THE STORY OF JESUS: Revelation 15-16
“Go, pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath on the earth.” (Revelation 16:1)
I am reflecting on ‘God’s wrath’ (thymos: intense, passionate anger).
When describing humans (Galatians 5:20), this word refers to fits of rage.
Does God finally blow His top, lose His cool, and explode in rage?
God’s anger is righteous (or justified) anger.
To understand this, we have to think when anger is justified.
When the weak and helpless are raped, abused, tortured, murdered?
When people are wickedly cruel, violent, deceptive, selfish, immoral.
This is the mess that fills our world, that happens all the time.
If we do not repent – admit the ugliness of such evil – God will punish us.
“Because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Romans 2:5)
These bowls represent God’s stored up – and held back – judgment, giving us time to repent.
“But they refused to repent of what they had done.” (Revelation 16:11)
Do I hate sin, run away from it and run to God for help – this is what He is waiting for!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I admit I don’t hate the poison of sin enough. Help me to see the subtle yet sinister indicators or my selfish heart, and how it hurts you and others.