“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” –Jesus, Matthew 26:28
There is always a limit to how much we can stand or take from those in the world who bring us down, malign our character, lie about the work we do. Evil people want you to look bad, feel bad and mostly get out of their way so they can get their way. Some of us respond by silently, keeping our heads down and keep working. But we begin storing up all the hurt, deceit and eventual anger in our being until we cannot hold it any longer.
Some of us are lightening quick to judge and judgement. We pour out our anger on everyone around us whether they are guilty or not. We are not to judge but think it is required to put others “in their place”, a judgement all on its own.
Some of us just want to love and be loved but not everyone thinks that way. We want to get along with each other, work together for peace in gracious ways. We love God with all that is in us and seek to be guided by Him, knowing He has the best for us who love Him back. We believe judgement that is right, pure and holy belongs to the One who is perfect in every way.
No matter what we believe, wars break out in families, communities, and throughout the world. Self-promoted people use God’s name in vain, perform acts of disgrace, working hard to think of more disgusting ways to hurt each people who get in their way or just for the sport of it. Worship of anyone but God leads to Beastly worship of self.
John is given the vision of seeing what happens when God has had enough. God will pour out the wrath He has been storing up upon those who are marked by sin. He has every right to do so.
REVELATION—JESUS IS COMING BACK!
Revelation 16, The Message
Pouring Out the Seven Disasters
16 I heard a shout of command from the Temple to the Seven Angels: “Begin! Pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on earth!”
2 The first Angel stepped up and poured his bowl out on earth: Loathsome, stinking sores erupted on all who had taken the mark of the Beast and worshiped its image.
3 The second Angel poured his bowl on the sea: The sea coagulated into blood, and everything in it died.
4-7 The third Angel poured his bowl on rivers and springs: The waters turned to blood. I heard the Angel of Waters say,
Righteous you are, and your judgments are righteous,
The Is, The Was, The Holy.
They poured out the blood of saints and prophets
so you’ve given them blood to drink—
they’ve gotten what they deserve!
Just then I heard the Altar chime in,
Yes, O God, the Sovereign-Strong!
Your judgments are true and just!
8-9 The fourth Angel poured his bowl on the sun: Fire blazed from the sun and scorched men and women. Burned and blistered, they cursed God’s Name, the God behind these disasters. They refused to repent, refused to honor God.
10-11 The fifth Angel poured his bowl on the throne of the Beast: Its kingdom fell into sudden eclipse. Mad with pain, men and women bit and chewed their tongues, cursed the God-of-Heaven for their torment and sores, and refused to repent and change their ways.
12-14 The sixth Angel poured his bowl on the great Euphrates River: It dried up to nothing. The dry riverbed became a fine roadbed for the kings from the East. From the mouths of the Dragon, the Beast, and the False Prophet I saw three foul demons crawl out—they looked like frogs. These are demon spirits performing signs. They’re after the kings of the whole world to get them gathered for battle on the Great Day of God, the Sovereign-Strong.
15 “Keep watch! I come unannounced, like a thief. You’re blessed if, awake and dressed, you’re ready for me. Too bad if you’re found running through the streets, naked and ashamed.”
16 The frog-demons gathered the kings together at the place called in Hebrew Armageddon.
17-21 The seventh Angel poured his bowl into the air: From the Throne in the Temple came a shout, “Done!” followed by lightning flashes and shouts, thunder crashes and a colossal earthquake—a huge and devastating earthquake, never an earthquake like it since time began. The Great City split three ways, the cities of the nations toppled to ruin. Great Babylon had to drink the wine of God’s raging anger—God remembered to give her the cup! Every island fled and not a mountain was to be found. Hailstones weighing close to a hundred pounds plummeted, crushing and smashing men and women as they cursed God for the hail, the epic disaster of hail.
THINGS TO CONSIDER—
Reviewing these three chapters, we see the encouragement they give to suffering Christians. The sealed 144,000 will arrive on Mount Zion and praise God (Rev. 14:1–5). The martyrs will also be in glory, praising God (Rev. 15:1–4). John’s message is clear: it is possible to be victorious over “the beast” and be an overcomer!
Every generation of Christians has been able to identify with the events in Revelation 14—16. There has always been a “beast” to oppress God’s people and a false prophet to try to lead them astray. We have always been on the verge of an “Armageddon” as the nations wage war.
“But in the last days, these events will accelerate and the Bible’s prophecies will be ultimately fulfilled. I believe the church will not be on the scene at that time, but both Jewish and Gentile believers will be living who will have to endure Antichrist’s rule.
The admonition in Revelation 16:15 applies to us all: “Behold, I [Jesus] come as a thief. Blessed is he that watch, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Jesus Christ may return at any time, and it behooves us to keep our lives clean, to watch, and to be faithful.” –Warren Wiersbe, Bible Commentator and Theologian
Lord,
I’m listening, learning and preparing. It is so easy to be drawn away from your care but that is not what I want. It is easy to be righteously angry but only you are the judge. Cleanse our hearts of all that offends you. Renew a right Spirit in us—Your Holy Spirit. Refresh our souls. Restore the joy of your salvation in us. Make us ready, shoes on, ready for your coming.
In Jesus Name, Amen
“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” –Jesus, Matthew 26:28
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 