And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
As ... lion. Christ, whom the angel represents, is often so symbolized (Revelation 5:5).
Seven thunders - `the seven thunders.' Being part of the apocalyptic symbolism, they have the article as well known. Thunderings marked the evening of the seventh seal (Revelation 8:1; Revelation 8:5): so at the seventh vial (Revelation 16:17-18). Wordsworth calls this the prophetic use of the article: 'the thunders, of which more hereafter.' Their full meaning shall be only known at the grand consummation marked by the seventh seal, the seventh trumpet (Revelation 11:19), and the seventh vial.
Uttered their - `spake their own voices:' peculiarly their own, not now revealed. Compare the seven voices of Yahweh, Psalms 29:1-11.