Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Thunders
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The concept of "seven" holds significant symbolic meaning throughout the Bible, often representing completeness or divine perfection. Among the various instances of "seven" in Scripture, the "Seven Thunders" is a particularly intriguing and mysterious reference found in the Book of Revelation.

Biblical Reference:

The Seven Thunders are mentioned in Revelation 10:1-4. The Apostle John, while receiving his apocalyptic vision, describes a mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun, and his legs were like pillars of fire. The angel held a little scroll, which was open in his hand. As he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, he cried out with a loud voice, like the roar of a lion. At this cry, the Seven Thunders spoke. John writes:

"And when the seven thunders had spoken, 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.'" (Revelation 10:4)

Interpretation and Significance:

The Seven Thunders are unique in that their message is deliberately concealed from the reader. Unlike other prophetic revelations in the Book of Revelation, the content of the Seven Thunders is not disclosed. This has led to much speculation and theological reflection regarding their significance.

1. Divine Mystery: The command to seal up the message of the Seven Thunders underscores the theme of divine mystery. It serves as a reminder that not all of God's plans and purposes are revealed to humanity. This aligns with the biblical understanding that God's ways and thoughts are higher than human comprehension (Isaiah 55:8-9).

2. Symbol of Judgment: In biblical literature, thunder often symbolizes the voice of God and is associated with divine judgment and authority (Psalm 29:3-9). The Seven Thunders, therefore, may represent a complete and perfect expression of God's judgment, emphasizing His sovereign control over the unfolding events of the end times.

3. Encouragement to Faithfulness: The withholding of the Seven Thunders' message can also be seen as an encouragement for believers to trust in God's wisdom and timing. It calls Christians to remain faithful and obedient, even when certain aspects of God's plan remain hidden.

4. Contrast with Revelation: The Book of Revelation is characterized by its vivid and often symbolic imagery, revealing the ultimate victory of Christ and the establishment of God's kingdom. The sealed message of the Seven Thunders contrasts with the otherwise revelatory nature of the book, highlighting the selective nature of divine revelation.

Theological Reflections:

The Seven Thunders invite believers to reflect on the nature of prophecy and revelation. They challenge readers to acknowledge the limits of human understanding and to trust in God's sovereign will. The silence surrounding the Seven Thunders serves as a powerful reminder of the mysteries of God's kingdom and the call to live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

In summary, while the Seven Thunders remain an enigma within the biblical narrative, their presence in the Book of Revelation contributes to the overarching themes of divine mystery, judgment, and the call to faithful perseverance.
Nave's Topical Index
Revelation 10:3
And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
Nave's Topical Index

Resources
What are the seven seals of Revelation? | GotQuestions.org

What do the seven stars represent in Revelation? | GotQuestions.org

What do the seven thunders in Revelation 10:1-7 mean? | GotQuestions.org

Seven: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Seven

Seven Churches

Seven Spirits

Seven Stars

Seven: Days: Dedication of the Temple Lasted Double

Seven: Days: Defilements Lasted For

Seven: Days: Ezekiel Sits by the Chebar River in Astonishment For

Seven: Days: Fasts of

Seven: Days: Mourning for Jacob Lasted For

Seven: Days: Noah in the Ark Before the Great Flood For

Seven: Days: Noah Remains in the Ark After Sending Forth the Dove For

Seven: Days: Paul Stays at Puteoli For

Seven: Days: Paul Waits at Tyre For

Seven: Days: Saul Directed by Samuel to Stay at Gilgal Awaiting the Prophet's Command For

Seven: Days: The Consecration of Priests and Altars Lasted For

Seven: Days: The Elders of Jabesh-Gilead Ask for a Truce of

Seven: Days: The Feast of Ahasuerus Continued For

Seven: Days: The Feast of Tabernacles Lasted For

Seven: Days: The Firstborn of Flocks and Sheep Must Remain With Their Mothers, Before Being offered

Seven: Days: The Israelites Encircled Jericho For

Seven: Days: The Passover Lasted For

Seven: Days: The Plague of Bloody Waters in Egypt Lasted For

Seven: Days: The Sympathy for Job by Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar For

Seven: Days: Week Consists of

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens of Liberality

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens of Many Sons

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens of the Ceremonially Clean Creatures Taken Into Noah's Ark

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Abraham Gives Abimelech Seven Lambs

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Elisha's Servant Looked Seven Times for the Appearance of Rain

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Naaman Was Required to Wash in the Jordan River Seven Times

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Rams and Bullocks to the Number of, Required in Sarifices

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Angels With Seven Plagues

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Angels With Seven Trumpets

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Chamberlains at the Court of Ahasuerus

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Congregations in Asia

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Counsellors at the Court of Artaxerxes

