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3 He cried with a loud voice, as a lion roars. When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 When the seven thunders sounded, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from the sky saying, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders said, and don't write them."
5 The angel who I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to the sky, 6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there will no longer be delay, 7 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as he declared to his servants, the prophets.
When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices. When the seven thunders sounded, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from the sky saying, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders said, and don't write them."
This mystery of the 7 thunders has fascinated scholars and ordinary people for probably as long as this book has been written. It is almost like a dare, a challenge to figure it out. At the same time it also seems like a declaration by God that no one will be allowed to know what they said for certain. I don't claim to have some amazing insight no one else knows about, obviously. At the same time I sense that the time may be near, if not already here, that gaining a deeper understanding of this may be something in God's will for us at this point in history.
The method we have relied on in our study throughout this book thus far has proven to be an enormous blessing to reveal many unexpected insights and breakthroughs, pulling together a larger perspective on what has previously been shrouded in mystery. I would like to tackle this mystery in the very same way, walking carefully through many of the passages throughout Scripture that speak of thunders to see if maybe we might discover something under the guidance of the Spirit of Wisdom that will prove not only interesting but valuable in growing in our knowledge of God and His ways in these last days.
Following are many of the passages I find related to thunder. The more I ponder them the more excited I feel that, just as we have experienced in the past, things very important can distill out of our willingness to listen collectively as the Spirit prompts different people to catch various aspects that coalesce together to form a more distinct picture we may have never considered previously. We will begin with the references to thunders in this book and then throughout the rest of Scripture to see how they all might come together harmoniously to bring greater insight.
But before we go there, I want to point out one detail that may be significant.
When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices
The question here is this: do the 7 thunders speak simultaneously or sequentially with the cry of this angel? At first this may seem irrelevant, but I believe as we go deeper this will become important.
Around the throne were twenty-four thrones. On the thrones were twenty-four elders sitting, dressed in white garments, with crowns of gold on their heads. Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunders. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. (Revelation 4:4-5)
I saw that the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying, as with a voice of thunder, "Come and see!" (Revelation 6:1)
Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand. The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:3-5)
The twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God's throne, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: "We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power, and reigned. The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints, and those who fear your name, to the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth.
God's temple that is in heaven was opened, and the ark of the Lord's covenant was seen in his temple. Lightnings, sounds, thunders, an earthquake, and great hail followed. (Revelation 11:16-19)
I will interject here that I recently learned something very important about this passage. These last two verses belong tightly linked with the following verses in the next chapter and which are totally out of context without these. But we will look at the another time.
I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a number, one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads. I heard a sound from heaven, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of a great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that of harpists playing on their harps. They sing a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the earth. (Revelation 14:1-3)
The seventh poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came forth out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, "It is done!" There were lightnings, sounds, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men on the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty. The great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. (Revelation 16:17-19)
A voice came forth from the throne, saying, "Give praise to our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, the small and the great!" I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns! (Revelation 19:5-6)
Just these verses from within Revelation give us enormous clues that can steer us as we continue.
Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch forth your hand toward the sky, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, on man, and on animal, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt." Moses stretched forth his rod toward the heavens, and Yahweh sent thunder, hail, and lightning flashed down to the earth. Yahweh rained hail on the land of Egypt. (Exodus 9:22-23)
Pray to Yahweh; for there has been enough of mighty thunderings and hail. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer." Moses said to him, "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands to Yahweh. The thunders shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that you may know that the earth is Yahweh's. But as for you and your servants, I know that you don't yet fear Yahweh God." (Exodus 9:28-30)
Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands to Yahweh; and the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth. When Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants. The heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he didn't let the children of Israel go, just as Yahweh had spoken through Moses. (Exodus 9:33-35)
This informs us that miracles of themselves don't have the kind of power needed to convert a person's heart to worship God in truth and love. Just because God uses supernatural manifestations that gets a lot of attention does not mean they actually work to change hearts. This is very important for us to understand today, for many presume that all we need is more vivid demonstrations of God's presence and power and people will respond positively. Pharaoh is a prime example that this is not that effective and that it is actually God's mercy that causes more hardening of the heart than God's so-called judgments. In the context of this 6th trumpet we may well be looking at a very similar situation.
It happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of an exceedingly loud trumpet; and all the people who were in the camp trembled. (Exodus 19:16)
All the people perceived the thunderings, the lightnings, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled, and stayed at a distance. (Exodus 20:18)
Hannah prayed, and said: My heart exults in Yahweh! My horn is exalted in Yahweh. My mouth is enlarged over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; for no man shall prevail by strength. Those who strive with Yahweh shall be broken to pieces. He will thunder against them in the sky. Yahweh will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed. (1 Samuel 2:1,9-10)
When the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. When the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. The children of Israel said to Samuel, "Don't cease to cry to Yahweh our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines."
Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a whole burnt offering to Yahweh: and Samuel cried to Yahweh for Israel; and Yahweh answered him. As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel; but Yahweh thundered with a great thunder on that day on the Philistines, and confused them; and they were struck down before Israel. (1 Samuel 7:7-10)
If you will fear Yahweh, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, and both you and also the king who reigns over you are followers of Yahweh your God, well: but if you will not listen to the voice of Yahweh, but rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then will the hand of Yahweh be against you, as it was against your fathers.
Now therefore stand still and see this great thing, which Yahweh will do before your eyes. Isn't it wheat harvest today? I will call to Yahweh, that he may send thunder and rain; and you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of Yahweh, in asking you a king. So Samuel called to Yahweh; and Yahweh sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel. All the people said to Samuel, Pray for your servants to Yahweh your God, that we not die; for we have added to all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
Samuel said to the people, "Don't be afraid; you have indeed done all this evil; yet don't turn aside from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart: and don't turn aside; for then would you go after vain things which can't profit nor deliver, for they are vain. For Yahweh will not forsake his people for his great name's sake, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people to himself. Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way. Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he has done for you. But if you shall still do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king." (1 Samuel 12:14-25)
David spoke to Yahweh the words of this song in the day that Yahweh delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul: and he said, Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine; God, my rock, in him I will take refuge; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge. My savior, you save me from violence. I will call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised: So shall I be saved from my enemies.
He made darkness pavilions around himself: gathering of waters, and thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness before him, coals of fire were kindled. Yahweh thundered from heaven. The Most High uttered his voice. He sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and confused them. Then the channels of the sea appeared. The foundations of the world were laid bare by the rebuke of Yahweh, At the blast of the breath of his nostrils. He sent from on high and he took me. He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They came on me in the day of my calamity, but Yahweh was my support. He also brought me out into a large place. He delivered me, because he delighted in me. (2 Samuel 22:1-4, 12-20)
Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea. For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance. He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark. Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up. "Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place. Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out of his mouth. He sends it forth under the whole sky, and his lightning to the ends of the earth. After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty. He doesn't hold back anything when his voice is heard. God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can't comprehend. (Job 36:30 – 37:5)
"Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me. Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified? Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him? "Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty. Pour out the fury of your anger. Look at everyone who is proud, and bring him low. Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place. Then I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you. (Job 40:7-14)
Let me ask a very pertinent question here. Is God describing the methods He relies on to conquer the proud, or is He challenging our methods that we believe He should use to win over evil?
I believe He is telling Job that until someone can prove that those methods are actually effective in neutralizing the power of pride and evil, we should not demand that those methods are what God relies on to accomplish His will. He takes no ownership of such methods here but simply identifies them as our opinions about how we should be saved.
Yahweh's voice is on the waters. The God of glory thunders, even Yahweh on many waters. Yahweh's voice is powerful. Yahweh's voice is full of majesty. (Psalms 29:3-4)
The waters saw you, God. The waters saw you, and they writhed. The depths also convulsed. The clouds poured out water. The skies resounded with thunder. Your arrows also flashed around. The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind. The lightnings lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook. Your way was through the sea; your paths through the great waters. Your footsteps were not known. You led your people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron. (Psalms 77:16-20)
He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever. You covered it with the deep as with a cloak. The waters stood above the mountains. At your rebuke they fled. At the voice of your thunder they hurried away. The mountains rose, the valleys sank down, to the place which you had assigned to them. You have set a boundary that they may not pass over; that they don't turn again to cover the earth. (Psalms 104:5-9)
Woe to Ariel! Ariel, the city where David encamped! Add year to year; let the feasts come around; then I will distress Ariel, and there will be mourning and lamentation. She shall be to me as an altar hearth. I will encamp against you all around you, and will lay siege against you with posted troops. I will raise siege works against you. You will be brought down, and will speak out of the ground. Your speech will mumble out of the dust. Your voice will be as of one who has a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and your speech will whisper out of the dust. But the multitude of your foes will be like fine dust, and the multitude of the ruthless ones like chaff that blows away. Yes, it will be in an instant, suddenly. She will be visited by Yahweh of Armies with thunder, with earthquake, with great noise, with whirlwind and storm, and with the flame of a devouring fire. The multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all who fight against her and her stronghold, and who distress her, will be like a dream, a vision of the night. It will be like when a hungry man dreams, and behold, he eats; but he awakes, and his hunger isn't satisfied; or like when a thirsty man dreams, and behold, he drinks; but he awakes, and behold, he is faint, and he is still thirsty. The multitude of all the nations that fight against Mount Zion will be like that. (Isaiah 29:1-8)
They rush on the city. They run on the wall. They climb up into the houses. They enter in at the windows like thieves. The earth quakes before them. The heavens tremble. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. Yahweh thunders his voice before his army; for his forces are very great; for he is strong who obeys his command; for the day of Yahweh is great and very awesome, and who can endure it? "Yet even now," says Yahweh, "turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning." Tear your heart, and not your garments, and turn to Yahweh, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity. Who knows? He may turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, even a meal offering and a drink offering to Yahweh, your God. (Joel 2:9-14)
"Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? 'Father, save me from this time?' But for this cause I came to this time. Father, glorify your name!" Then there came a voice out of the sky, saying, "I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again." The multitude therefore, who stood by and heard it, said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him." Jesus answered, "This voice hasn't come for my sake, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." (John 12:27-32)
Let me ask what might at first sound like a silly question. What is the difference between the sound of a cat and the sound of a lion? Why? Similarly, what is the difference between the bark of a tiny dog compared to the bark of a huge Mastiff? We know the difference without ever having to see them, for it has to do with size as perceived by the depth of pitch in sound, right?
