‘And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and voices and thunders.'
This and similar descriptions are regularly used as a method of bringing out the awesome nature of revelations of God when God is about to act. They occurred when God first made His covenant with Israel, which contained the ten commandments, and they occur continually through Revelation as God acts in history (Revelation 8:5; Revelation 11:19; Revelation 16:18 compare Exodus 19:16; Exodus 20:18, where the voice is the voice of a trumpet). They signify the exclusiveness and untouchableness of God and the awesome nature of His activities (Hebrews 12:18-21).
‘And there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.'
These are the seven angels of the Presence (see on Revelation 1:4). They are ‘before the throne' showing that they are servants, and like ‘burning fire', demonstrating their holiness (compare the cherubim in Ezekiel 1:13). Nothing is said of their activities for they are waiting for their appointed holy task, allocated to them by the Lamb, which will be revealed shortly. They are there ready and waiting to serve. Their linking with the lightnings and thunder and voices confirm that something awesome is about to happen.