Within the context of the seven angels delivering God’s wrath, there are seven thunders, which announce coming events.
Revelation 10:1-11 “And I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, arrayed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire; and he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left upon the earth; and he cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. 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. And the angel that I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his right hand to heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven and the things that are therein, and the earth and the things that are therein, and the sea and the things that are therein, that there shall be delay no longer: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then is finished the mystery of God, according to the good tidings which he declared to his servants the prophets. And the voice which I heard from heaven, I heard it again speaking with me, and saying, Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel that standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, saying unto him that he should give me the little book. And he saith unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but in thy mouth it shall be sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and when I had eaten it, my belly was made bitter. And they say unto me, Thou must prophesy again over many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.”
Comment: This chapter begins by picturing how God led the children of Israel: The rainbow was a sign given to Noah that there would be no more destruction by flood. Moses’ face was as the sun after being with God. The children of Israel were led at night by a pillar of fire.
This angel has a little book, which contains seven thunders. After the seven thunders utter, the book is sealed. During the tribulation the little book is open. This angel has his right foot on the sea and his left foot is on the earth. We know that out of the sea comes the ten-horned beast and out of the earth comes the false prophet. They oppose God and His people. It could be that the seven thunders are seven things that God leads his chosen people through. The mystery of God will be finished or known with the voice of the seventh angel. The little book to John was sweet as honey but to the stomach bitter. To me it means the seven thunders are seven things God’s followers will experience through the tribulation from the false prophet and the beast. They will seem wonderful in the beginning, but end in bitter experiences. If these events had been written down, the believers would know what was coming next and would try to change their outcome.
