Thunders and Lightnings

Thunders and Lightnings

Thunders and Lightnings

When we read about lightning in Scripture, it signifies God's judgment. People tend to assume judgment is always negative, but in reality, the Bible frequently presents judgment as something closely connected to God's presence. A perfect and holy God has given us free will, it's our choice which side we stand on when judgment comes. Where God's judgement and thunders are, there you will find His righteousness and His presence! This is why Jesus said "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness."  Jesus lay down His life to God in baptism as Son of Man in the same manner we all have to - We want God's judgement and righteous presence in our lives.

We can see the importance of baptism and judgement connected-let me explain by looking at Jesus words:

Matthew 3:13-15

"Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
But John forbid him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him."

Matthew 3:16

"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him."

Jeremiah 5:4

"Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God."

“Judgment” is God’s setting-things-right in His holy presence. Baptism is our public agreement with God’s verdict on the “old man” and our identification with Jesus, who bore judgment for sin and rose to new life. In that sense, baptism is a personal “Amen” to God’s righteous judgment on sin and His gift of new creation life in Jesus.

Thunder & lightning = God’s holy presence and judgments made manifest

Sinai theophany a visible manifestation to humankind of God  : God’s nearness appears with “thunderings and lightnings” (Exod 19:16–19; 20:18; Ps 77:18; Ps 29; Rev 4:5; 11:19). Judgment isn’t merely negative; it is God’s righteous order arriving. Those who draw near by faith find mercy in that very presence (Ps 97:1–6).

Jesus’ baptism = consenting to the righteous path that ends at the Cross

“Suffer it to be so now… to fulfil all righteousness” (Matt 3:13–15). Jesus, as the true Man, steps into the waters with us, aligning with the Father’s will that will climax at the Cross (Luke 12:50). Heaven opens, the Spirit descends, and the Father’s pleasure is declared (Matt 3:16–17). Where God’s “thunders” are, His righteousness and presence are there also, now resting on the Son, then shared with us.

Our baptism = agreeing with God’s verdict on the old nature

Death to the old, rise to the new: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus were baptized into his death?… we are buried with him by baptism into death… even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom 6:3–4, 6).

Circumcision without hands: Baptism signifies the cutting away of the fleshly nature through Jesus Cross (Col 2:11–12).

Appeal of a cleansed conscience: “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us… not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 3:21). Thus, baptism is not us paying for sin; it is our union with the One who already bore judgment (Rom 8:3–4), publicly agreeing that the old life stands condemned and the new life is in Him.

Jeremiah 5:4 and the need to “know… the judgment of their God”

Jeremiah laments a people who “know not… the judgment of their God.” Baptism answers that lack: it is a concrete, obedient step into God’s revealed way, embracing His verdict on sin and His gift of righteousness in Jesus (Acts 2:38; Titus 3:5–7).

So we see baptism is linked to judgment because it enacts our agreement with God’s righteous verdict on the old nature (condemned in Jesus death) and our entrance into new life by His resurrection, all in the blazing presence where His “thunders and lightnings” reveal both holiness and mercy.

Revelation Scriptures - "There were thunders and lightnings"

Revelation 4:5
"And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God."

Revelation 8:5
"And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake."

Revelation 11:19
"And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail."

Revelation 16:18
"And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great."

"He fell like lightning" (Satan's fall)

Luke 10:18
"And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."

Old Testament Scriptures - Lightning Falling or Sent from Heaven

Exodus 19:16
"And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled."

Exodus 20:18
"And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off."

Psalm 18:14
"Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them."

Psalm 77:18
"The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook."

Psalm 97:4
"His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled."

Job 37:3
"He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth."

Job 37:15
"Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?"
(Note: This speaks of God's control over lightning and clouds.)

Ezekiel 1:13
"As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning."

God’s judgment is not only about punishment, but also about justice, righteousness, correction, and purification!

Judgment Begins at the House of God

1 Peter 4:17
"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"

Note: This shows judgment as a necessary purifying process for God’s people.

Judgment as Righteous and Good

Psalm 19:9
"The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether."

Psalm 119:75
"I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me."

Isaiah 26:9
"With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness."

Judgment Brings Justice and Joy

Psalm 96:10-13
"Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
...For he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth."

Psalm 98:9
"Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity."

God’s Presence Brings Judgment (Positive for the Righteous)

Micah 1:3-4
"For, behold, the Lord cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.
And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place."

(Though severe to the wicked, this displays His presence bringing holy judgment to correct and set things right.)

Daniel 7:9-10
"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit...
...the judgment was set, and the books were opened."

(Here, God’s throne itself is associated with judgment, revealing His sovereignty and order.)

God’s People Desire His Judgment

Psalm 35:24
"Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me."

Psalm 43:1
"Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man."

(David pleads for God’s judgment as deliverance and vindication.)

Judgment in God's house refines and purifies!

God's judgments are righteous, faithful, and good!

Judgment brings justice, correction, and order!

God’s people can desire judgment as a sign of His presence and deliverance!

God declares that His judgment or justice is not found among His people!

Isaiah 59:8-9

"The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace.
Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness."

Jeremiah 5:4

"Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God."

Jeremiah 8:7

"Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord."