Don’t put it off . . .

 

READ Revelation 15–19

We all have days when life is no fun at all and the Second Coming has great appeal. I feel like that today. No energy. No appetite. Body feels as if it is floating in mud. A good day to read about the last days of earth and be reminded that this no-fun-Covid thing will pass, but when God pours out His end-of-time wrath, nothing will ever be the same again.

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. (Revelation 15:1)

Those seven plagues began with the sanctuary filled with smoke from the glory of God and no one could enter it until the plagues were finished. Soon the first angel poured out his bowl and all who worshipped the beast were covered with sores. The second followed by pouring his bowl into the sea. It became like blood and every living thing in the sea died.

The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water and they became blood. Then John heard the angel in charge of the waters say that this was justice from God for those saints and prophets who were slain. He was giving their persecutors blood to drink.

The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 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. (16:2–9)

The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast with a similar result. Its (note: beast has no gender) kingdom was plunged into darkness, but while people were in anguish they cursed God for their pain and did not repent.

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. Then out of the mouth of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet, came unclean demonic spirits who went to the world’s kings and assembled them for battle at a place called Armageddon.

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!” 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. 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. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. 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. (16:10–21)

Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more” (18:21) and after this John heard loud voices cry out: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” (19:1–2) There was more shouting:

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” (19:6–9)

John then sees the beast and kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against the Lord and His army. The beast and false prophet were captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire and everything else was slain by the sword from the mouth of the Lord. (19:19–21)

Even though I’d like the evil of sickness gone now, knowing evil will be destroyed is an assurance and guarding against evil seems easier. How pointless that some think ‘have fun while there still is time’ as if this is a worthwhile trade for the results. The only trade for ‘fun’ is eternal torment.

Besides, the minor torment of being ill is nothing compared to the wrath of God against sinners. This gives me a greater burden to share the good news. No one needs to face the wrath of God because God sent His Son to bear the wrath we deserve. This is His incredible gift of grace, but it must be received before those awful days come that John describes in Revelation when it is too late.