Apostle John: End-Time Messenger of God’s Thunder
I. BECOMING A SON OF THUNDER
A. When John was about 20 years old, Jesus prophetically named him a “son of Thunder”. This described how John
would one day carry his heart before God, how he would operate in the anointing of the Spirit and how he would see
himself. At the end of his life (Jn. 21:20), John interpreted what it meant for him to live in a “son of Thunder” calling
and anointing.
17 James…and John...to whom He gave the name…"Sons of Thunder"… (Mk. 3:17)
B. Jesus called John a Son of Thunder knowing he would be a “messenger prophet” of God’s Thunder (Rev. 10).
Leaning on God’s heart is key to receiving revelation on the End-Times.
1 I saw still another mighty angel…2 He had a little book open in his hand…3 When he cried out, seven Thunders uttered
their voices. 4 Now when the seven Thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven
saying to me, "Seal up the things which the seven Thunders uttered, and do not write them"…9 I went to the angel and
said to him, "Give me the little book." And he said to me, "Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will
be as sweet as honey in your mouth." 10 Then I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was as sweet
as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. 11 And he said to me, "You must prophesy
again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings." (Rev. 10:1-11)
1 Moreover He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." 2 So I
opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll. 3 And He said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your
stomach with this scroll that I give you." So I ate it, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness. 4 He said to me: "Son
of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. (Ezek. 3:1-4)
C. There is a storm on the horizon. Can you see it or hear it? Where are the wise who will shine like the stars?
Where are the burning and shining lamps? Wisdom will be justified in due time.
33 Those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity
and plundering…35 And some of those of understanding shall fall (martyrdom), to refine them, purify them, and make
them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time. (Dan. 11:33-35)
9 And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be
purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the
wise shall understand. (Dan. 12:9-10)
D. God will raise up singers and musicians in which the Thunder of God's heart will be released. There will be
preachers, intercessors, counselors and others that operate under this anointing.
E. How will these “forerunner messengers” be prepared? By eating the scroll of God’s word in the same way and in the
same spirit that John did. He was the model “son of Thunder” for this hour.
II. JOHN’S TESTIMONY: 3-FOLD SPIRITUAL IDENTITY
A. At the end of John’s life, when he was approximately 90 years old, he wrote the Book of Revelation and the Gospel
of John. It was at this time, over 70 years after Jesus first gave him the prophetic name, “son of Thunder” (Mk. 3:17), that
he interpreted for us what it meant to him when he wrote his “signature” on the Gospel of John (Jn. 21:20).
20 Peter…saw the disciple whom Jesus loved (John) following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and
said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?"(Jn. 21:20)
B. John wanted to be known by how he related to Jesus not by what he accomplished before men. His identity was
based on his relationship with Jesus not his ministry for Jesus. In this verse, we see how John carried his heart before
God. This gives us great insight into how he lived, what he did and why he did it. This passage defines what it means
for Jesus to be our primary reward and to live as a son of Thunder. Our primary reward is to know and feel His love for
us, to position ourselves to hear from His heart and to receive the revelation of the secrets of His heart.
C. John had one of the greatest “resumes” in history being in relationship with Mary (Jn. 19:26-27) and the original apostles
including Paul. John was instrumental in great revivals such as the ones in Jerusalem (Acts 1-6) and Samaria (Acts 8) and then
his role in being over the mighty church of Ephesus that reached all of Asia (Acts 19:10). John wrote five books of the
NT, was promised to rule on a throne in Israel during the Millennium (Mt. 19:28) and saw his name on one of the
foundations in the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:14). Yet, John never mentions his own name in the gospel he wrote but
refers to himself five times as "the disciple whom the Lord loved" (Jn. 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20).
III. JOHN SAW HIMSELF AS ONE WHOM JESUS LOVED
20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple (John) whom Jesus loved following… (Jn. 21:20a)
A. The foundational truth that equips us to enjoy God as our primary reward is to know and feel His affection for us.
God loves us in the way that God loves God. The Father feels the same intensity of love for us as He feels for Jesus.
What does the Father feel when He looks at Jesus?
23 That the world may know You…have loved them as You have loved Me. (Jn. 17:23)
9 As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. (Jn. 15:9)
B. The Father has delighted in Jesus from eternity past. There is a volcanic desire in His heart for Jesus. Jesus feels the
same intensity of love for us. This great truth will transform our emotions.
C. The statements by Jesus were made to the disciples in their weakness just before denying Jesus.
31 All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night… (Mt. 26:31)
D. Our confession is, “You love me like You love Jesus”. This makes our life great and meaningful. This truth gives
us the right to stand before God with confidence as one of “His favorites”. Our great reward is to walk in the anointing to
understand and feel God’s love (Eph. 3:17-19).
