Revelation Part 41
First, the angel establishes his position. He places his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. This dramatic posture symbolizes authority extending over the entire earth.
In Revelation 10:8, we see that the mighty angel has a little book open in his hand. John will soon be told to take this book and eat it, but first the angel establishes his position. He places his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. This dramatic posture symbolizes authority extending over the entire earth. The land and the sea together represent the whole inhabited world. God has authority over all creation, and the coming judgments are not limited to one nation, kingdom, or region.
This is significant because by this point the judgments have already displayed God's power in an unmistakable way. The events described in the seals and trumpets have brought devastating consequences upon the earth. Yet the message continues to be that God remains sovereign. Satan has been permitted to exercise influence over this present world, but the earth ultimately belongs to its Creator. God has the authority to judge it and will take back what Satan has corrupted. The plan of God includes the removal of Satan's influence and the restoration of righteous government.
The angel then cries with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. Jesus Christ is described as the Lion, so the imagery may remind us of the power and authority associated with Christ's message without identifying this angel as Christ Himself. The roar is a powerful announcement that is meant to be heard and taken seriously. Similar imagery appears throughout the Old Testament. Jeremiah 25:30, Hosea 11:10, Joel 3:16, Amos 1:2, and Amos 3:8 all use the imagery of the Lord roaring or speaking with overwhelming power. The message is clear: What God is about to do cannot be ignored.
After the angel cries out, seven thunders utter their voices. John hears what they say and is about to write it down, but he is immediately commanded not to do so. Revelation 10:4 says,
"Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them."
Thunder in Scripture is often associated with the voice and power of God. Job 37:5 says that God thunders marvelously with His voice and does great things that we cannot comprehend. Job 40:9 compares God's voice with thunder. In John 12:28–29, when the Father speaks from heaven, some of those who heard the voice thought that it had thundered. Thunder is also associated with judgment throughout Revelation. It appears in Revelation 8:5, Revelation 11:19, and Revelation 16:18. Similar descriptions are found in 1 Samuel 2:10 and 2 Samuel 22:14.
The seven thunders may therefore represent another divine message associated with judgment, but John is not permitted to reveal what they said. The number seven is often associated with completeness, and this could point toward some complete aspect of God's plan that remains hidden. We cannot be certain because John was specifically commanded not to record the message. There are details God has chosen to reveal, and there are details He has chosen to withhold.
This is important for our study of prophecy. Revelation is a book of revealing, but it does not reveal everything. In fact, this appears to be one of the very few instances in the book where John is told that something he has seen and heard must remain sealed. We should be interested in understanding prophecy, but we must also recognize the limits God has placed on our understanding.
Paul had a similar experience. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul describes being caught up to the third heaven and hearing things that he was not permitted to utter. Whether the experience was a vision or something more direct, Paul says he did not fully know. He was given an experience that contained information he could not repeat. In Revelation 10, John likewise receives information that he is forbidden to write down. God reveals what is necessary for His servants to know, but He does not reveal every detail.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
