Jesus gave the surname Boanerges, translated as Sons of Thunder, to James and John, the sons of Zebedee, reflecting their zeal and fervor. This name may connect to their ambitious request to sit at His right and left hand in the Kingdom, showing a kind of zeal or ambition, whether through their mother Salome or their own asking. Their thunderous nature could be seen in their readiness to act and meet challenges, as men of action rather than selfishness. Thunder itself is the sound caused by lightning, a sudden increase in temperature and pressure producing a sonic shock wave, often inspiring fear or awe. In biblical contexts, thunder is linked to the voice of God, as seen in Job 40:9 where God asks if anyone can thunder with a voice like His, and in Psalm 18:13 where the Lord thundered from heaven. Thunder also served as a divine weapon, as in the plague of hail on Egypt in Exodus 9:13-35, and against the Philistines in I Samuel 7:10. When Christ named James and John Sons of Thunder, He may have been indicating what He was creating them to be, voices proclaiming God's way, their witness resounding through the ages.

The return of Jesus Christ will be accompanied by tremendous thundering and noise, a powerful auditory crescendo that demands attention across the earth. At His coming, there will be a shout of the shofar, the voice of an archangel, and the blast of a trumpet, all resonating with such intensity that no one can ignore them. Lightning and thunder will accompany the heavenly signs, adding to the overwhelming sensory experience as the seventh trumpet sounds and the temple of God becomes visible in the heavens. These thunderings, along with other great crashes and noises, will shake the earth, ensuring that even the deaf will feel the vibrations and the blind will hear the tumult. As Christ descends with His army from heaven, the thunder and lightning will surround them, amplifying the chaos of earthquakes and hail, marking His arrival as an undeniable, earth-shaking event.

The return of Jesus Christ is marked by powerful and awe-inspiring signs, among which thundering plays a significant role. As He descends, the heavens and earth respond with dramatic natural phenomena, including thunderings that echo the mighty presence of God. These thunderings, reminiscent of the events at Mount Sinai when God appeared to the Israelites, signify the overwhelming authority and majesty of His coming. They are part of the terrifying and universal display that accompanies His return, where the elements of nature—lightnings, thunderings, clouds, and smoke—cause people to tremble in fear. This parallel to Sinai underscores the gravity of His appearance, announcing His arrival not just to a select few, but to the entire world, as a statement of divine power that cannot be ignored.