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Cows and Seven Ears of Grain in Pharaoh's Vision

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Eyes of the Lord

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Golden Lampstands

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Golden Vials

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Heads and Seven Crowns

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Horns and Seven Eyes

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Kings

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Lamps and Pipes

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Magi (Wise Men)

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Maidens Given to Esther

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Plagues

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Princes

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Seals

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Servants (Greek: Diakonoi) in the Jerusalem Congregations

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Shepherds to be Sent Forth Against Assyria

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Spirits

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Stars

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Thunders

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Women Will Seek a Polyandrous Marriage

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Silver Was Purified Seven Times

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: The Heat of Nebuchadnezzars Furnace Was Intensified Sevenfold

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: The Light of the Sun Was Intensified Sevenfold

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: The Scarlet-Colored Beast Having Seven Heads

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: The Seven Steps in the Temple Seen in Ezekiel's Vision

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: The Sprinkling of Blood Seven Times

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: The Sprinkling of Oil Seven Times

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: The Threatened Punishment of Israel Was Sevenfold

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Worshiping Seven Times a Day

Seven: Months: Holy Convocations in the Seventh Month

Seven: The Israelites Surrounded Jericho Seven Times, and on the Seventh Day Sounding Seven Trumpets

Seven: Weeks in Daniel's Vision Concerning the Coming of the Messiah For

Seven: Weeks: Ten Times For

Seven: Weeks: The Period Between the Passover Feast and the Feast of Pentecost

Seven: Years of Abundance For

Seven: Years: A Famine Lasted in Canaan For

Seven: Years: A Famine Lasted in Egypt For

Seven: Years: Jacob Serves for Each of his Wives For

Seven: Years: Seven Times, the Period Between the Jubilees

Seven: Years: The Insanity of Nebuchadnezzar For

Related Terms

Thirty-seven (9 Occurrences)

Seven-fold (6 Occurrences)

Twenty-seven (6 Occurrences)

Seventy-seven (4 Occurrences)

Forty-seven (3 Occurrences)

Fifty-seven (3 Occurrences)

Seven-day (2 Occurrences)

Sixty-seven (3 Occurrences)

Eighty-seven (2 Occurrences)

Seven-headed (1 Occurrence)

Cows (33 Occurrences)

Stars (64 Occurrences)

Kine (24 Occurrences)

Celebrated (24 Occurrences)

Candlesticks (11 Occurrences)

Churches (39 Occurrences)

Vials (5 Occurrences)

Altars (55 Occurrences)

Sevenfold (10 Occurrences)

Assemblies (48 Occurrences)

Scorched (21 Occurrences)

Sawest (20 Occurrences)

Sabbaths (53 Occurrences)

Shaking (162 Occurrences)

Creatures (83 Occurrences)

Vessels (210 Occurrences)

Cakes (65 Occurrences)

Sceva (1 Occurrence)

Yeast (48 Occurrences)

Sardis (3 Occurrences)

Sounding (99 Occurrences)

Sprinkled (55 Occurrences)

Sounded (66 Occurrences)

Yearling (48 Occurrences)

7700 (1 Occurrence)

245 (3 Occurrences)

7000 (3 Occurrences)

7337 (2 Occurrences)

Charioteers (19 Occurrences)

Arabians (8 Occurrences)

Arabs (7 Occurrences)

Singing-men (3 Occurrences)

Sitteth (74 Occurrences)

Seventeen (12 Occurrences)

Stephen (13 Occurrences)

Singing-women (3 Occurrences)

Snuffers (8 Occurrences)

Songstresses (5 Occurrences)

Snuffdishes (3 Occurrences)

Sits (52 Occurrences)

Amount (66 Occurrences)

Compass (51 Occurrences)

Carrying (88 Occurrences)

Advanced (32 Occurrences)

Angels (99 Occurrences)

Smyrna (2 Occurrences)

Candlestick (34 Occurrences)

Afterward (113 Occurrences)

Sprinkle (37 Occurrences)

Shut (237 Occurrences)

Sixty (70 Occurrences)

Singing (65 Occurrences)

Completed (109 Occurrences)

Stayed (169 Occurrences)

Quarantine (3 Occurrences)

127 (3 Occurrences)

Voices (76 Occurrences)

Bigtha (1 Occurrence)

Compassed (52 Occurrences)

Ceremonially (38 Occurrences)

Catholic

Center (30 Occurrences)

Crowns (27 Occurrences)

Capitals (21 Occurrences)

Chapiters (15 Occurrences)

Childless (25 Occurrences)

Captureth (24 Occurrences)

Circled (12 Occurrences)

Anna (1 Occurrence)

Seven: Miscellany of Sevens: Seven Stars
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