The sight of lightning in the sky can be both awe inspiring and terrifying. Anyone who has seen it knows that peals of thunder are soon to follow. Weather phenomena such as lightning was mentioned by Christ in the Gospels. The power of lightning and its effects date back in the Bible even to the earliest books of the Old Testament.
#1 Thunderous Verse About Lightning
On the morning of the third day there were peals of thunder and lightning, and a heavy cloud over the mountain, and a very loud blast of the shofar, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Exodus 19:16
God appeals to us in his mercy to avoid having to punish us in his severity. – St. Peter Chrysologus
The Revelation of God’s Glory
God has used weather phenomena such as thunder and lightning and other powerful elements of nature such as earthquakes and fire to reveal His divine presence to humanity. Consider that it only take just one bolt of lighting nearby to spark fear.
“God rebukes but also encourages, he brings fear and he brings consolation, he strikes and he heals. Do not reject him.” – St. Augustine
Theophany – the name of the powerful manifestation that God uses to reveal His divine presence is called a theophany. The word theophany is Greek, and it means “appearance of God.” It is how God reveals His glory to humanity for His purposes.
- Theophanies of God with lightning shows His authority over the elements.
- Powerful strikes of lightning instill fear that is directed towards our salvation.
Theophanies (manifestations of God) light up the way of the promise. Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church #707
The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom
It is mentioned multiple times in the Bible that having fear of the Lord in our hearts is wisdom. It is the wisdom of God, the commandments He has given us He wants us to follow. God wants to sanctify us. He wants us to live good and holy lives.
For it is written, “Be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16
The fear of the Lord and the presence of lightning have some commonalities. The fear of the Lord means to have reverential awe for the Almighty God and obedience to His commandments. Lighting commands respect and the wisdom to acknowledge it.
The lesson here is to get out of life’s storms and seek shelter with God in our lives.
In you, LORD, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice rescue and deliver me; listen to me and save me! Psalms 71:1-2
#2 Thunderous Verse About Lightning
For just as lightning comes from the east and is seen as far as the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be. Matthew 24:27
God is everywhere in his immensity, and everywhere close at hand. – St. Columban
The Return of Christ on Earth
Christ tells us in the Gospel of Matthew (also in the Gospel of Luke) that He will return to to judge the living and the dead. And when He does, He will appear in glory, surrounded by His angels. He will appear bright, fast, and as startling as lightning!
The bright radiance of His glory will been seen by us all, both saints and sinners.
“In his first coming our Lord came in our flesh and in our weakness; in this middle coming He comes in spirit and in power; in the final coming He will be seen in glory and majesty.” – St. Bernard
The Son of Man and Lightning
Jesus refers to Himself as the Son of Man. This has overtones from the Book of Daniel, where in a vision the Son of Man appears on the clouds of heaven in His glory.
As the visions during the night continued, I saw coming with the clouds of heaven One like a son of man. Daniel 7:13a
The prophet Daniel says further that the Son of Man was presented to the Ancient of Days where He received dominion, splendor, and kingship from the Almighty. Where there is God, there is lightning and power and glory beyond human comprehension.
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder. Revelation 4:5a
Christ Wants Us to Believe in Him and His Word
The reason why Christ mentioned that He will return to earth like a flash of lighting is for us to take heed and believe in Him and in His Word. Christ wants us to have a life and relationship with Him, and He wants us to be with Him forever in heaven.
Christ uses the term lightning as reference to His divinity and His imminent return.
“When the real Messiah comes as the Son of Man, it will be as obvious and unmistakable as lightning streaking across the sky, Far from being a private encounter, it will be a grand, public event. Source: Catholic Commentary of Sacred Scripture, The Gospel of Matthew
#3 Thunderous Verse About Lightning
Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Luke 10:18
“St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.” Amen.
Spiritual Warfare
A war broke out in heaven! Satan is hurled down to earth by St. Michael and His angels. Before the angels of heaven were admitted entrance into heaven with the Most High God, they had to do battle against the fallen angels that rejected God.
“Just like man, the Angels had to undergo a period of probation during which they were free to choose between good and evil. They were not yet confirmed in grace, and they did not enjoy the Beatific Vision during this time.” Source: The Angels in Catholic Teaching and Tradition, Fr. Pascale Parente
Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. Revelation 12:7-8
Ever since the devil and his demons lost their place in heaven, they seek to wage war against us. Like the apostles before us, who were given a share of Christ’s authority and advanced the kingdom of God on earth, we are called to do spiritual combat.
Every sacrament, every rosary prayed, every good deed in God’s name is like lightning.
The rapid advance of God’s kingdom through the disciples’ preaching and exorcistic ministry is matched by the downfall and retreat of the devil. Source: Igantius Catholic Study Bible – New Testament
Levels of Authority Given to Disciples by Christ
There is a hierarchy of spiritual authority Catholics get to partake in with our baptism in Christ. This authority is exemplified when the 72 disciples in the Gospel of St. Luke returned from their mission by the Lord glorifying God and giving testimony that “the demons were subject to them through the Holy Name of Jesus.”
Here Jesus is already directing the 72 disciples to look toward Heaven, toward an eternal reality. – Fr. Garbiele Amorth
The transparency of these levels of spiritual authority are visible to God, who gave the 72 disciples this authority and to the angelic world, both with angels and demons.
Examples of Spiritual Authority in the Church
After the days of the Gospel, the authority to exorcise demons was later restricted by the Church to apostolic bishops and to the priests who have been given spiritual authority by their bishops to perform the ministry of exorcism in their Diocese.
However, even the laity are given a share of Christ’s authority on earth to help build the kingdom of God. The following are examples of the levels of spiritual authority.
Bishop’s Spiritual Authority —–> Over the people of his diocese
Priest’s Spiritual Authority ——> Over the people of his parish
Father’s Spiritual Authority —–> Over his wife and children
Mother’s Spiritual Authority —-> Over her children
Baptismal Spiritual Authority —> Over oneself and temporal goods
It should be noted that husbands and wives have spiritual authority over each other’s bodies through the marital union. Per Deliverance Prayers for the Laity, p.8, a wife may command a demon to leave her husband’s body. The husband has two-fold authority as head of household and also by virtue of the spiritual rights over his wife’s body.
“Authority is a real thing, it is not just in our minds. It is a real thing that God put in place by structuring the natural law when God created angels, demons and man. We have to always remain faithful to authority.” – Fr. Chad Ripperger, exorcist
Recap of the 3 Thunderous Verses
Exodus 19:16 – In the first verse, we learned that God uses lightning to help signify His divinity and His power and authority. It also hints at the wrath that can be meted out on humanity for idolatry and disobedience to the commandments.
Matthew 24:27 – In the 2nd verse, we learned that when Christ returns on earth to judge the living and the dead, it will be known to all of the inhabitants of the earth, and it will be unmistakable, like streaks of lighting that flash across the sky.
“Lightning is figuratively compared with truth. It is likened to the coming of the Son of man, which is explained in every Scripture, whether it concerns the law, prophecy, the gospel or apostolic testimony.” – St. Theodore
Luke 10:18 – In the 3rd verse, we learned that lightning can be likened to victories in spiritual warfare. Like the return of the 72 disciples in the Gospel of Luke, when you take action for God (prayer, evangelization, deliverance, etc.) the power of God flows through it like lightning, and it forces the devil and his demons into retreat.
The Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8b
