598. Verses 2-4. And he had in his hand a little book open, and he set his right foot upon the sea, and the left upon the earth. And he cried with a great voice as a lion roareth; and when he cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. And when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice out of heaven, saying unto me, Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not." And he had in his hand a little book open," signifies the Word manifested, "and he set his right foot upon the sea, and the left upon the earth," signifies the sense of the letter which is natural, in which are all things of heaven and the church. "And he cried with a great voice as a lion roareth," signifies testification of grievous lamentation on account of the desolation of Divine Truth in the church: "and when he cried, seven thunders uttered their voices," signifies instruction out of heaven, and perception concerning the last state of the church. "And when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write," signifies that he was desirous of manifesting that state: "and I heard a voice out of heaven saying unto me, Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not," signifies a command from the Lord, that those things should be kept back and not yet be manifested.