In Chapter 10 John HEARD what the thunders spoke but was not allowed to write it down until Chapters 21 and 22. Lightning is associated with the second coming of Jesus to earth. Lightening comes before we hear thunder. We will see Jesus and rise to meet him in the air before we return with him to the earth.
And I think this is also what the Apostle Paul saw and heard in his trip to "Paradise", located in the third heaven, but was not allowed to write down the details.
"I know a man in Christ, fourteen years ago—whether in the body, I do not know, or out of the body, I do not know; God knows—such a man, having been caught up to the third heaven. And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body, I do not know; God knows—that he was caught up into Paradise, and he HEARD inexpressible words, not being permitted to man to speak." (2 Corinthians 12:2-4)
Paul refers to this as “my gospel", which had been “kept secret” in the past.
“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to MY GOSPEL and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past…” (Romans 16:25-27)
Paul explains in his letters that the “mystery” revealed to him which had been “kept secret” is the good news of the grace of God "bringing salvation" to all people, an age when God will "reconcile to Himself ALL THINGS, whether things on earth or things in heaven" in the New Heaven and New Earth.
“Now to Him who is able to establish you according to MY GOSPEL and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past…” (Romans 16:25-27)
Paul explains in his letters that the “mystery” revealed to him which had been “kept secret” is the good news of the grace of God "bringing salvation" to all people, an age when God will "reconcile to Himself ALL THINGS, whether things on earth or things in heaven" in the New Heaven and New Earth.
“For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all people…God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself not counting their trespasses against them...and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross…" (Titus 2:11; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:19-20)
"Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence." (Colossians 1:21-22)
"…the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God…in this hope we are saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.” (Romans 8:19-25)
The lightening we see is the promise of the thunder to follow - entrance into the New Heaven and New Earth we now enter only by faith. And what is "faith".
"Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds because of your evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence." (Colossians 1:21-22)
"…the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God…in this hope we are saved; but hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he can already see? But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.” (Romans 8:19-25)
The lightening we see is the promise of the thunder to follow - entrance into the New Heaven and New Earth we now enter only by faith. And what is "faith".
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not being seen." (Hebrews 11:1)
Again - "Creation itself will be set free from its bondage and decay" and "in this we hope" - Yes I do!