August 2: LOUD AND ROARING THUNDER
…and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. Revelation 10:3
In the context set by verse 1, from heaven, the origin of this message is none other than the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (5:5). There are seven instances in the Scriptures when the voice of the LORD is likened to the roar of a lion: Jeremiah 25:30; Hosea 11:10; Joel 3:16; Amos 1:2; 3:4 and 8, along with Revelation 10:3 (above). In each instance, this roaring precedes a judgment. A judgment from God is good news for the repentant, and bad news for the unrepentant. However, if the unrepentant heeds the warning in the ‘bad news’ and repents, he will be saved (see Ezekiel 18:21-22, Jonah 3:10). And that’s great news!
There are seven times in Revelation that announcements are made in loud voice: 5:2; 7:2; 10:3; 14: 7, 9, 15; 18:2. Each of these announcements is of inestimable importance.
Today’s opening verse is stated with a triple emphasis: a loud voice, the roar of a lion, and another set of sevens: seven thunders uttered their voices. The use of thunder as a symbol in the Bible points to the manifestation of God’s mighty actions on behalf of the saved. These mighty actions require only to be spoken into reality. Simultaneously, these actions are warnings to all others who harbor a seed of rebellion against God. Thus, the expression of seven thunders points to the Biblical concept of completeness, fullness, totality, and finality of the judgment of the LORD before His return (see 22:12).
The interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets merits our close attention. Scripture is replete with examples of God’s people who did not understand what He was doing due to doubts about His character or disobedience of clear commands. Even the closest followers of Jesus were in danger of subtle evils interjected by the influence of Satan (see Luke 9:46). They were fully under the sway of the popular but erroneous notion that the Messiah would be a political hero. This idea had to be banished, but it was not to occur until after the death and resurrection of the Savior. Soon we will learn of another popular notion that had to be banished.
In our own lives, He patiently, gently, and systematically brings us into confrontation with point(s) of error. Be aware that whenever the Holy Spirit brings something to the forefront of your attention, rebuffing has a hardening effect on your heart. The reality of this action/reaction has a cumulative effect of silencing the still, small voice (1 Kings 19:12), rendering it ‘unhearable’ by spiritual ears. Harden not your heart, beloved! Ask the Lord of the harvest to till up any hard soil, that the seeds of truth can flourish and bear much fruit. The core mission of Jesus was to glorify His Father so that men would see His true character and choose for themselves to follow Him unreservedly.
“Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.” Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.” John 12:28-30