John has heard and understood what the ‘peals of thunder’ said, but he is not to write it down! Although he was instructed to write down what he saw,1 but not this! He is like Daniel, to whom it is said: “The vision of the evenings and mornings that has been given you is true, but seal up the vision, for it concerns the distant future.”2 Does this mean that the content of what was said by the ‘seven peals of thunder’ will be made known in the distant future? After all, Daniel is told: “But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.”3 Or does it belong to the inexpressible words, things that no one is permitted to speak?4 There have been people—in our time too—who believe they have received a special revelation from the Lord as to the content of what the seven peals of thunder said, and they have also published it. If there are special utterances of the Spirit, they must always be checked against the Word.5 A true prophet is one whose word comes to pass.6 There are harsh warnings against false prophets in Scripture.7 It very much begs the question as to whether what John had to keep hidden would be revealed to someone else today. That seems to be very unlikely. The Lord Jesus says at the end of the book that if anyone adds to the words of the prophecy of this book, God will add the plagues that are described in this book to him.8 We are not allowed to fill in, to add to what the Lord has sealed. Furthermore: does the fact that it is sealed mean that it will be unsealed one day? Or are what the peals of thunder said, along with the judgments they contained, not going to take place because of God’s grace? Or will things only become clear when the seventh angel blows his trumpet? Do they belong to the mystery of God that He has proclaimed, and will then proclaim, to His servants, the prophets? “…and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created Heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there will be delay no longer…”9 Just guessing, we do not know.
The angel, on behalf of Christ, roars like the lion of Judah. The ‘peals of thunder’ proclaim their message, which are forbidden to be written down. The little book, or little scroll, is in His left hand. His face is turned towards Jerusalem. Is that the secret? Has it to do with God’s own dealings with Israel in the last days? Is the ‘judgment of the world’ to be postponed, as at the time of the first intermezzo,10 until Israel has achieved its goal nationally and internationally – and also spiritually? The angel/Christ will afterwards lift up His hand and swear: “There should be time no longer” (AV), “There will be no more delay” (NIV). Does this refer to God’s own dealings with His firstborn son, Israel,11 that do not concern the Church? For this book of comfort is for them, for the seven churches, the Church of all ages and in all places, so that they can know that God is leading His people, through everything, however heavily the storm rages.12 The Lord does not always pour out His fierce anger. The prophet Hosea gives an emotional description of the relationship between Him and His people. “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. But the more they were called, the more they went away from Me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realise it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? A sword will flash in their cities; it will devour their false prophets and put an end to their plans. My people are determined to turn from me. Even though they call me God Most High, I will by no means exalt them. How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a man—the Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities. They will follow the Lord; He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west. They will come from Egypt, trembling like sparrows, from Assyria, fluttering like doves. I will settle them in their homes,” declares the Lord.13 They will come from the whole world, from a worldwide exile. We are seeing this happen in our day!
• When the Lord finally is dealing with His people Israel, giving them the revelation about Christ, there are not any foreigners/gentiles present. When Joseph, an image of the Lord Jesus in the Old Testament, makes himself known to his Jewish brothers, he first sends the Egyptians out of the room. They have nothing to do with this impressive moment.14 What takes place is between Him and His people. It is none of our business. Romans 11:25-27; Zechariah 12:10-14.
Bible References:
1.Revelation 1:11 2.Daniel 8:26 NIV 3.Daniel 12:4 NIV 4.2 Corinthians 12:4 5.1 John 4:1 6.Deuteronomy 18:21–22 7.Deuteronomy 18:20; 1 Kings 22:1–40 8.Revelation 22:18 9.Revelation 10:6-7 10.Revelation 7:1–8 11.Exodus 4:22; Jeremiah 31:9; Hosea 11:1 12.Psalm 77:12–21 13.Hosea 11:1–11 NIV 14.Genesis 45:1
