In Revelation 10:3-4, the apostle John tells of seven thunders—seven distinct reverberations of God's message to mankind, delivered by His church during the time of the seven churches described in Revelation 2 and 3. If we use either the interpretation of seven church eras or of attitudinal dominance, we are well into the supremacy of the last church, Laodicea, and the last thunder is now sounding before this age comes to a close.

What does this seventh thunder sound like? The Philadelphian thunder essentially came through a single human conduit—one physical organization. It boomed out, loud and clear. Now, however, due to God's scattering, there is a multitude of weak, distant peals, each attracting only a minuscule amount of attention.

This is not the first time the church has been scattered. During the first century, the fledgling church was also moved out of its comfort zone:

At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. ... Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word. (Acts 8:1, 4; emphasis ours)

The first-century church was not scattered as a result of sin. The church members migrated to flee persecution, resulting in a greater audience for the gospel message. Interestingly, a similar effect can be seen today: God has scattered us to get us to remember Him (Jeremiah 18:15-17). But even as He has been reactive concerning our spiritual condition, He has also been proactive in continuing to work out various aspects of His plan. God's people have gathered in a multitude—hundreds? thousands?—of groups. The preeminent media of this time is the Internet, where essentially anyone who wants a voice can have one. The singular thundering voice of the previous era has been replaced with hundreds, even thousands, of smaller voices (via websites), just as the singular geographic location of the first-century church was spread out in all directions when God caused it to be scattered.

This change is double-edged. On the one side, increasing numbers of websites containing God's truth dramatically increases the likelihood of that truth being found and having an impact. A Google search on any significant spiritual topic will return a website affiliated with the church of God in short order, perhaps even on the first page. It would be next to impossible for a single website or organization to establish that kind of presence in the present media world. This is a function of many Internet domains, writers, and bloggers affiliated with the church. From a large corporate site to a substantial congregational site down to a personal page with perhaps only a collection of links, all play a part in the witness being made of God to the world during this era.

On the other side, though, is the predicament of the purity—the quality—of the truth being promoted. This is not to suggest that God's truth is tainted in any way, but our presentation of God's truth is muffled and unsteady because of the church's present spiritual condition. Sin destroys innocence, ideals, spiritual liberty, spiritual vision, and the will to do good. It produces sickness, pain, degeneracy, more sin, and ultimately death. If the sin at the root of the scattering is not identified and conquered, there is the distinct possibility that our usefulness to God will be severely limited.

It does not yet appear who the principal messenger of this end time is. Incredibly, a number have essentially claimed that position—apparently not recognizing that Christ gives a powerful admonition and rebuke specifically to the messenger of this time (Revelation 3:14). Claiming to be the remnant of another era only illustrates the problem of spiritual blindness that characterizes this era: "Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked . . ." (Revelation 3:17).

Even though the Sovereign has scattered us, He is still a God of foresight and order. He has still provided shepherds of various kinds to keep His sheep from straying too far afield. He still fills the human positions necessary to bring us "to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11-13). At the same time, the Bible provides substantial anecdotal evidence that God even guides the individual members to the shepherds He has appointed, according to what He knows will accomplish His will.

As we await the unfolding of God's provision, it is essential to remember what He focuses on in His instructions to His end-time flock. God tells each of the seven churches that He is aware of and has been evaluating their works. In each letter, He reserves a space to emphasize overcoming. Overcoming means "growth against a standard"—the same standard the ministry is to help the membership achieve: the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. God is most interested in His children growing into His image (Genesis 1:26).

How much space does He use to praise or chastise His church about preaching the gospel to the world—the sounding of the seventh thunder? He does not even mention it! This is not because it is unimportant but because those who are working and overcoming are seeking Him, and thus, they can be used by Him to accomplish whatever purpose He desires. Without God's preparation, education, guidance, and blessing, and without our reciprocal repentance and drawing close to Him, all our efforts will just be so much noise.