one aspect of His Person, His Character and His Work that must remain hidden from our eyes. During the church age we are precluded by divine decree from knowing the significance and message of these awe-inspiring seven thunders, which will only be revealed in God's time.. in God's way and for God's ultimate plans and purpose.

God has His own reasons to seal up one aspect of the divine revelation which He has given to His people, in an otherwise unsealed book.. and we would be wise to honour His decision by disconnecting our curiosity about its content.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that You have given us Your holy Word and opened up for our learning all that You would have us to know and understand. Thank You that it is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the honour of kings to search out a matter. Help me to be diligent in studying Your Word as I read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest all that is contained within its sacred pages. Open up my understanding to all those passages which are hard to understand, but also keep me from seeking to look into the hidden mysteries that belong to God alone. This I ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.

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