Justice

Revelation 8 - 11     Kathy Carlson

Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. Revelation 8:3-5

I was taken aback during our weekly reading by the fact that the prayers of believers reflect an agreement with God to exact vengeance on those who have hardened their hearts to the message of the Gospel.  When I consider the cry of the Psalmist’s heart time and time again for justice and vengeance, I am reminded that Christ followers have a right to pray for vengeance, for a day of reckoning for the enemies of God. 

Have you ever prayed for justice?  Have you ever cried out to God, mingling your prayers with the prayers of other believers in faith that a bitterly unfair situation would be somehow set right?  Have you ever prayed for the proper punishment would fall on a person who would bring harm to an innocent child?  

As long as I remember I have been concerned with justice.  I am a champion for the underdog, for the mistreated and the downtrodden.  As a missionary in Costa Rica I witnessed the terrible realities of sin in the lives of the girls I served. My heart broke time and time again to see a young woman held captive by a proclivity to sin as a direct result of sin visited upon her by an adult in her life.  There were times I wept with frustration, other times I burned with a fury I struggled to contain.

Our reading for this week marks the beginning of a period of set aside time when the fury (wrath) of God can no longer be contained.  One of the most basic questions a person who is struggling with issues of faith asks is, “If God is truly God, then why would He allow so many bad things to happen?”  

Beloved, Our God is perfect in all His ways.  His fury is righteous and just.  There will come a day of reckoning for every person who has chosen evil and turned God away. The shocking reality that among the survivors of the plagues there was not one who repented (9: 20-21) reveals a level of evil and hardness of heart that is hard to comprehend.  Our God cannot allow such blatant evil to prevail.  He has the final word and a plan to eradicate evil altogether with a perfect punishment that fits the crime.

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.  Romans 12:19 (NLT).

A Song

Revelation 6 & 7     Eric Boberg
When I get to this part of Revelation it's hard not to talk about one of my favorite worship songs that is taken almost word for word from Revelation  7.

Salvation Belongs To Our God

Salvation belongs to our God
Who sits upon the throne
And unto the Lamb

Praise and glory
Wisdom and thanks
Honor and power and strength
Be to our God forever and ever
Be to our God forever and ever

And we the redeemed shall be strong
In purpose and unity
Declaring aloud

Praise and glory
Wisdom and thanks
Honor and power and strength
Be to our God forever and ever
Be to our God forever and ever


I tried very hard to find a suitable YouTube link. There are many versions out there but none I really love. I just can't find the right mix of boldness and freshness coupled with beauty and reverence. Many of them sound too homogenized and packaged; others lack the proper awe and majesty. Maybe it's just me, so if you find a version you like feel free to send it.

However, I suspect one reason I find all the YouTube versions unsatisfying is that I do really love the song. If it was a song I didn't care that much about, I wouldn't be disappointed. There are many songs I have enjoyed watching and listening to a great deal. But still when I sing this song to myself or with the Body of Christ, I feel part of the picture. I feel like one of the multitude that sings these word to God. Even though I don't always sing it well, it still feels fresh and strong and beautiful. I can't sing it without feeling deeply encouraged. I can't get to that place in my mind and spirit by just watching and listening to others sing it. I need to participate.

I believe God gives us songs as a foreshadowing of heaven. There is no other way to explain our spiritual and emotional connection with words and music. And when we can fully participate with our whole being, it can become transformational. We show up feeling terrible, and we leave focused and full of joy. It's a great gift.

My White Robe Washed in His Blood

Revelation 6 & 7     Peter Nordell

Pastor Bob clearly stated the Book of Revelation is about Jesus.  As I read of the seven seals and the horses, I have no understanding of what is going on.

However in chapter 7 I see the great unnumbered multitude from all nations coming before the Lamb crying out, "Salvation belongs to the our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."  They fall down and worship God and the Lamb, and he says to John, "They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." WOW!

That is what I am looking forward to happening - the final verses: "He will be my shepherd and guide me to springs of living water and God will wipe away every tear for my eyes." Praise God for his promises and his grace as I fall down and worship the Lamb of God. 

