Lightning is a powerful natural phenomenon frequently mentioned in the Bible, often symbolizing the presence and power of God. It serves as a vivid illustration of divine majesty and judgment, as well as a metaphor for sudden and dramatic events.

Divine Presence and Revelation

In the Scriptures, lightning is often associated with the manifestation of God's presence. When God descended upon Mount Sinai to give the Law to Moses, the event was marked by thunder and lightning, signifying His awesome power and holiness. Exodus 19:16 states, "On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled."

God's Sovereignty and Power

Lightning is also used to demonstrate God's sovereignty over creation. In Job 37:3 , it is written, "He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky and sends it to the ends of the earth." This verse highlights God's control over the natural world, emphasizing His omnipotence.

Judgment and Wrath

The Bible frequently uses lightning as a symbol of God's judgment and wrath. In Psalm 144:6 , the psalmist prays, "Flash forth Your lightning and scatter them; shoot Your arrows and rout them." Here, lightning is depicted as a weapon in God's arsenal against His enemies, illustrating His ability to execute judgment swiftly and decisively.

Theophany and Divine Communication

Lightning often accompanies theophanies, where God reveals Himself to humanity. In Ezekiel 1:13-14 , the prophet describes a vision of living creatures, "The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it." This imagery underscores the intensity and mystery of divine encounters.

End Times and Eschatology

In eschatological contexts, lightning is associated with the return of Christ and the final judgment. Matthew 24:27 declares, "For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man." This passage emphasizes the suddenness and universality of Christ's return, likening it to the swift and visible nature of lightning.

Metaphorical Usage

Beyond its literal occurrences, lightning is used metaphorically to describe sudden and transformative events. In Luke 10:18 , Jesus says, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven," illustrating the rapid and decisive nature of Satan's defeat.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, lightning serves as a powerful symbol of God's presence, power, and judgment. It is a reminder of His sovereignty over creation and His ability to intervene in human history with dramatic and awe-inspiring force.Job 28:26
When he made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:
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Job 37:3
He directs it under the whole heaven, and his lightning to the ends of the earth.
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Job 38:25,35
Who has divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
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Psalm 18:14
Yes, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightning, and discomfited them.
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Psalm 77:18
The voice of your thunder was in the heaven: the lightning lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook.
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Psalm 78:48
He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts.
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Psalm 97:4
His lightning enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.
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Psalm 135:7
He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he makes lightning for the rain; he brings the wind out of his treasuries.
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Psalm 144:6
Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out your arrows, and destroy them.
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Jeremiah 10:13
When he utters his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he makes lightning with rain, and brings forth the wind out of his treasures.
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Jeremiah 51:16
When he utters his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth: he makes lightning with rain, and brings forth the wind out of his treasures.
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Ezekiel 1:13,14
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.
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Daniel 10:6
His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
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Nahum 2:4
The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall jostle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightning.
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Zechariah 9:14
And the LORD shall be seen over them, and his arrow shall go forth as the lightning: and the LORD God shall blow the trumpet, and shall go with whirlwinds of the south.
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Zechariah 10:1
Ask you of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
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Matthew 24:27
For as the lightning comes out of the east, and shines even to the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
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Matthew 28:3
His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
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Luke 10:18
And he said to them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
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Revelation 4:5
And out of the throne proceeded lightning and thunder and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
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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 thunder, and lightning, and an earthquake.
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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 lightning, and voices, and thunder, and an earthquake, and great hail.
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Revelation 16:18
And there were voices, and thunders, and lightning; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were on the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.
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Eusebius: Constantine. General Index.
... as son, husband, father, friend, as general, legislator, statesman ... of, [3650]512;
terrified by lightning, [3651]579 ... concerning copies of the Scriptures, [3718]548 ...
/.../pamphilius/the life of constantine/eusebius constantine general index.htm

On the Authority and Certainty of the Sacred Scriptures
... 5.) This is acknowledged by the general consent of ... the short time in which, like
lightning, it pervaded ... of human testimony which ascribes our Scriptures to God ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 1 on the authority.htm

On the Third Day He Rose Again from the Dead; He Ascended into ...
... His Glorified Body, and the lightning-like Angel ... us the impression, that, amidst
the general confusion, all ... heart and mind all the Scriptures concerning Himself ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xvii on the third.htm

On the Words Incarnate, and Made Man.
... His countenance was like lightning [1396] ; not like the sun ... Are not the Holy Scriptures
our salvation ... denote the Incarnation in a perfectly general way, without ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xii on the words.htm

The Evening of the Third Day in Passion-Week - on the Mount of ...
... by references to the prophetic Scriptures, that every ... the present application of
His general warning regarding ... the brighteness of that lightning which shot ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vi the evening of.htm

On the Clause, and Shall Come in Glory to Judge the Quick and the ...
... He hath said Himself, As the lightning cometh out ... testimonies out of the divine
Scriptures, concerning the kingdom ... time as the apostasy in general, but looks ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture xv on the clause.htm

the life of constantine
... on the Preparation of Copies of the Holy Scriptures. ... Chapter VI.--The Falsity of
the General Opinion respecting ... was terrified by the Dread of Lightning for his ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pamphilius/the life of constantine/

On Charity
... of God; particularly knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, in which ... day there was such
thunder and lightning as they ... to all expectation, was the general battle of ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 91 on charity.htm

Saurin -- Paul Before Felix and Drusilla
... state, the solemnities of a general judgment, supply ... his discourses were thunder
and lightning in the ... that disciple of Jesus Christ expounded the Scriptures. ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/saurin paul before felix.htm

The Future State a Self-Conscious State.
... Such assertions are frequent in the Scriptures. ... Let us now apply this general
characteristic of cognition in ... yet, like that quick flash of lightning, of which ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/the future state a self-conscious.htm

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Lightning: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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