The Seven Thunders

For 180 years, since the Great Disappointment of 1844, Adventists have applied John’s vision of the mighty angel of Revelation 10, his loud, lion-like roar and the seven thunders that follow as prophetic of the Advent movement.

Yet throughout her life, Ellen White wrote little on the seven thunders. In fact, she only referred to them once, and in this singular manuscript, not released by the White Estate until half a century after it was written, May 4, 1950, she applied them to the future. Her commentary is less than one typewritten page, but it is remarkable in its comprehensiveness and depth. And because she makes a future application to these mysterious symbols, it is well worth investing all the mental and spiritual energy we possess to follow her line of thought, comparing scripture with scripture.

But first, I have to give fair warning to my historicist brothers and sisters: Those who have preemptively ruled out a future application of Revelation 10 cannot truly appreciate or benefit from her inspired commentary on the thunders, which, like the 2300 days, are central to the history and future of Adventism.

Before I quote her manuscript below, a short refresher: The seven thunders occur in Revelation 10 during the sixth trumpet. The sixth trumpet, which is the second woe of the three trumpet woes, is recorded in Revelation 9:12 to 11:14. Recall that Josiah Litch used the sixth trumpet to predict the downfall of the Ottoman Empire to the very day, August 11, 1840, more than one year before the event. Revelation 10, describing the mighty angel, is the second part of the sixth trumpet and Revelation 11:1-14, describing the 3.5 year testimony of the two witnesses, is the final part. But the two latter parts, Revelation 10:1 to 11:14, are a single unit, the second half of the second woe of the sixth trumpet.

Most expositors agree that Revelation 10:1 to 11:14 follows the same pattern of repeat and expand found throughout Bible prophecy and so the description of the mighty angel and of the Two Witnesses are not sequential with the vision of the horsemen of Revelation 9:13 to 21 but rather, they expand on it and possibly on the fifth trumpet as well.

Ellen White makes clear statements which place the trumpets in the future. In placing the seven thunders in the future as well, she is further confirming that both the trumpets and thunders point us to some of the most important future events between now and the return of Christ. We ignore and/or neglect their study at our peril.

What impressed me recently in Ellen White’s commentary is that she says the thunders will reveal the secrets that Daniel was told to seal up to the time of the end. According to White, Daniel’s little book will not be fully unsealed until the Mighty Angel cries out and stands like a lion to oppose Satan’s overmastering delusions. When the persecuting power of the man of sin reaches a new height, God will intervene, the lion of the tribe of Judah will roar and when he roars, the seven thunders will sound.

Her commentary therefore contains a warning for us who believe the time periods and events in the little book of Daniel have a future application. Inspiration is telling us not to assume we have a comprehensive understanding of how and where the sealed prophecies of Daniel apply. As I understand her, she is saying that God’s people at this time have a limited understanding of these prophecies and that they will not have a complete understanding of Daniel’s little book until all seven of the thunders sound. But notice in her manuscript below, the prophecies of Daniel are not unsealed all at once but each thunder is a specific event that successively discloses a sealed portion of the little book.

The angel who commanded Daniel to seal up the prophecies also told Daniel that when their unsealing occurs, none of the wicked will understand them. These prophecies will remain sealed to them. Dan 12:10. This will infuriate Satan and his followers because they will be unable to make precise plans to counter what God is about to do next. When Satan sees this he knows his demise is near and he becomes double the desperado, murderer, and tyrant that he already is.

In contrast, the people of God are sealed at this time in their foreheads and therefore they are now safe for God to reveal his truth and his judgments, to them. This knowledge empowers them to better reflect his character and to give the final warning which is empowered by the fourth angel of Revelation 18.

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In order to preserve the progression of her thought, I have placed my commentary in square brackets and italics [like this] so that readers can ignore my comments and easily pick up her train of thought after reading my inserts. Before beginning, I recommend reading Revelation 10 slowly and prayerfully, on bended knee.

Ellen White on the Seven Thunders

The mighty angel who instructed John was no less a personage than Jesus Christ. Setting His right foot on the sea, and His left upon the dry land, shows the part which He is acting [“is acting”, present tense.] in the closing scenes of the great controversy with Satan. This position denotes His supreme power and authority over the whole earth. The controversy had waxed stronger and more determined from age to age, and will continue to do so, to the concluding scenes when the masterly working of the powers of darkness shall reach their height. Satan, united with evil men, will deceive the whole world and the churches who receive not the love of the truth. But the mighty angel demands attention. He cries with a loud voice. He is to show the power and authority of His voice to those who have united with Satan to oppose the truth. [“He is to show”, future tense. When? “When the masterly working of the powers of darkness shall reach their height.”] {7BC 971.3}

