This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Revelation 10:3
http://www.dailybiblestudy.org
Please at your convenience, visit the Daily Bible Study Amazon Store at http://www.dailybiblestudy.org/amazon-store.html
3 And [kai] cried [krazo] with a loud [megas] voice, [phone] as [hosper] when a lion [leon] roareth: [mukaomai] and [kai] when [hote] he had cried, [krazo] seven [hepta] thunders [bronte] uttered [laleo] their [heautou] voices. [phone] KJV-Interlinear
3 and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices. NASB
The roar of a lion is the roar of authority, power, and even terror. When you hear the roar, you know that the lion is nearby, and that you are not safe so long as he can be heard. Even worse is when the roaring stops and silence follows.
Gods roaring is depicted in several passages, Hos. 11:10, Joel 3:16, Amos 1:2, 3:8 and other similar passages. These all represent God is in control, is in charge, and always nearby.
The angel was speaking with a great volume of sound, and could obviously be heard throughout the realm. This roar (which was not a roar), but was a very loud statement, made clearly such that everyone could clearly hear his words.
This was not a sound that will be heard on earth, but was something John heard in his vision. However, everyone who remains alive on the earth will know with certainty that all of the things that have happened and of which are about to happen, as they unfold, are from only one possible source – God. The one true God, namely Jesus Christ.
And then something unheard of occurred. Seven thunders sounded.
Seven is representative of the completeness of an action or event, or situation. Since this is from God, seven here indicates the completeness of that which God is about to do. Nothing more need nor can be added, nothing will be left out.
The thunders represent the announcement of judgment. Just as the trumpets announce something or someone who is about to make an entrance, so now after six trumpets, the seventh and final trumpet is preceded with seven thunders – the herald, forerunner, harbinger of judgment.
Thunder has been used in various passages, Rev. 8:5; 11:19; 16:18; 1 Sam 2:10; 1 Sam 7:10, 2 Sam 22:14; Ps 18:13; John 12:28-30, Ex 9:23, Isa 29:6.
These thunders are voices (from God) stating that which is about to come. Their words are clear but are withheld from our reading.
God does not usually withhold information, and when he does it is because the information is so wonderful as to be beyond our comprehension, or it is necessary so as to protect history (such as in keeping the Church Age a secret), or it is too terrible to reveal. And because our context is judgment, then that leaves the last option, too terrible, as His reasons for withholding that specific information.
Those who will live through it, will come to know what these seven thunders mean, but that will not be any type of privilege, for obvious reasons.
Likewise, since the angel is standing on both earth and sea, these thunders will obviously apply to the very foundations of the world. With that you can let your imagination run away with your own personal speculations.
But we can presume that since we have seen natural catastrophes and manmade catastrophes, the flood of Noah, demon attacks, and such things, these seven thunders are most likely something that has never occurred before in history. Now try to figure it out. You won’t be able to figure it out.
But there is yet another principle being revealed here, and that is that when folks have gone so far beyond and away from truth, there will come a time, when even the most dramatic and terrible of judgments will not bring them back to truth.
That is something that everyone risks when they reject Christ (for salvation) or reject doctrine (for spiritual growth). Each respective segment risks losing phenomenal blessing and opportunity, forever.
Feel Free to make a comment about this study: Comment Page
If you are a Facebook member, then please join the Bible Study Group that best suits you:
Facebook Groups
Daily Bible Study Quick Links
Go to this quick links page, and save it in your bookmarks for quick access to the daily studies.
Two subscription options to receive these daily studies everyday via e-mail, are available here.
