Who Is The Voice Of The Seven Thunders
Would you rather listen than read? Listen here.
Thunder
The one thing I have missed while living in Montana is thunder. I know that may sound strange, but after living in Southeast Texas and Orlando, Florida, I miss it. During Orlando summers, you could set your watch on the thunder. Every afternoon between two and five, the sea breeze from each side of the state would collide, creating dynamic thunderstorms.
In Montana, you may get one or two thunderstorms a year. Last year we had two peels of thunder and that was it. I love sitting inside, under a fuzzy blanket with a book and hearing the power of nature.
The Voice Of The Seven Thunders
In Revelation, there are ten references to thunder. A couple are about the sound of thunder coming from God’s throne, others are the sounds of horses running, some are in the judgements, but a mysterious one that caught my attention was the voice of the seven thunders. This passage has intrigued scholars and readers for centuries, as it does not provide any clear explanation of who or what the voice of the seven thunders is. So, let’s jump in and see who the voice of the seven thunders might belong to.
“Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 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.’”
Revelation 10:1-5 NIV
Who Is The Voice Of The Seven Thunders?
This passage describes a voice that cried out loudly, and then seven thunders uttered their voices. A voice from heaven commanded John to seal up those things and not write them down, so the content of what the thunders said was never revealed.
Divine Judgement
One interpretation of this passage is that the voice of the seven thunders is a symbol of divine judgment. The number seven is often associated with completeness and perfection in the Bible, and the thunder is a symbol of God’s power and majesty. Thus, the voice of the seven thunders could represent the complete and perfect judgment of God.
The Voice Of God
Some scholars say to know who belongs to the Voice of Seven Thunders, we must look at Psalm 29:3-9. I have added bold font for you to see seven of the characteristics of God that could correlate to the voice of the seven thunders.
“The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.
The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon leap like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.
The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning.
The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare. And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
Psalm 29:3-9 NIV
Wow! Reading this gives me a deep sense of awe and reverence. I’m captivated by these words. Nothing else draw me in more than descriptions like this of our mighty God.
God’s Voice
His voice is over the waters. This immediately takes me to Genesis 1:2, where is says the Spirit of the Lord was over the waters. Right from the beginning of God’s Word, we see His glory shining. At His voice, He set all of creation into place. This leads us right into His power and majesty.
Mountains crumble, lightning flashes, and lives changed at the power of God’s voice. It can be as loud as thunder as we read in Revelation, or it can be a whisper like we read in Ezekiel. Now matter the pitch, what He says comes with power.
Just reading the Psalms can show us the majesty of God’s voice. The way David speaks with God, even right here in Psalm 29, shows us the splendor of God.
His voice breaks ceders, meaning it can crush. We read in the Old testament of the plagues that occurred, the battles fought, and nations conquered because of His instruction. In Revelation, we see this again, but with it the hope of eternity with Him.
His voice strikes with flashes of lightning, shakes the desert, and twists the oaks. This again reiterates to me He has control over all things.
Maybe Angels?
Interestingly, in the Book of Tobit, one of the Apocryphal writings, you will find seven angels that surround the throne of God.
“I am Raphael, one of the seven angels who stand ready to enter before the Glory of the Lord.”
Tobit 12:15 NCB
Because of this text, there are scholars who would argue the voice of the seven thunders could represent the voices of the seven archangels, who are believed to play a key role in the end times and the final judgment.
The Mystery Remains
Many times, I feel frustrated because I want answers. I want to know exactly who is the voice of the seven thunders, who is the woman clothed in the sun, who is the dragon and the beasts. But then it reminds me there are so many mysteries God keeps, so we will keep searching. We will keep seeking to find the answers and when we do, we draw closer to Him.
Guided Prayer
When I first read these scriptures, Psalm 29 captivated me, so I put together a guided prayer time for those who are part of my online community. By doing that, my reverence for God has deepened and I want to learn even more of who He is.
I want to share that one guided prayer with you so you can get an idea of some of what you can find in our online community. Along with this prayer, you will find others and the only thing that can make it better is to have you there. Take some time to do the prayer, and I would love to hear how God showed up during that time. Please share this in the comments below.
Also, in the comments, from what you have just read or from other places, who do you believe belongs to the voice of the seven thunders?
Before you begin the guided prayer… Find a quiet place. In the prayer we are moving in the thought that God is the voice of the seven thunders. I read the scripture three times. Close your eyes and listen as I read and then pause as long as you need between the readings. This can be hard the first few times. Being quiet can be hard. Give yourself time and practice. Allow yourself time to listen. Try to clear your mind and stay focused on what He might say to you.
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