After these seven thunders uttered their voices, the injunction comes to John as to Daniel in regard to the little book: “Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered.” These relate to future events which will be disclosed in their order. [“These relate to future events”, future tense.] Daniel shall stand in his lot at the end of the days. John sees the little book [of Daniel’s sealed prophecies] unsealed. Then Daniel’s prophecies have their proper place in the first, second, and third angels’ messages to be given to the world. [Future tense.] The unsealing of the little book was the message in relation to time. [Here Ellen White draws on the historic fulfillment of Revelation 10 in the Advent movement to explain its application to the future. She is saying that the unsealing of the 2300 day prophecy of Daniel in the Millerite movement was a type of the final unsealing of the time periods and content of the little book at the end.] {7BC 971.4}

The books of Daniel and the Revelation are one. One is a prophecy [Daniel], the other a revelation [Revelation]; one a book sealed [Daniel], the other a book opened [Revelation]. John heard the mysteries which the thunders uttered, but he was commanded not to write them. [This means that the little book will not be fully unsealed until the seven thunders sound.] {7BC 971.5}

The special light given to John which was expressed in the seven thunders was a delineation of events which would transpire under the first and second angels’ messages. It was not best for the people to know these things, for their faith must necessarily be tested. In the order of God most wonderful and advanced truths would be proclaimed. The first and second angels’ messages were to be proclaimed, but no further light was to be revealed before these messages had done their specific work. This is represented by the angel standing with one foot on the sea, proclaiming with a most solemn oath that time should be no longer. [Some Adventist expositors see this paragraph as proof that she is applying the thunders historically only, to the Millerite movement prior to 1844, when the first and second angels messages were first given. But this interpretation contradicts 1) her introductory remarks that place the thunders in the future, 2) her line of thought here that the initial fulfillment of the seven thunders is the template for their future fulfillment, and 3) her choice of words “The special light given to John which was expressed in the seven thunders was a delineation of events which would transpire under the first and second angels’ messages.” If she had intended to apply the thunders strictly to the past, she would not have said “which would transpire”. Instead, she would have simply said “which transpired”.] {7BC 971.6}

This time, which the angel declares with a solemn oath, is not the end of this world’s history, neither of probationary time, but of prophetic time, which should precede the advent of our Lord. That is, the people will not have another message upon definite time. After this period of time, reaching from 1842 to 1844, there can be no definite tracing of the prophetic time. [Here, as in the paragraph above, Ellen White singles out the final 3.5 years of the 2300 days, early 1842 to the fall of 1844, as the historic fulfillment of the first and second angel’s messages of Revelation 14. See the endnotes below for two examples of similar statements. Recall that the third angel’s message was not proclaimed until after the passing of the time in 1844. Again, this is the template for the primary fulfillment of the thunders when the Two Witnesses prophesy for 3.5 years. Their slaying ends prophetic time but there is still one more message – the message of the third angel.] The longest reckoning reaches to the autumn of 1844. [Similarly, prophetic time ends with the slaying of the Two Witnesses.] {7BC 971.7}

The angel’s position, with one foot on the sea, the other on the land, signifies the wide extent of the proclamation of the message. It will cross the broad waters and be proclaimed in other countries, even to all the world. [Ellen White, again, as at the start of her commentary, unmistakably applies the roar of the mighty angel and the thunders that follow to the future.] The comprehension of truth, the glad reception of the message, is represented in the eating of the little book. The truth in regard to the time of the advent of our Lord was a precious message to our souls. [These two closing sentences take the early Advent experience and apply it to the time of the latter rain symbolized in Revelation’s sixth trumpet, second woe, by the two anointed ones – anointed by the Spirit. When the unvarnished truth of the three angels messages will again be given it power, this truth will be the solace of the souls of the remnant, as it was to our pioneers.] (Manuscript 59, 1900). {7BC 971.8}

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Endnotes:

1. In these cities [Boston and the large coastal cities of the North East] the message of the first angel went with great power in 1842 and 1843 . . .{Lt20-1910.3}

2. The labors of Elder S remind me of the labors put forth in 1842 to 1844. He uses the Bible, and the Bible alone, to prove the truth of his arguments. He presents a plain “Thus saith the Lord.” Then if any oppose his words, he makes it plain that they must have their controversy not with him. {Ev 204.4}

   He has large lifelike representations of the beasts and symbols in Daniel and the Revelation, and these are brought forward at the proper time to illustrate his remarks. Not one careless or unnecessary word escapes his lips. He speaks forcibly and solemnly. Many of his hearers have never before heard discourses of so solemn a nature. They manifest no spirit of levity, but a solemn awe seems to rest upon them.—Letter 350, 1906. {Ev 205.1}