Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Revelation 10:4

"And when the seven thunders uttered [their voices], I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not." — Revelation 10:4 (ASV)

As in the seals, the sequence of the sixth and seventh trumpets is interrupted to provide additional information bearing on the previous events and to prepare the reader for further developments. The author sees a mighty angel (possibly Michael, “the great prince” of Da 12:1), whom he describes in such dazzling terms that some have wrongly identified him with Christ. The voice that speaks in vv.4, 8 could, however, be that of Jesus.

The angel has in his hand a small scroll (v.2)—not to be confused with the Lamb’s scroll of chs. 5–7 but connected with the symbolic scroll of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:3–9:3; cf. Jeremiah 15:15–17). This prophet was told to “eat” the scroll, just as John is told to eat the scroll given him (vv.9–10). Such an action symbolized the reception of the Word of God into one’s innermost being as a necessary prerequisite to proclaim it with confidence. John could see the words on the scroll because it “lay open” in the angel’s hand. The angel standing on both land and sea symbolizes that the prophetic message is for the whole world.

When the angel shouted (v.3), seven thunders spoke, and John proceeded to write down their words. But he is interrupted and is commanded, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down” (v.4). Conceivably, this might have been another series of sevens. Either the seven thunders were intended for John’s own illumination and were not essential to the main vision of the seven trumpets, or the reference is designed to strike a note of mystery with reference to God’s revelatory activities (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:4). As the visible portion of an iceberg is only a small part of the iceberg, so God’s disclosures reveal only part of his total being and purposes.