What the Bible says about Sons of Thunder
(From Forerunner Commentary)
Matthew writes that their mother, Salome, made the request, but Mark records that James and John did the asking. There are perhaps three ways we can look at this:
First, Salome may have been trying to ensure her sons received the recognition or position she thought they deserved, perhaps selfishly overlooking the others. James and John were certainly of age to speak for themselves. Why did their mother have to do it? It is something to weigh in terms of their thunderous zeal. Were they at this point hiding behind Mom?
Second, they selfishly sought the position for themselves without regard for the other disciples. Intent on securing their place beside Christ, they were arrogantly playing "climb the ladder" over the backs of their fellows. This could account for both Jesus' reply concerning their being willing to suffer as He did and the other disciples' displeased reactions.
Third, and more plausible, they were truly zealously dedicated to serving Christ, and they were willing to do whatever it took. Speaking of James, he appears to have been a man who was ready and willing to undertake whatever task was called for, as evidenced by his martyrdom. It also seems that he did not mind taking a back seat, perhaps to his younger brother John. Herbert Lockyer, in All the Apostles of the Bible, describes James as one who was "resolute, vigorous, active and forceful, while John was contemplative, intuitive and reflective." James and John do not appear to have been selfish, but men of action ready to meet a challenge. Perhaps we could compare them to athletes who have the mindset that they should be the one batting in the bottom of the ninth down by a run with a man on base, two outs, and two strikes—ready for the challenge!
Ronny H. Graham
Sons of Thunder (Part Two)
"James" is the English form of the Vulgar Latin name Iacomus, which was derived from Iakobos, the New Testament Greek form of the Hebrew name Ya'āqov. Put more simply, "James" is the English form of the Hebrew "Jacob." The name Jacob means "supplanter" or "holder of the heel," referring to Jacob's being born holding onto his brother Esau's heel (Genesis 25:26). We have too little information about the life of James to compare him to the patriarch Jacob in any meaningful way.
For the most part, James is mentioned alongside Peter and John (and sometimes with Andrew, Peter's brother), their lives overlapping to such an extent that it is difficult to mention one without the others. In time, James became known as "James the Great" or "James the Greater." It is not clear if he was called this because he was among the first to be named in the four lists of the apostles or because he was the first apostle to suffer martyrdom. Since there are two apostles of the same name, he could simply have been called "James the Great" to distinguish him from the other James, the son of Alphaeus. He, being the older of the two, may have rated the "great" honorific solely for that reason. Scholars are sure, however, that it had nothing to do with describing his character.
In most instances, he is called "James the son of Zebedee, brother of John." He was a disciple, then an apostle, of Christ for around 17 years before being put to death by King Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:2), becoming the first of the Twelve to be martyred. Other than the three years or so that he spent with Jesus during His ministry, there is not much more recorded in the New Testament about his life or personality.
The gospels indicate that his parents were righteous people—or at least it appears that his mother was. There is no mention of Zebedee after Jesus calls his sons to follow Him. Some expositors, using John 19:25, assert that James and John's mother, Salome, was Mary's sister. They also base this on her request that her sons be allowed to sit on Jesus's right hand (Matthew 20:20-21), essentially alluding to the old adage that "blood is thicker than water." If we compare Matthew's, Mark's, and John's accounts of those in attendance at the crucifixion, the chances that Salome was Mary's sister increase. She was also one of the women who came to anoint Jesus' body after His death (Mark 16:1). Salome appears to have been a disciple and active in some of the major events of Christ's life.
James followed his father in the family fishing business, as did John. Some sort of business arrangement seems to have existed between the fathers of James and John and of Peter and Andrew, a fact that Luke indicates in Luke 5:7. After being called by Jesus, these four comprised a close circle of disciples following Him. Normally, when one is listed, all of them are, although Andrew is sometimes left out. In fact, James is never mentioned separately from John or Peter.
The gospels record three episodes in which these three disciples—Peter, James, and John—are alone allowed to witness an event firsthand:
They alone were allowed to witness the raising of Jairus' daughter from the dead (Mark 5:37).
Only these three were chosen to witness Jesus' transfiguration on the mount (Matthew 17:1).
In the Garden of Gethsemane, when Jesus went to pray the night before His death, He took only these three into His private place, telling them to watch and pray with Him (Mark 14:33).
The special relationship they shared is one that can be defined by the principle, "To whom much is given, from him much will be required" (Luke 12:48), as Christ was preparing them for the jobs that lay ahead after His death and resurrection.
Ronny H. Graham
Sons of Thunder (Part One)
Within the context of this chapter, it does not seem like John ever prophesies. However, within the time limits of the context, he did prophesy. Prophesy here does not mean "to foretell" but "to speak under inspiration"—of God—to preach!
Notice Revelation 11:1: "Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, 'Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there.'"
Chapters 10 and 11 are one prophecy. The Seven Thunders have something to do with John, who is receiving the revelation. They also have something to do with the Two Witnesses. The Seven Thunders will sound, and they will all finish their sounding before the Two Witnesses and before the seventh seal's seventh trumpet.
When will John preach again? We know that the Two Witnesses will preach after the time of this verse. We can be certain that John himself will not preach. He was almost a hundred years old by the time Christ gave him the book of Revelation, and he was about ready to die. The ones who will "prophesy again" are the Two Witnesses and at a much later time. They will be antitypes of John. They will preach again what has previously been preached.
Who did the prophesying? The Seven Thunders did! They said the things John was not allowed write. What nickname did Jesus give to John and his brother James? "The Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17)! What did James and John preach? The gospel of the Kingdom of God! Jesus tells John to "prophesy again," but he will not literally do so any more than John the Baptist was literally Elijah! John the Baptist came in the spirit and power of Elijah, an antitype of Elijah. The Two Witnesses will be antitypes of John and James—"the Sons of Thunder!"
John W. Ritenbaugh
Revelation 10 and the Laodicean ChurchRelated Topics: Antitypes of James and John | John the Baptist as Elijah | Seven Thunders | Sons of Thunder | Two Witnesses