236. Verse 5. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, and thunders, and voices, signifies enlightenment, perception, and instruction from the Lord. "Lightnings," by reason of the flash which strikes the eyes signify enlightenment, and "thunders," by reason of the noise which strikes the ears signify perception, and when these two signify enlightenment and perception, then "voices" signify instruction. These were seen to proceed "from the throne," because they proceed from the Son of man, or from the Lord as to the Word, and from the Lord through the Word come all enlightenment, perception, and instruction. "Lightnings, thunders, and voices," have a similar signification in other parts of the Word, as in these passages:
Thou hast with Thine arm redeemed Thy people: the skies gave forth a voice; the voice of thunder went into the world; the lightnings enlightened the world (Ps. 77:15, 17-18).
The lightnings of Jehovah shall enlighten the world (Ps. 97:4).
Thou didst call upon Me in straitness, and I rescued thee: I answered thee in the secret place of the thunder (Ps. 81:7).
I heard the sound of a great multitude, as the sound of mighty thunders, saying, Hallelujah, because the Lord, our God, the Almighty, hath taken the kingdom (Rev. 19:6).
[2] Because enlightenment, perception, and instruction are signified by "lightnings, thunders, and voices," therefore:
When Jehovah descended upon Mount Sinai, and promulgated the Law, there were thunders and voices (Exod. 19:16).
And when:
A voice was sent down from heaven to the Lord, it was heard as thunder (John 12:28-29).
And as James and John represented charity and its works, and all perception of truth and good is from these:
They were called by the Lord, Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder (Mark 3:17).
From these things it is manifest that similar things are signified by "lightnings, thunders, and voices," in the following passages in Revelation:
I heard a voice from the four animals, as it were a voice of thunder (Rev. 6:1).
I heard a voice out of heaven as a voice of great thunder (Rev. 14:2).
When the angel cast the censer unto the earth, there were thunders, voices, and lightnings (Rev. 8:5).
When the angel cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices (Rev. 10:3-4).
When the temple of God was opened in heaven, there were lightnings, and voices, and thunders (Rev. 11:19; in like manner elsewhere).