Seven Thunders

Exploring Prophetic Mysteries

With Daniel Speck 7.20.10

The Seven Thunders

The Seven Thunders is a mystery within a mystery, one of the rare secrets spoken of but not revealed in the Scriptures; a puzzle that many scholars down through the ages have attempted to solve by so many different theories.

I saw another strong angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire; and he had in his hand a little book which was open. He placed his right foot on the sea and his left on the land; 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. When the seven peals of thunder had spoken, I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up the things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them.” Revelation 10:1-4.

Up to this point, the book of Revelation has described all of the many events that will take place as the Scroll’s Seven Seals are opened by the Lord one by one. Then the mighty angel who has the glory of the Lord Jesus Himself roars like a lion and the Seven Thunders raise their voices. John is privileged to hear what they say, but we are not. He is told not to write it down. For thousands of years this message from the future has been kept secret.

Two questions naturally follow this mystery: What will the Seven Thunders say and why was John not allowed to tell us? But another question may be, “Is this something that is important for us to know today?” Daniel is told, “Conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time.” Daniel 12:4. It seems that John was instructed to do the same. If we are very near that long awaited end, it may be time to find out exactly what the Seven Thunders will say.

The context

A list of facts surrounding this event can provide important clues about the Seven Thunders.

This occurs after the Seven Seals are broken and six of the Seven Trumpets have sounded
It happens just before the Seventh Trumpet sounds
The mighty angel’s face shines like the sun and his legs are like pillars of fire
He places one foot on the sea and one on land
A loud voice like a lion from the mighty angel seems to prompt the Seven Thunders to speak
John begins to write down what they say, but is not allowed to write it
The mighty angel proclaims that the Mystery of God will be finished at the Seventh Trumpet

Thunder speaks of judgment, wrath, and His coming

Thunder is the sound of the approaching judgment of God (Revelation 16:18, Isaiah 29:6). The Seven Thunders are the warning of the coming judgment that is about to be poured out on the Beast and his kingdom starting with the Seven Golden Bowls of God’s Wrath. The Mighty Angel roars like a lion just as the Lord Jesus will when He returns as the Lion of Judah, the conquering King who comes to judge the world. The Seven Thunders raise their voices to reveal a mystery that even the Church has not been allowed to hear. The number seven suggests a complete and perfect judgment.

A legal judgment requires that the condemned person be identified

When a court condemns a criminal, the person’s name is read and the complete sentence is publicly announced. This is a simple but absolutely necessary legal requirement to insure that everyone understands who the condemned person is and exactly what their sentence will be. The same must be true of the Antichrist. When judgment on the Beast is formally announced by the Seven Thunders, legal protocol requires that he be officially identified.

The Seven Thunders may reveal the true identity of the Beast

The key to understanding the Seven Thunders is knowing exactly what is occurring when they raise their voices. This is the moment of the great unveiling. The mystery of Christ and the Church is finally revealed for everyone in the world to see. As born-again believers we know who the Messiah is, and have known since the first century. His name and exact identity has been proclaimed in the Word of God for two thousand years and is not hidden except to those who have been blinded by the god of this world and so refuse to believe (I Corinthians 4:4).

Why John was not allowed to write down what the Seven Thunders said

What we haven’t known and what John was told to seal up so no one would know until the great unveiling, is the identity of the Antichrist. That is must remain a mystery to the world so that he can continue to have the power deceive all who did not believe the truth of the Gospel (II Thessalonians 2:10-11). If his name, mark and identity were revealed before he arises, he would not be able to easily fool the world. For instance, if the Bible told us that the name of the beast is Ali Bin Hadad, then when Ali Bin Hadad stepped on the world stage everyone could simply read the Scriptures to realize that this is indeed the Antichrist. Since the world, even Christians, will not know his name or exact identity until he has arisen to become world dictator and institute his mark, he will succeed in his global deception. Believers may not be able to point to any specific scripture that clearly states his name, but his characteristics and works will certainly give him away to all well-versed students of prophecy.

The Seven Thunders and the Mystery of God

The Mighty Angel goes on to say, “...there will be no further delay, but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He preached to His servants the prophets.” Revelation 10:6-7. The Mystery of God as Christ and the Church (Ephesians 3:1-11) is completed at this point. Because of the appearance of Christ on the clouds at the Seventh Trumpet and the visible rapture of the Church, no one in the world will have any doubt who God truly is and who God’s people really are. Mystery over. Along with this is the end of the Mystery of Lawlessness or the Mystery of Iniquity (KJV). The power of Satan, the Beast and the Prophet to deceive the world will be completely broken. The Seven Thunders are then free to announce judgment on the Beast and to publicly state his name.

So what is the name of the Beast the Seven Thunders will reveal?

The unbelieving world is not to know the real name or identity of the Beast until it is too late, but there are clues to what it might be. The most important one is that his name will be associated with the number of the Beast, 666 (Revelation 13:16-18). Another is that he is prophesied to be a descendant of certain peoples (Daniel 11:37) and may bear the name of one of his ancestors. Herod the Great, an antichrist of the first century comes to mind. Also Hadad, the Syrian king of Elijah’s day was also a prototype of the Beast. The Hadads and Herods were Edomites who established ruling dynasties in Israel and Syria. Antiochus Epiphanes, the beast of Daniel, was Greek, but his ancestors may have possibly intermarried with the Hadad dynasty of Syria, which would make him Greek and Edomite. Just speculation at this point.

The connection between the Restrainer and the Seven Thunders

The Apostle Paul says of the Restrainer, “...he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.” II Thessalonians 2:7. As detailed in the article about the Restrainer, this is actually the Mystery of Lawlessness or the Mystery of Iniquity, which is the ability of Satan to deceive the world so the Antichrist will be not be revealed (exposed) until he (the Restrainer) is taken out of the way.

And you know what restrains him (the Antichrist) now, so that in his time, he will be revealed. For the Mystery of Lawlessness (the Restrainer) is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Then the lawless one will be revealed... II Thessalonians 2:6-8.

When the Restrainer is taken out of the way by the appearance of Christ on the clouds, Satan will no longer have the ability to deceive the world, and so the Seven Thunders will reveal the identity of the Beast for all the world to hear, but it will be too late for the vast majority of the world’s population because most unbelievers will carry the Mark of the Beast. No repentance is possible for anyone wearing the Mark, but only the terror of a certain impending judgment (Revelation 6:15-17 and 14:9-11).

Summary

What John is not allowed to write down, the voice of Seven Thunders, are most likely proclaiming judgment on the Beast and so must identify exactly who he is. When the Lord Jesus appears on the clouds and the rapture of the Church takes place at the Seventh Trumpet, the Mystery of God as well as the Mystery of Iniquity are finished. Who God is, who God’s people really are, as well as the true identity of the Beast will be revealed to all the world. The Restrainer and the Seven Thunders are connected in that when the Restrainer is taken out of the way, the identity of the Beast will also be revealed by the Seven Thunders. The exact name of the Antichrist remains a mystery, but it may be possible that the Lord will let the Church in the Last Days know what it is before the world realizes it.