And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts, saying, Come and see. Revelation 6:1
As an intense thunderstorm rolled through New Annan, my brother and I stood on the verandah of the old farmhouse and watched in awe. The lightning was so intense that the dusk-to-dawn light on a nearby pole turned itself out. The thunder shook and vibrated and crashed, so loud and so persistent that for more than ten minutes, my brother and I were unable to speak with each other. I have experienced many thunderstorms in my life, but none to rival that one! And yet, in all of that noisy display of power, I was unable to discern anything that sounded like words or a message of any kind. This was unlike the noise like thunder in our text, which carried a very powerful message.
Thunder is often used in the Bible as a sound that indicates a message from Heaven. Thunder marked the scene at Mount Sinai as the children of Israel gathered to receive the law from God. Although thunder and lightning are a natural phenomenon, their earth-shaking power conveyed to the people a sense of the almighty power of God. The law, which unveils to us something of the holiness of God, should certainly cause sinful man to quake in dread and shame. The sound of thunder, or sound like thunder, was sometimes heard as the Lord Jesus was conducting His ministry, as His Father confirmed from Heaven His delight and His approval of the Son. The grace of God, as represented in the Person of the Son of God, should also make us tremble in reverence in appreciation. But the noise like thunder in today’s text does not accompany a revelation of God’s law or God’s grace, but of God’s judgment.
John is being told to come and see, and is introduced to what is often referred to as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. These horsemen begin a campaign of great destruction on the earth and its inhabitants. John will tell us of that campaign, revealing details of things to come. These are the first events of a new age, no longer an age of grace and Gospel and Gentile welcome, but an age of destruction and condemnation on rebellious and thankless nations, of God’s renewed dealings with His earthly people Israel. It is very fitting that the launch of such an age should be with a sound like thunder. The invitation to John, and to us is to come and see. As we study the book of Revelation, we will see the pattern of God’s dealing with this world during that terrible time. God is willing to share his program with us. This is instructional, because we will not be on the earth to witness these events. The voice that sounded like thunder introduced John to the program. John’s description introduces us to the program. And we appreciate what God’s salvation has spared us from.
The thundered words ‘Come and see’ are our reminder that we have been delivered from the great tribulation, and our instructions to tell others that they might be delivered as well. -Jim MacIntosh