A Roaring Lion and Seven Thunders

Given what we now know about the book opening at “the time of the end,” you might find it fascinating to learn that after 1798, during the early nineteenth century, there was a surge of interest in the 2,300-day prophecy of Daniel 8:14. People from many denominations “did the math,” ultimately predicting that “the sanctuary [would] … be cleansed,” as the verse states, in 1844. This they took to mean the end of the world.

They fervently preached Christ’s imminent second advent, and when their home churches rejected the message, they separated from them, uniting into a movement of growing Adventists. But to their humiliation, Christ did not return in 1844. Sound familiar? Yes, this is the same Great Disappointment that the sixth church, Philadelphia, underwent (Revelation 3:7–13).

Though Christ holds the open book, what He cries out in “the seven thunders” is, like Daniel’s book once was, “[sealed] up.” In like manner, the early Adventists had calculated the correct date, but the event fulfilled on that date was sealed from them until after the Great Disappointment. Why? No greater test of faith could have been given. Did they truly believe in the second advent? Would they soldier past the shaking? Would they continue to proclaim the most important of messages to the world?

The “thunders” are “voices,” and, as we have seen in Scripture, voices from heaven utter messages for us on earth. They are another group of seven, which indicates fulfillment. Christ’s stance upon the whole earth demonstrates these messages as a proclamation to the entire world.

There is only one collective group of messages remaining in the book of Revelation: the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14. If you look at the events surrounding the Great Disappointment, you will find that the early Adventist experience reflects the first and second angels’ messages—the first in their preaching of Christ’s advent; the second in their exodus from the apostate churches.

Lord Jesus, as this book thunders its message to us, please help us to proclaim Your grace to a sin-stained world.

For Further Study: Amos 1:2; Joel 3:16; Daniel 8:26

Key Bible Texts

And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. (Revelation 10:3 KJV)