It's hard to comprehend the magnitude of destruction in just these two chapters of Revelation. Imagine these headlines.
Painful Pandemic of Skin Sores Affects Most of Population
All Water in Sea's and Rivers turned to Blood, All fish and sea creatures killed
Mountains and Islands Obliterated.
Earthquakes Splits Great City, All Other Cities Collapse.
Hundred Pound Hailstones Shatter Buildings
Any one of these disasters would be overwhelming but when you put them all together along with a few others it seems like most of the earths population would be destroyed. Matthew 24:22 says "And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened."
It's an overwhelming massive display of power. Add up all the calamities throughout history and this is more.
The Bob Dylan Song "When He Returns" came to mind this afternoon when I was pondering these passages. How may songs can you think of that are written about the judgement of God? Here is the first part.
The iron hand it ain't no match for the iron rod
The strongest wall will crumble and fall to a mighty God
For all those who have eyes and all those who have ears
It is only He who can reduce me to tears
Don't you cry and don't you die and don't you burn
Like a thief in the night, he'll replace wrong with right
When he returns.
If you study the flow of human history you would have to say we understand. the principles of power and force well when it comes to autocratic dictators, those who have ruled with an "iron hand". Yet Dylan correctly points out they are no match for the iron rod of God. As I said we can understand force and power but it is the next sentence that is the surprise. For all those who have eyes and those who have ears. (This is clearly a reference to false gods and idols as in Psalm 135: 15-17) "It is only he who can reduce me to tears." We will not weep for false gods nor will we weep for raw expressions of power. But we will weep for tenderness shown to us. We will weep at seeing goodness mercy and love. We will only weep at real interaction with a real personality who knows and loves us deeply "It is the kindness of God that leads us to repentance." Romans 2:4
Back to Revelation, this massive show of power in judgement means nothing unless it is backed by Gods goodness justice and mercy. It's taken me a long time this week to get my head around the idea of Gods wrath. But I do believe some of the concept that says "the opposite of love is not hate but indifference." A good God can not be indifferent to evil. To allow evil to run on and on, especially when that evil is bent on the destruction of God's people, would not be good for anyone including the evil doers. A world where evil is not restrained and punished would be ultimately unlivable.
Last week I wrote about superheroes and super villains. Apparently there is a trend in the comic book world that is reacting against a cycle of evil. In the old days, super villains were carted off to prison, only to escape and show up in a future story. There they would once again wreak havoc and possibly kill thousands. After awhile this apparently this became emotionally unsatisfying to comic book creators and their readership. These stories are almost always set in a Godless universe, yet they recognize a universal truth, evil must ultimately be stopped. As are result some superheroes have started executing the villains. They often do it with much anxiety and trepidation, but the bad guys won't show up in some future issue, their run has ended. And so we see even those who do not call themselves Christians, are nevertheless yearning for judgement of the wicked and the rule of righteousness.
Just on more thing. Just as I find the personal nature of God's love so wonderful I find it almost equally wonderful that he takes evil personally as well. His plan to destroy it in the universe and in my own heart through Jesus is completely and utterly brilliant. I think this is why when whole world realizes this they will bow down in worship.
Who will not fear you, Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.
Here is the rest of Bob Dylan's song along with a link:
Truth is an arrow and the gate is narrow that is passes through
He unreleased His power at an unknown hour that no one knew
How long can I listen to the lies of prejudice ?
How long can I stay drunk on fear out in the wilderness ?
Can I cast it aside, all this loyalty and this pride ?
Will I ever learn that there'll be no peace, that the war won't cease
Until He returns ?
Surrender your crown on this blood-stained ground, take off your mask
He sees your deeds, He knows your needs even before you ask
How long can you falsify and deny what is real ?
How long can you hate yourself for the weakness you conceal ?
Of every earthly plan that be known to man, He is unconcerned
He's got plans of his own to set up His throne
When He returns.
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