A lower the pitch of a sound means a lower frequency is passing through the air which is the means by which we hear sounds. Throughout these passages we find that often God's voice is described as sounding like thunder. At Mt. Sinai a loud blast like a trumpet was also heard, but it appears that primarily whenever the voice of God has been heard audibly it usually sounds like thunder. That is because thunder, or the even lower frequencies associated with earthquakes, might indicate the largest possible source as originating that sound. It is also connected with our perception of power.
This takes us to the next step which is how we are emotionally wired to react to sounds. We usually have a distinctly different reaction between hearing the yapping of a tiny dog and the sound of a deep growl or woof that clearly comes from an animal that is far larger, especially if we can't see the source. We usually react with more fear when our brain tells us that the sound likely comes from something much larger than what we care to encounter, and there is nothing larger than God.
Let's now connect some dots to see what might come out of our observations. Thunder is a sound that is usually associated with lightning but is only heard as a result of the effect a lightning bolt produces in the atmosphere. That means that to hear a sound there has to be air involved, for that is how our ears hear sounds.
In Scripture the word used for spirit has to do with air or wind. In Revelation we learn of the 7 spirits that are before the throne and are connected with the Lamb. It would seem reasonable to associate these 7 spirits to the 7 thunders because air is required to transmit the sound of thunder. Voices come to our ears through the atmosphere, and wind generates sound itself depending on how strong that wind becomes. Thus I believe these 7 thunders may be reasonably be viewed as communications from God as His voice is so often described as being like thunder, and His Spirit wind is the means of communication sent to guide, instruct, convict and alert us of what God wants us to know.
However, having said this it is also true that other sources can produce the sound of thunder. Particularly note the description in Revelation 19 where collective voices of praise produce a sound like thunder. This is very compelling and inviting, for we were designed to reflect the image of God collectively. So we may participate in giving expression of God's will by joining our praise for God with all the rest of His true followers to produce communication similar to His voice of thunder.
Here is a review of the things we might learn about these thunders from the context of the passages we just examined.
A thunder originates from the throne of God in heaven.
At least one of the 4 creatures around the throne speaks with a voice of thunder.
A growing list of signs including thunder mark strategic points throughout Revelation.
An angel throws a censer full of fire to the earth.
When God's temple is opened exposing the ark of His covenant within.
When the 7th bowl is poured out resulting in the fracturing of the great city into 3 parts.
The New Song that sounds like many waters, like thunder and performed by harpists playing.
The voice of a great multitude of praise like many waters saying Hallelujah for God's reign.
Thunder, lightning and hail are one of the plagues on Egypt.
Thunder, lightnings and a loud trumpet are encountered from Mt. Sinai at the giving of the law.
Hannah says God will thunder against those who try to prevail against Him with strength.
God uses His voice of thunder to defeat Philistines attacking Israel causing them confusion.
God sends thunder and rain as a sign of displeasure for Israel's demand for a king to rule them.
David said God thundered with His voice to save David from violence and from Saul.
Elihu tells Job that God thunders marvelously with his voice of majesty.
God asks Job if he can thunder with a voice like God can.
The context is God questioning human methods of control by intimidation.
The Psalms associate God's thunder voice with glory, power, majesty, the whirlwind, causing the waters of the flood to retreat.
In David's song about Ariel he says it will be visited by Yahweh of Armies with thunder, with earthquake, a great noise, with whirlwind and storm, and with the flame of a devouring fire.
God thunders in response to Jesus' request to glorify God's name. Jesus declares the result of this would be judgment of this world and the casting out of the prince of this world.
The last passage in the Old Testament may give us the strongest clue combined with this event of Jesus being answered from heaven by thunder. Together they reveal the purpose, motives and intent of God using His voice of thunder to get our attention.
Yahweh thunders his voice before his army; for his forces are very great; for he is strong who obeys his command; for the day of Yahweh is great and very awesome, and who can endure it?
"Yet even now," says Yahweh, "turn to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning." Tear your heart, and not your garments, and turn to Yahweh, your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness, and relents from sending calamity. (Joel 2:11-13)
God's voice of thunder is meant to get our attention, to bring clarity where there is confusion of lies, to bring light where there is darkness and fear, to break through our lethargy to awaken us from our comatose state so that we may choose to change our thinking and turn back to giving Him our heart trust. God does not thunder to manipulate or control us but to get our attention to save us from all that is killing us and making us afraid of the very One who loves and cares for us the most. This is the purpose of God's thunder, not to attack us but to save us from the clutches of the enemy of our souls.
