“Then I saw another sign in heaven, . . . .” John is about to see his fourth vision of all that is to happen in the End Times; the time between Jesus’ ascension and His second coming. This is very much like going to an art museum and observing one of the great statues – like Michelangelo’s David or Pieta – you wouldn’t stand in just one spot to see it. You would walk around and it see it from different vantage points, and in so doing see the full “picture.” Jesus is giving John a tour around the End Times to help him (and us) get the full picture of what is happening and about to happen so that we can be encouraged and strengthened to face it knowing that our Lord and Savior will lead us through to the eternal home he promised us.
In this vision there are again seven angles. This time they bear bowls filled with God’s wrath. In Chapter 16 they will pour them out on the earth, and we will see what happens.
The descriptions in this chapter make us think of the Exodus. A sea mingled with fire would be a red sea. Those who conquered the beast stand along the sea and sing the song of Moses, just as the Israelites sang praises at the edge of the Red Sea. They sang because of their salvation, and so do those gathered in the vision, so they sing to the Lamb. The sanctuary of the tent of witness is there – also known as the Tabernacle – and it is open. God’s dwelling is with his people and he is present with us as we face the terrible salvation that he is performing.
In the hymn they sing:
“Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!” We think great and amazing when we read the miracles recorded in this book, but the greatest and most amazing is this: God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. That Son, Jesus, was given to die in our place, and then rise to live eternally. That should give us pause to shake our heads in wonder awe at how much God loves us.
“Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!” Romans 3:21-31 tell us of God’s justice and how we receive God’s righteousness apart from the Law through faith in Jesus because God is both just and justifier.
“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” Philippians 2:9-11 tells us that God has highly exalted Jesus and given him the name that is above every name, “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,” and, “every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” This will happen either in faith in this life or in fear at the Judgment. Today there are many who foolishly do not fear the Lord, but when our salvation comes they, sadly, will see their folly.
The time is short. The time is now. We are here to reach those people so that they might fear him for the right reasons – his mighty salvation! – not because they see their condemnation at hand. Martin Luther once wrote, “We are not fighting to win land and people, wealth and glory. Nor are we aiming to establish idolatry or extend it. Rather are we fighting to establish God’s word and his church. Especially do we fight for our children, for the coming generations . . . . This is the real reason and serious purpose for which we now fight, die, or live.”
Father in Heaven, as we read of the End, start a fire in our hearts to reach those who do not know you, to spread the Good News of what Jesus has done, and to bring many to You, and then, once that desire is burning in our hearts, empower us to reach people with Your love and salvation for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
In this vision there are again seven angles. This time they bear bowls filled with God’s wrath. In Chapter 16 they will pour them out on the earth, and we will see what happens.
The descriptions in this chapter make us think of the Exodus. A sea mingled with fire would be a red sea. Those who conquered the beast stand along the sea and sing the song of Moses, just as the Israelites sang praises at the edge of the Red Sea. They sang because of their salvation, and so do those gathered in the vision, so they sing to the Lamb. The sanctuary of the tent of witness is there – also known as the Tabernacle – and it is open. God’s dwelling is with his people and he is present with us as we face the terrible salvation that he is performing.
In the hymn they sing:
“Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty!” We think great and amazing when we read the miracles recorded in this book, but the greatest and most amazing is this: God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. That Son, Jesus, was given to die in our place, and then rise to live eternally. That should give us pause to shake our heads in wonder awe at how much God loves us.
“Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!” Romans 3:21-31 tell us of God’s justice and how we receive God’s righteousness apart from the Law through faith in Jesus because God is both just and justifier.
“Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” Philippians 2:9-11 tells us that God has highly exalted Jesus and given him the name that is above every name, “so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,” and, “every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” This will happen either in faith in this life or in fear at the Judgment. Today there are many who foolishly do not fear the Lord, but when our salvation comes they, sadly, will see their folly.
The time is short. The time is now. We are here to reach those people so that they might fear him for the right reasons – his mighty salvation! – not because they see their condemnation at hand. Martin Luther once wrote, “We are not fighting to win land and people, wealth and glory. Nor are we aiming to establish idolatry or extend it. Rather are we fighting to establish God’s word and his church. Especially do we fight for our children, for the coming generations . . . . This is the real reason and serious purpose for which we now fight, die, or live.”
Father in Heaven, as we read of the End, start a fire in our hearts to reach those who do not know you, to spread the Good News of what Jesus has done, and to bring many to You, and then, once that desire is burning in our hearts, empower us to reach people with Your love and salvation for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Comments