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Revelation 10:4
ESV And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”
NIV And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, 'Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.'
NASB When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven, saying, 'Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken, and do not write them.'
CSB And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven, saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down! "
NLT When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Keep secret what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down.'
KJV And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

What does Revelation 10:4 mean?

The "mighty angel" of this passage spoke, resulting in a response from what John described as "seven thunders." This verse reports that when John was about to write what the seven thunders said, a voice from heaven told him not to write it. John obeyed the command from heaven, therefore the book of Revelation does not include what the seven thunders said.

This omission is a strong argument for verbal inspiration; that is, God breathed out the words of the Bible. Second Timothy 3:16 teaches us, "All Scripture is breathed out by God." The doctrine of verbal inspiration assures us that God included everything in His Word, the Bible, that He wanted included and left everything out that He did not want to include in the Bible. In Revelation 10:4 we have evidence of His leaving out what He did not want to include in the book of Revelation. Apparently, what the seven thunders uttered would not have been "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).

This deliberate omission also reminds us of an important fact: mankind does not know everything. Behind the scenes, in ways we cannot imagine or understand, God is acting and working. This verse is a perfect example of this concept in action. God tells us what He wants us to know, and what we need to know. Just because we do not see, or do not understand, does not mean something is not happening.
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