Biblical Oddities: The Seven Thunders

The book of Revelation is full of symbolism, mystery, and things that are rather odd (like the time the apostle John ate a book). Of all of its secrets, however, the one that is the most mysterious of all is probably the Seven Thunders:

Revelation 10:1: “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:
2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,
3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.”

Notice that the passage tells us that seven “thunders” said something – and that John wasn’t allowed to tell us what they had to say! All we are permitted to know is that they did, in fact, say something. Their words, however, are a mystery.

I have done some research on this passage, and as far as I can tell no one has any idea what they said. All we can do is speculate because the contents of their message is a secret. God simply ordered John not to tell us, and he didn’t.

Some people think that when we get to Heaven we will know everything there is to know – that as soon as we set foot in Paradise we will be zapped with the full knowledge of God. I think this is highly unlikely. There are a number of things that God simply does not share with mankind; He has told us many things, but not everything. The mystery of the Seven Thunders is one example, but it is not the only one. Paul was once given a vision of Heaven, but God would not allow him to talk about it:

2 Corinthians 12:1: “It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.”

One aspect of God that we tend to overlook is that sometimes God deliberately keeps things hidden:

Proverbs 25:2: “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.”

Sometimes God keeps things hidden for millennia. Adam and Eve knew that a Savior would come, but the full details were not revealed until the days of the prophets – more than a thousand years later. There are some things that God chooses to reveal to us, and there are other things that He keeps secret; that is His prerogative as God. As the Bible says:

Deuteronomy 29:29: “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.”

It is entirely possible that there are some secrets that God will keep for all of eternity. There are other things, though, that God has revealed to us – and those things belong to us and to our children forever, so that we might serve Him.

The Seven Thunders is one of the great mysteries of Revelation, but it will not be a mystery forever. The day will come when it is finally time for the Thunders to speak, and when that happens we will be in Heaven to hear it. We will then know exactly what John was not permitted to reveal.