12-22-13. Revelation 16:1-21.THE SEVEN BOWLS OF GOD’S WRATH – my devotional

Key Verses: 5, 6                                                                                                     Kevin E. Jesmer

“And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!”

     Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for helping us to trust in your provision. There are times when we feel like we are living on the edge. We may not even be living on the edge. We may just be projecting how things might be in the future and we become fearful.  But we know that you are living, O’ Lord. We know that you have come through again and again for us in the past and you will do so in the future. But we confess that we start to worry as our future needs become more evident. It is at those moments that we need faith to stand with a calm assurance. We need your wisdom to know the right to take. We need strength to venture out and do what needs to be done. Lord, we pray for these things, faith, wisdom and strength. We want to hold onto the word in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  We entrust our lives and future to you. May your will be done. Please show me your wisdom to today in this chapter. I pray in Jesus’ steadfast and powerful name. Amen!

Part 1: But They Refused To Repent (1-11).

Verses 1-11, “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” 2 So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. 3 The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. 4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” 7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!” 8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. 10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11 and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.”

The first five angels pour out bowls of God’s wrath which cause a series of catastrophes. Those affected are those who bear the mark of the beast.

I have said it once and I will say it again, how much do people need to suffer both inwardly and outwardly before they repent of their sins and come to Jesus? People would rather die in a heap of suffering and puddles of tears that turn to Christ for salvation. Maybe it is because they have never heard. Maybe it is because no one has explained to them the Gospel. This could be true, but then again God’s eye range through out the earth seeking those whose hearts are devoted to him. God comes to us even before we call out to him. He gives everyone a chance to come to him. He will try his best, in every way to draw people to himself. I believe this. If this is true then why don’t people repent and believe even when they are suffer and have nothing to loose in surrendering their lives to Jesus? This passage says, “They did not repent and give him glory.” and “They did not repent of their deeds.”. That is pretty clear. God longs for the salvation of all people. But people must repent and give glory to God if they are to be saved. People know that this punishment is from God, but they don’t repent—rather they curse God. People have become too hardened by sin to repent. They hate God and proclaim themselves to be his enemies, inviting his wrath.

People become hardened due to pride and a sense of being unjustly treated by life’s circumstances. It is unbelief. Jesus told us that people refused to come into the light because they are afraid of the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. (John 3:19) It is like the person who dies of “embarrassment” because they don’t want to see the doctor and be exposed to some embarrassing procedure. John 3:16-21 reveals this very well, “16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” (ESV)

And so what do we do? Verses 5-7 reveal what we need to do? “5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” 7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!”  We need to agree with God and his judgments. We must uphold the Holiness and justice of God, even though we may be tempted to blame God for the things that we are going through. We may not be able to understand what is happening, but we must at least uphold God as God. We must admit that it jut may be because of our sins and our broken relationship with God that our suffering is occurring. This is not true for all suffering, but many of the things we go through a result of our own sin. I have always said that I am my worst enemy. Even the thief on the cross confessed his sin. Look at Luke 23:40-44, “But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” One thief basically told the other thief to be quiet and he was humbly agreeing with God about what was going on. Jesus told that one thief, “today, you will be with me in paradise.” Having the right attitude towards our sins and God’s holiness is the first step towards being with Jesus in the Kingdom of God.

A little comment on verse 6, “For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!”  This world is at war with Christians. Christians are the most gagged religions in this society. People only respect other religions but they put gag orders on Christians, even against our constitutional rights. In other nations Christians are being attacked and killed in the greatest numbers in all of history. This is not right. But those who are doing the killing will not get away with it. Even if they live in this world without paying for their crimes, they will one day have to face the judgment of God. No one will get away with unjust crimes against Christians.

Part 2: Armageddon (12-21).

Verse 12-21, “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. 17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 21 And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.”

We may look at this passage and we will think about the armies gathering. But in verse 13 there is the dragon and the beast and the false prophets There are unclean spirits. Verse 14 says it all, “For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty.”  As believers, we must know that we are in more than just political, human struggles. We are engaged in a spiritual battle against evil in which Armageddon is the climax. The kings and kingdoms of this world, for the most part, follow false prophets and array themselves against God Almighty. The great city–the world power of that time–will be split by a tremendous earthquake. All systems and godless political powers will be destroyed.

I need to remember that any struggles I have with people are not just people to people struggles. But there is a spiritual struggle behind it all. The devil is trying to keeping me from relating the love of Christ to others, sharing the Gospel in culturally sensitive ways. The devil wants to keep me isolated and wear me down until I become ineffective in living by faith. Divide, isolate and conquer…that is the devil’s battle plan. But we, as Christians must put on the full armor of God. What is the full armor of God? Ephesians 6:10-18 reads, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”  This is the only way to overcome the devil’s schemes and be victorious. With the armor of God, Jesus will help us fight a good fight, knowing that we are on the winning side, Jesus’ side. May God grant us all grace to put on the armor of God as we live as Christians in this world.

Prayer: Lord, help me to don the full armor of God and fight the good fight of faith.

One Word: Fight a good fight.