Revelation 10:3-4
and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easily missed is that the "seven thunders" aren't just random loud noises; they're presented as a specific, known entity to John, like "the seven seals" or "the seven trumpets." Even though their message is sealed, their distinct, individual voices carry weight within God's divine plan, hinting at profound truths or judgments he intends to reveal.
An incredibly powerful angel, radiating divine authority, descends with a mighty voice like a roaring lion, signifying his immense power and the gravity of his message. This thunderous cry is immediately followed by the distinct voices of seven thunders, an event John is prompted to record but ultimately forbidden from revealing, indicating the profound, yet undisclosed, nature of these divine pronouncements.
Why does this angel roar like a lion? It's more than just a loud noise – it's a declaration of power and authority.
The angel cries out 'with a loud voice, like a lion roaring.' This imagery isn't accidental. The lion is often a symbol of royalty, strength, and fierce power. In Scripture, this imagery is frequently used to depict God's own powerful voice and his mighty actions.
A Voice of Authority
The roar signifies not just volume, but also authority. It's a sound that commands attention and instills awe. This angel, delivering a crucial message, speaks with that same kind of potent authority. It connects to the 'Lion of the tribe of Judah,' Jesus Christ himself, whose roar speaks of conquest and divine power.
A Call to Attention
This is a divine announcement, meant to shake people awake. It's the prelude to significant pronouncements, signaling that what follows is of utmost importance and carries divine weight.
Seven thunders sound, but their message is sealed. What does this mysterious sound signify?
Immediately following the angel's roar, 'the seven thunders sounded.' The specific phrasing, 'the seven thunders,' suggests these are not just random bursts of noise, but a distinct, divinely appointed set of utterances.
A Known, Yet Sealed, Message
While the thunders' specific words are not revealed in Scripture, their presence is significant. They represent powerful divine pronouncements or judgments that were known to John but were meant to be kept secret (sealed) from the wider audience at that moment. Think of them as divine decrees or warnings that hold immense weight but whose full meaning is reserved for a later time.
Echoes of Divine Power
In Jewish tradition, thunder was often considered the voice of God. The 'seven thunders' likely tap into this understanding, presenting a powerful, perhaps fearsome, aspect of God's communication. They are a clear sign that God is actively speaking and acting, even when His exact words are not fully disclosed.
Understand the original words
leōn · Greek Noun
A biblical figure often representing strength, sovereignty, and the authority of the 'Lion of the Tribe of Judah,' signifying power and impending judgment.
brontē · Greek Noun
In apocalyptic literature, thunder frequently represents the voice of God, signaling majesty, divine authority, and the announcement of imminent judicial action.
sphragizō · Greek Verb
To protect or keep hidden a divine message, implying that the full revelation of certain matters remains reserved solely within the counsel of God until a future time.
This Psalm describes the powerful voice of the Lord as thunder, highlighting the awe-inspiring nature of divine communication, which resonates with the 'seven thunders' in Revelation.
Isaiah 42:13God is depicted as a warrior going forth with a mighty shout, like a lion roaring, emphasizing the power and terror associated with divine pronouncements and judgments.
Jeremiah 25:30The Lord roars from His holy habitation and utters His voice like a lion, showing that the imagery of a roaring lion is a recurring biblical metaphor for God's powerful and judgment-filled declarations.
Hosea 11:10Here, God roars like a lion to call His children back, illustrating how a lion's roar can represent a powerful, drawing call, even amidst judgment or a call to return.
John 12:29During Jesus' Triumphal Entry, a voice from heaven thundered, and the people perceived it as thunder, connecting heavenly voices to the sound and impact of thunder.
ellicottRevelation 10:3: "And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices."
(3) And cried with a loud voice . . . —Better, and he cried with a loud voice, even as a lion roareth. Another token of the presence of Christ with the Church. The voice is the voice of a courage and strength derived from Him who is the “Lion of the tribe of Judah.” And when he had cried . . .—Translate, and when he cried, the seven thunders (notice, not seven thun…
pulpitRevelation 10:3: "And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices."
Verse 3 - And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth; and be cried with a great voice, as a lion roareth (Revised Version). What the angel cried we are apparently not told. Probably the whole incident is intended merely to set forth the powerful and terrible nature of the messenger who is to deliver God's message. The figure is a very common one with the p…
What's easily missed is that the "seven thunders" aren't just random loud noises; they're presented as a specific, known entity to John, like "the seven seals" or "the seven trumpets." Even though their message is sealed, their distinct, individual voices carry weight within God's divine plan, hinting at profound truths or judgments he intends to reveal.
An incredibly powerful angel, radiating divine authority, descends with a mighty voice like a roaring lion, signifying his immense power and the gravity of his message. This thunderous cry is immediately followed by the distinct voices of seven thunders, an event John is prompted to record but ultimately forbidden from revealing, indicating the profound, yet undisclosed, nature of these divine pronouncements.
An incredibly powerful angel, radiating divine authority, descends with a mighty voice like a roaring lion, signifying his immense power and the gravity of his message. This thunderous cry is immediately followed by the distinct voices of seven thunders, an event John is prompted to record but ultimately forbidden from revealing, indicating the profound, yet undisclosed, nature of these divine pronouncements.
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"and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders…" — What's easily missed is that the "seven thunders" aren't just random loud noises; they're presented as a specific, known entity to John, like "the seven seals" or "the seven trumpets." Even though th…
