And there were lightnings and voices and thunders: and there was a great earthquake, such an one as never had been since men were upon the earth, such an earthquake, so great.
και εγενοντο αστραπαι και βρονται και φωναι και σεισμος σεισμος εγενετο μεγας οιος ουκ εγενετο αφ ου οι ανθρωποι εγενοντο επι της γης τηλικουτος σεισμος ουτως μεγας
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Voices, lightning, and thunder, like those that sounded on Sinai (cf. Ex. 19:16-19) at the manifestation of God, signify the terrifying power of what will take place on earth at the second coming of Christ.
The earthquake points to the transformation of what exists, according to the Apostle's words: "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also heaven" (Heb. 12:26).
He poured out the bowl upon the air. And a voice said: “It is done.” What is done? Clearly, the commandment of God and His will.
When it was said from heaven, “It is done,” there came lightning and voices. The lightning was from above, while the voices belonged to those on earth who were frightened by the lightning.
There were also thunders and an earthquake. By earthquake John means the disturbance of the earth, since it is named among the signs of the end of the world.
Or by earthquake he means the change of visible things, according to the word of Haggai: “Once more I will shake not only heaven, but also earth, sea, and dry land, and I will shake all nations” (Hag 2:6-7).
For this reason he also indicates that nothing like it had happened before.
Lightning, thunder, voices, and a great earthquake signify a complete transformation of the whole existing order of things.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 25 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS