Seal up what the seven thunders have said! Do not write it down!

 

Imagine sitting and listening to a speaker, very vividly communicate every detail of an event; this was the case when I worked for the phone company, all those years ago. The speaker, an Ohio Highway officer, told us a couple of stories. He had nothing behind him but a chalkboard, where he pointed out which direction each car had been traveling. There was something about his voice and the manner in which he spoke because I still have those verbal images in my head.

Perhaps this is how it was for John because it seems like there was a pause. John finishes his sip of water when he hears this voice, alright, break time is over, now let's get into Revelation chapter ten.

Revelation 10:1 NASB I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire;

• “I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, “ NASB

  In Revelation nine, John saw the fifth angel blowing his trumpet. The announcement was the stinging locusts.

  The sixth angel sounded and a voice was heard instructing that angel to release the four angels bound in the Euphrates. The NIRV translation says they were set free to kill a third of the remaining population. Since the judgment from God has begun, there has been an onslaught of death. These four killer angels have help from two million mounted Calvary. Rev. 9:17 begins the descriptions and it ends with verses 18 and 19, as it tells us of their tails, which were like snakes that actually bite.

• “clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire;” NIRV

  We were not given a description of the previous two angels that had come to blow their announcing trumpets, but NOW we are. That is curious. Perhaps it would be best to keep in mind that this entire Book is a Revelation of Jesus Christ.

  • “Clothed with a cloud.”

    Revelation 1:7 tells us that He is coming with the clouds; in Revelation 14:14 He (Jesus) is sitting on the clouds; In Exodus 16:10, there, in the desert, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud; and finally, in Psalms 97:2 King David says that clouds and thick darkness surround him.

  • “the rainbow was upon his head”

    From Revelation 4:2,3 John describes looking into heaven. There in front of me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. The One who sat there shone like jewels. Around the throne was a rainbow that looked like an emerald.

    And from Ezekiel 1:28 NirV we learn that “The glow around him looked like a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day. That's what the glory of the LORD looked like.”

  • “ his face was like the sun”

    Revelation 1:16 already told us that His face shone like the sun; Matthew 17:2 informs us that He was transfigured before them and His face shone as the sun.

  • “ and his feet like pillars of fire.”

    Revelation 1:15 And His feet were like burnished brass having been fired in a furnace.

    While I think it is important to use previously accepted evidence, for the Jew, going back to the origins – the OT, might be better.

    Daniel 10:6 His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze,

    The idea behind using Daniel's words are that burnished bronze, may in fact, give the appearance of fire. 

    Ezekiel saw the Lord and described Him using terminology that included both burnished bronze and fire.

    Ezekiel 1:27 Then I noticed from the appearance of His loins and upward something like glowing metal that looked like fire all around within it, and from the appearance of His loins and downward I saw something like fire; and there was a radiance around Him.

Why give you all this information?

Because of two things:

1. When I opened The Ultimate Cross-Reference Treasury I encountered a comment. That commentary said, “This angel is not, and cannot be, our Lord himself. Such a supposition would, it seems to me, entirely break through the consistency of apocalyptic analogy.” When I saw this my attention immediately was drawn to four words, “it seems to me.” This is something I would say, especially if I am not positive about which answer to give you, the reader. At a point like this, I have hashed out why any of several choices could be a reasonable response, and pointed out why I thought at least one would be the strongest contender for your attention; this, of course, is an attempt at leaving the Holy Spirit to guide you as you make an intelligent decision for yourself. Seeing these words “it seems to me,” told me that the commentator was NOT sure.

2. The second component of critical thought, which I immediately applied to the commentary, is to disregard all comments until I cannot ascertain what scripture is trying to tell me after I have looked at the context; considered the origins of the simplest of words making up the sentence and/or paragraph; and, I have analyzed what I see with comparative passages, such as I have done above.

What is my takeaway from all this?

Aside from rarely take anything at face value, I researched the scriptural evidence to prove whether Revelation 10:1 points to Jesus or not, and I have concluded that we are, without a doubt, looking at Jesus Christ.

Wow, so much for verse one. Moving on.

Revelation 10:2 NASB "and he had in his hand a little book which was open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land;"

This word for book is unusual, as it is the Greek word bibliaridion and is only found in the Revelation. It means a little scroll. 

As far as I am concerned this is evidence that the entirety of the Bible is Jewish in its driving force and thought. The idea that God would hand a man a scroll is nothing new and therefore familiar to the Jewish readers – John's primary audience.

Ezekiel 2:9 NASB Then I looked, and behold, a hand was extended to me; and lo, a scroll was in it.

Go just a bit further in Ezekiel and you will find him eating a scroll.

Ezekiel 3:1-3 NASB Then He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." (2) So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll. (3) He said to me, "Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you." Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.

Momentarily we will see this same action in Revelation 10:8, 9. The actions are almost word for word. We will tear this apart shortly, but not here.

NASB "Then the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, "Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land." (9) So I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. And he *said to me, "Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth, it will be sweet as honey."

This is Jesus and we defined why just moments ago. At this point, Jesus roars like the Lion that he is.

Revelation 10:3-4 AMP “And he shouted with a loud voice like the roaring of a lion, and when he had shouted, the seven thunders gave voice and uttered their message in distinct words. (4) And when the seven thunders had spoken (sounded), I was going to write [it down], but I heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up what the seven thunders have said! Do not write it down!

John understood what they said, but he was NOT allowed to share the words. Habakkuk has a similar theme, but Habakkuk was instructed to write it down with the intent of sharing those words.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 NASB Then the LORD answered me and said, "Record the vision And inscribe it on tablets, That the one who reads it may run. (3) "For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay.

Pay attention to the phrase “that the one who reads it may run.” “May run” is one Hebrew word rûts. It also means to break down, or to divide speedily.

Do you realize this is exactly what we are doing when we read with intent?

Daniel, in speaking about the entirety of time, which includes this amazingly long pause we have been living in that leads up to the seventieth week also speaks of sealing the vision.

Daniel 9:24 NASB "Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up the vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.

The context of Daniel's vision speaks of:

• finishing the transgression,

• making an end of sin,

• to make atonement for iniquity,

• to bring in everlasting righteousness,

• to seal up the vision,

• and to anoint the most holy place.

Have these things happened?

Without thinking I said an adamant NO. No one heard me voicing my opinion and so I added, and they will not happen until the end of the seven-year period when Jesus comes back as the warring Messiah. Thankfully I slowed down a moment and gave this some thought.

On the cross Jesus said, it is finished. 

What was finished?

Our standard religious response is to say, the law; and that is not entirely wrong, but there was more, specifically, the end of transgression. 

Transgression, according to Webster's dictionary, means The act of passing over (through ignorance) or going beyond the bounds of any law or rule of moral duty.

Look at what Colossians chapter two says.

Colossians 2:13-15 CEV “You were dead because you were sinful and were not God's people. But God let Christ make you alive when he forgave all our sins. God wiped out the charges that were against us for disobeying the Law of Moses. He took them away and nailed them to the cross. There Christ defeated all powers and forces. He let the whole world see them being led away as prisoners when he celebrated his victory.

Romans chapter three speaks about how the Law points out sin and how God makes us righteous through faith.

Romans 3:20-22 CEV God doesn't accept people simply because they obey the Law. No, indeed! All the Law does is to point out our sin. Now we see how God does make us acceptable to him. The Law and the Prophets tell how we become acceptable, and it isn't by obeying the Law of Moses. God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ.

Romans 11:27 refers to a time when He will forgive Israel's sins.

NASB "THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS."

Do you really think this only happens after the time of wrath?

Isaiah 60:21 NLT All your people will be righteous. They will possess their land forever, for I will plant them there with my own hands in order to bring myself glory.

As you analyze Isaiah 60:21 can you see that the phrase “your people” could mean both Israel and those who have come into the family. Although Israel currently possesses a portion of the land God promised, there is a day coming when this humanly impractical statement will be fulfilled, and that will come at the end of the seven years.

In Romans 5 we are told that righteousness will reign through that One, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:17-19 NASB For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. (18) So then as through one transgression there resulted in condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted in the justification of life to all men. (19) For as through the one man's disobedience, the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One, the many will be made righteous.

Daniel 12 indicates that the prophet was to seal the book for a time specific; the time of the end, to which we have arrived.

Daniel 12:4 NASB "But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase."

All I have to do is to look at Daniel 12:1 to answer the next question.

What end is He talking about?

The one associated with Israel becoming a nation. 

Dr. J. Vernon McGee stated, “These prophecies were to be sealed until "the time of the end." This does not mean the end of time but refers to that definite period of time which in the Book of Daniel is the Seventieth Week.”

Assuming you understand that seventy weeks of years were decreed and that only sixty-nine of those weeks have been accounted for, that leaves only the seventieth week of years. Within that time period, the wrath of God is poured out upon the earth; that has not happened yet. But think about it, during this gap between the sixty-ninth and the seventieth year Israel became a nation. Jesus told us that this generation would not pass away before the end comes. The intelligent realize that we, the church, are living on borrowed time.

Daniel 12:1 NASB "Now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people will arise. And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.

The phrase “at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued,” is talking about the church. Don't try to get exclusionary here, because this includes those Jews who have come to accept Christ as the Messiah.

A couple of questions.

How do you the reader know if the Holy Spirit is permitting us to read and understand the writings of Daniel?

If I had not mentioned one of the biggest clues – Israel becoming a nation (again,) how would you determine that we were finally at the end of this journey?

The Lord, speaking to Israel, points out that their ways and actions have made the “vision of all” to become like the words of a book that is sealed. These would not be good words to hear.

Isaiah 29:10-14 KJV "For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered. (11) And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: (12) And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. (13) Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: (14) Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid."

Paul, spoke of a mystery, so are we still wallowing in this lack of knowing?

In Romans 11:25 Paul reminds the reader that there certainly was a mystery. In the letter to the church at  Colossi, he acknowledges that the mystery, which has been hidden for ages, is now made manifest to His saints. By the time he writes the letter to the church in Ephesus, (Ephesians 1:9) he is now telling the church that the Spirit has made known the mystery.

As you noticed Daniel was told to seal up the book, and yet we read it.

Are you aware that the book of Daniel is one that the Jews are NOT allowed to read?

Could you then say that the book is still sealed for many?

One of my pastors told me, “no one can understand the Revelation or the prophetic books, like Daniel.” Is it possible that the book of Daniel is stilled sealed in his mind? Did you pay attention when Daniel 12:4 stated that knowledge will be increased. 

I feel like this has happened to me and I have an insatiable appetite for the prophetic.