E. The Thunder of God's heart touched John's spirit. John took a hold of this truth in Jn. 17:23 and Jn. 15:9 as
foundational to his identity. Even 70 years later, he was still saying, “I am the disciple that God loves. Therefore,
John included this truth as part of his signature verse. John saw himself as one Jesus loved not as a great revivalist.
He was known as the apostle of love.
F. The revelation of God’s desire for us takes the power of the Spirit to receive. God has holy and intense emotions
for us. Do you know the way you move God’s heart? We are His greatest prize and the apple of His eye (Ps. 17:7-8).
We are the only inheritance that Jesus longs for.
G. When we know that the King of kings loves us then we can be strong in our heart when others overlook or mistreat us.
This was the secret to David’s life in his little “Bethlehem house of prayer”. The way John lived is a NT counterpart to how
David lived in the OT.
H. Even in our weakness, He delights in us and considers us lovely and longs to give Himself to us. Our confession
is, “Your delight is in me. I belong to You, my Beloved, and You are mine.” We must stop negotiating with Him and receive
His testimony about us. He knew what He was getting into when He chose us.
19 He delivered me because He delighted in me. (Ps. 18:19)
5 I am dark (in my heart), but lovely (to God). (Song 1:5)
3 I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine. (Song 6:3)
IV. JOHN SAW HIMSELF AS ONE WHO LEANED ON JESUS’ HEART
20 The disciple…who also had leaned on His breast at the supper… (Jn. 21:20b)
23 Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. (Jn. 13:23)
A. John’s response to knowing that he was deeply loved by God was to lean on Jesus’ heart and thus, to position himself
to receive more from God. This reveals to us the purpose, focus and desire of John’s life. He found his way to exhilaration
and rest in encountering Jesus’ heart.
B. John was saying, “I am one who leans on Jesus' heart.” He had a masculine personality yet, was not ashamed to
be known as one who lived to put his head on Jesus’ heart. His life was focused on receiving more from Jesus. Without
apology, he declares that he invested the best of his strength to sit before Jesus long hours. David had this same focus,
resolve and hunger (Ps. 27:4).
4 One thing…I seek…to behold the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in His temple. (Ps. 27:4)
C. He is seen leaning on Jesus’ heart in Jn. 13, soon after he was rebuked three times by Jesus for his wrong spirit
(Lk. 9:46-56). John had such boldness in God’s love without any shame. John had boldness with Jesus because of the
measure of insight that he had into Jesus’ heart.
D. How do we practically lean on Jesus’ heart? By sitting at Jesus’ feet to hear His Word as Mary of Bethany did. We
spend hours in the prayer room meditating on Scripture. Mary chose this part as John chose to lay on Jesus' heart. No
one can choose this for us. We choose this over and over.
39 Mary…sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. 41 Jesus said…, 42 “One thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that
good part, which will not be taken away from her." (Lk. 10:39-42)
E. One aspect of the anointing of the son of Thunder is to lean on Jesus’ heart or to linger long in God’s presence. The
Holy Spirit will give us grace to linger long hours leaning on His heart. This is an essential part of those called to be End-
Time messengers.
V. JOHN SAW HIMSELF AS ONE WHO LIVED TO RECEIVE JESUS’ SECRETS
20 The disciple who…said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" (Jn. 21:20c)
21 One of you will betray Me...23 There was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 Peter
motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. (Jn. 13:21-24)
A. John was saying, "I am the one that Jesus gave His deep secrets to". John positioned himself to receive His
secrets. John wanted to feel and think on the things that Jesus felt and thought about. This is the spirit of revelation.
In essence John asked Jesus, "What is moving Your heart?"
14 He (Holy Spirit) will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. (Jn. 16:14)
B. John asked the Lord to make known the secrets of His heart. It was only because John laid his head on Jesus'
chest that he was confident to receive His secrets, or the things that were so dear to Him or the burden of His heart.
This is an aspect of the anointing of being a son of Thunder. This will be manifest in receiving prophetic dreams and visions.
C. Jesus’ betrayal by Judas was a crisis to Jesus that surprised the apostles. It was not obvious to anyone that Judas was
the traitor. This deeply troubled Jesus' heart in the time of His greatest crisis. Without exaggerating the truth, Jesus called
Judas “His friend” (Mt. 26:50; Ps. 55:12-14).
D. An aspect of Jesus being our great reward is to receive the spirit of revelation (Eph. 1:17). He will give His secrets
to those who long for them enough to lean on His heart for hours at a time.
14 The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant. 15 My eyes are ever toward the
LORD… (Ps. 25:14-15)
E. The Book of Revelation was one of the greatest secrets of Jesus' heart and was given to John in approximately 90
AD. Jesus only gave this to John after 70 years of leaning on His heart. The Spirit will unlock the secrets of Jesus' heart
to those who lean on His heart. We are asking the Lord to release the “son of Thunder anointing” upon the Church in the
End-Times.