Many Languages, Known To Many Tribes

Revelation 6 & 7 Karen Downing

REVELATION 7:17

For the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to the springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Amplified Bible)

 لأَنَّ الْحَمَلَ الَّذِي فِي وَسَطِ الْعَرْشِ يَرْعَاهُمْ وَيَقُودُهُمْ إِلَى يَنَابِيعِ مَاءِ الْحَيَاةِ، وَيَمْسَحُ اللهُ كُلَّ دَمْعَةٍ مِنْ عُيُونِهِمْ». (Arabic Bible)

защото Агнето, Което е пред средата на престола, ще им бъде пастир и ще ги заведе при извори с текущи води; и Бог ще обърше всяка сълза от очите им. (Bulgarian Bible)

ᎤᏃᏕᎾᏰᏃ ᎠᎩᎾ ᎾᏍᎩ Ꮎ ᎦᏍᎩᎸ ᎠᏰᎵ ᏥᏄᏛᏅ ᏓᏳᏁᎶᎵ ᎠᎴ ᏙᏓᏳᎾᏘᏁᏏ ᎠᎹ ᎬᏂᏛ ᎠᎹ ᏙᏗᎦᏄᎪᎬᎢ; ᎠᎴ ᎤᏁᎳᏅᎯ ᏙᏓᎦᏅᎦᎸᎯ ᏂᎦᏛ ᏚᏂᎦᏌᏬᎸᎢ. (Cherokee Bible)

Porque el Cordero que está en medio del trono los regirá, y los guiará a fuentes vivas de aguas; y Dios limpiará toda lágrima de los ojos de ellos. (Spanish Bible)

क्योंकि वह मेमना जो सिंहासन के बीच में है उनकी देखभाल करेगा। वह उन्हें जीवन देने वाले जल स्रोतों के पास ले जाएगा और परमेश्वर उनकी आँखों के हर आँसू को पोंछ देगा।” (Hindi Bible)

waayo, Wanka carshiga badhtankiisa jooga ayaa wuxuu ahaan doonaa adhijirkooda, oo wuxuu iyaga u hoggaamin doonaa ilaha biyaha nolosha; oo Ilaahna indhahooda ilmo kastuu ka tirtiri doonaa. (Somali Bible)

LET ALL THE EARTH REJOICE!

I've Still Got Nothing!

Revelation 6 & 7     Tim Anderson

Usually, I read the text and ponder – then I write.  This time, I read it a second time, pondered, and I’ve still got nothing!  I’m not going to pretend to know how to interpret this, nor will I have much for comments.  I honestly don’t know how anyone can do any more than speculate about this (but I’d sure like to be enlightened!).

The main thing that I can get out of this is that I definitely don’t want to be under God's wrath – OK?  The rest of the Bible gives us plenty of insight on what we need to do to avoid this. 

Some of the good book may be confusing at times, but it sure beats the heck out of Revelation 6 and 7!

Teach Us, Lord

Revelation 6 & 7     Sue Brennan

Wow! Jesus begins to open the seals. Horses with riders - White, Red, Black and Pale; Souls of those slain for the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ; Earthquakes, black sun, red moon, mighty winds and people fleeing the wrath of God.

The Great Multitude in white robes; Angels on their faces; Elders and Beasts before the Throne..."and the Lamb shall feed them and lead them into living waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

Teach us, Lord, to worship as You lead, nourish and comfort our hearts.

Authority Over Death

Revelation 6 & 7    George Badeaux

Revelation chapters 6 and 7 depict images of grand events, worldwide in scope, with impact reaching into heaven.  I admit I don’t understand many of the images.  But there is no mistaking that our Lord and God is the one in command.  And he commands actions that no other being in the universe has the authority to command.

One of the things that stands out as I read is “death.”  It plays a major part in the events around the fourth seal and the fifth seal.  In 6:8 authority was given to “Death” and “Hades” over “a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by the wild beasts of the earth.”  Only God could give this authority.  Then in 6:9-11 martyrs who had been killed “because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained” are mentioned.  And…they cried out with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"  And there was given to each of them a white robe; and they were told that they should rest for a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.”  The One, and only One, who has the ability and authority to determine when we die, sees death (and life) so much differently than we do. His ways are not our ways.  “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”  Rom.11:33

God created death, God allows death, God uses death for His holy purposes.  God commands death.  In the resurrection of Jesus, God gloriously displayed His power over death.  And in one of the greatest victories in all the universe, possibly THE greatest, God will throw Death and Hades into the lake of fire.  Then (sorry, we are peeking ahead) Rev. 21:4 says God will “wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

No more death.  Instead there will be LIFE everlasting!...with Him!!

These things are hard to understand.  But our God, who assures us of everlasting life…with Him, is worthy.  He is worthy of our worship.  He is worthy of our trust.  Trust Him.