In the book of Revelation Jesus reveals the future (the noun form of ‘reveal’ is ‘revelation’). But the End Times will also reveal the hearts of man. Those who love God will grow to love Him more, and those who hate God will hate Him even more, as they “fill up the full measure of their sin” Matthew 23:32.
Let’s begin with those who hate God:
Nothing can make some people repent. God pours out His judgment, crushing the grapes in His wrath until blood flows as deep as the horses’ bridles for 180 miles(!) Revelation 14:20. But the people who survive do not repent. Then sores break out on people, and the sea is turned to blood and all sea life dies, then people are burned with fire, Revelation 16:2-8.
What would you do? Beg God for mercy? Confess your sins? Not these people. “So they blasphemed the name of God, and they did not repent and give Him glory.” Revelation 16:9. (Again, the End Times will be characterized by hearts grown cold and unrepentant.)
Then God plunged the world into darkness, people gnawed their tongues because of the pain and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and their sores, yet they did NOT repent of their actions, Revelation 16:10-11.
Then God sends the worst earthquake in history (scary). The cities fell. Islands and mountains disappeared. Then (get this!) God sent “enormous hailstones, each weighing about 100 pounds,” and they fell from the sky on the people…”
And what did they do? Did they apologize to God? Beg for mercy? Repent?
“…[A]nd they blasphemed God for the plague of hail, because that plague was extremely severe” Revelation 16:21.
How deeply do you have to hate God to stay angry and defiant through all of these judgments? The End Times reveals the contrast: sinners grow more sinful, “filling up the full measure of their sin” so that God will be glorified and revealed as holy when He judges them. Meanwhile, His saints will grow to love Him more and more (as in the passage below), giving God glory when He blesses them.
“I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had won the victory over the beast, his image, and the number of his name, were standing on the sea of glass with harps from God. They sang the song of God’s servant Moses and the song of the Lamb:
‘Great and awe-inspiring are Your works, Lord God the Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the Nations. Lord, who will not fear and glorify Your name? Because You alone are holy, for all the nations will come and worship before You because Your righteous acts have been revealed'” Revelation 15:2-4.
Check your heart. Do you blame God for problems? Do you feel angry with God? Do you think He is unfair? Or do you worship Him and trust Him no matter what?
Dear God, make us humble before you. Make us think right and love you and trust you no matter what. Fill us with love and reverence for you, no matter our circumstances. Thank you that whether we struggle with little things like bills and home repairs, or big things, like earthquakes and deaths, YOU are in control. You are our Shepherd. You love us and forgive us and redeem us and take care of us. Fill us with a genuine and honest repentance. May our hearts be totally open to you and anything you may wish to do in us. We are yours, God. May we please you in all that we do and feel and think. Transform our lives and our hearts every day. Make us godly and humble servants—for you and for others. We love you.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 