What do the seven thunders in Revelation 10:1-7 mean?

— “When he cried, the seven thunders uttered their own voices.” The cry of the angel was a cry to Jehovah which is immediately answered. The answer is one of power and judgment. Thunder is God’s voice in judgment, the expression of His authority therein (1 Sam. 7:10; Ps. 18:13; Job 26:14). “The seven thunders” intimate a full and perfect response to the angel’s cry. “The seven” gives precision and definiteness to the answering voices of the thunders. It was not a crash like the thunder of nature, but these thunders intelligently expressed the mind of the God of judgment, they “uttered their own voices.”

Seven Thunders. — The perfection of God's intervention in judgment.

Revelation 10. "Clothed with a cloud" is an appearance of divine majesty. "A rainbow" is again the covenant with the creation. "His face was as it were the sun" - supreme majesty; "his feet as pillars of fire" - the firmness of judgment. He descends from heaven to take possession of the earth, by placing His feet, one on the earth, the other on the sea. Verses 3, 4: "Seven thunders" - the perfection of God's intervention in His judgment, answering to the voice of the angel. God keeps sealed those things which John then sees; He will not allow John to write. God allows things to be spoken, in order to shew that all His power must intervene to answer this cry of Christ; but He will only reveal what is in relationship with that which is an object of veneration in the world; Christianity, Judaism, and consequently the apostasy. With His feet, Christ takes possession of all, China, America, etc.: but it is not His will to occupy us with it here. In verse 6 read, "That there should be no longer delay." The "Little book" means not the ways of providence in the world hidden, but the relation of the servants with what takes place in the world, the persecuted servants.

The first book had seals. Here, it is a book open, where every one may read, which, while applying to the earth, is also applicable to an open and public testimony to His name and the walk or profession which accompanies it, not to the hidden things of God in providence. Verse 1. The rainbow designates God's alliance with creation, and His faithfulness towards creation; the sun, supreme power; the pillars of fire, firmness of judgment. Verse 2. This revelation is given by Christ Himself, as having dominion over the earth, and as going to take possession of it in judgment. There is no more mystery, for the book is open. We do not see here Christ as the Lion of Juda, but the rights which belong to Christ. He sets one foot on the earth, the other on the sea; that is to say, on the prophetic earth and on things standing outside, particularly the world. Verse 3. The seven thunders. All God's rights over the earth, and His voice, which makes those rights be heard. The manner in which this takes place is not revealed.

The little opened book (v. 2), if we consider verses 8 to 11, seems to refer to the prophecies of the Old Testament which deal with God's judgments in the earth. They are to be completely fulfilled. His right foot on the sea pictures His subjugation of the Gentile nations: His left foot on the land signifies His subduing Israel under Him. His voice is as a lion roaring: He claims His rightful power over the nations. The seven thunders are the answer of God in the fulness of His resources of divine power (Psalm 29:3). He is fully behind His Son in claiming the sea and the land as His own. But though the thunders spoke intelligibly, John is not permitted to write their words (v. 4): it is not therefore necessary for us know what was spoken.

We see too how rapidly the end draws near: "And he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left upon the earth; and he cried with a great voice, as when a lion roareth." It is the preparatory voice of Judah's Lion, as "suddenly his anger kindles;" and the seven thunders, — the full divine voice, — the whole government of God in action, — answers it; but what they utter has to find its interpretation at a later time.

Meanwhile, the attitude of the angel is explained: "and the angel which I saw standing upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his right hand to heaven, and sware by Him that liveth forever and ever, who created the heavens, 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 should be delay no longer; but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound" — when he shall sound, as he is about to do, — "then is finished the mystery of God, according to the good tidings which He hath declared to His servants the prophets."

We see, too, how rapidly the end draws near: "And he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left upon the earth; and he cried with a great voice, as when a lion roareth." It is the preparatory voice of Judah's Lion as "suddenly His anger kindles;" and the seven thunders — the full, divine voice — the whole government of God in action — answers it; but what they utter has to find its interpretation at a later time.

Meanwhile the attitude of the angel is explained: "And the angel which I saw standing upon the earth lifted up his right hand to heaven and swore by Him that liveth to the ages of ages, who created the heavens 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 should be delay no longer, but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound," — when he shall sound as he is about to do, — then is finished the mystery of God, according to the good tidings which He hath declared by His servants the prophets."

Having set one foot on the sea, and the other upon the earth, He "cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when He had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices." (v. 3.) The subject of this cry is concealed; for when John was about to write what the seven thunders had uttered, he was commanded to "seal up the things he had heard, and not to write them." (vv. 3, 4.) But from the imagery employed it is not difficult to discern that the cry of Christ, and the voices of the seven thunders, were expressive of His wrath, indignation, and righteous judgment; for, as we know from various scriptures, it is in anger, righteous anger, that He will come and deal with the man of the earth. (Cp. Isa. 2, Isa. 26:20-21, Isa. 42:13; Joel 3:16, etc.)

The next three verses explain the significance of the action described in verse 2: "And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up His hand to heaven, and sware by Him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:* but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets." (vv. 5-7.)

Having set one foot on the sea, and the other upon the earth, He "cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when He had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices." (v. 3.) The subject of this cry is concealed; for when John was about to write what the seven thunders had uttered, he was commanded to "seal up the things he had heard, and not to write them." (vv. 3, 4.) But from the imagery employed it is not difficult to discern that the cry of Christ, and the voices of the seven thunders, were expressive of His wrath, indignation, and righteous judgment; for, as we know from various scriptures, it is in anger, righteous anger, that He will come and deal with the man of the earth. (Cp. Isa. 2, Isa. 26:20-21, Isa. 42:13; Joel 3:16, etc.)

The next three verses explain the significance of the action described in verse 2: "And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up His hand to heaven, and sware by Him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:* but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets." (vv. 5-7.)

(Vv. 3, 4) The loud voice and the seven thunders tell us that the rights of Christ will be made good through judgments that none can evade, though John is not allowed to disclose the voices of the seven thunders.

(Vv. 5-7) Christ, represented by the strong angel, who already has asserted His claim to the whole world, now swears by Him that lives for ever and ever, and who has created all things, that the time is at hand when He will enter upon His earthly inheritance — there will be "no longer delay" (N. Tr.). The seventh trumpet will introduce the final judgments, end the mystery of God, and bring in the blessings of the kingdom according to the glad tidings delivered to His servants the prophets (N. Tr.). The mystery of God in this passage refers to the fact that for long ages God has not publicly intervened in the affairs of men. The wickedness of men has grown unchecked by any public display on the part of God. Men have been allowed to gratify their lusts, attain their ambitions, to increase in their rebellion against God and persecution of His people. During the ages God's people have been tortured on the rack, banished from their homes, and martyred at the stake, and God, it might seem, has not interfered. All this — which has been called the silence of God — is a great mystery. It is not, however, inexplicable, for a "mystery" in Scripture is not something which cannot be explained, but something which is only known to the initiated. During the time of the mystery of God, believers have had the open book of prophecy foretelling the time of blessing that will come when God publicly intervenes. Thus the lamp of prophecy has illumined the darkness of the ages and the believer has been initiated into the mind of God. When, however, the Lord Jesus publicly intervenes, taking possession of the kingdoms of this world, the mystery of God will be finished. The judgment of the wicked and the blessings of the kingdom, known to the believer, will be fulfilled and manifest to the world.