Thursday 21st December - Revelation 16

Today’s chapter is Revelation 16

Tom writes:

This ends the extended metaphor comparing the second beast to Pharaoh. Plagues have been used just like there were against Egypt. The enemy has been washed away in a sea the height of a horse’s bridle (14:20), just like the Red Sea swallowed up the horse and riders of Egypt. The liberated ones have once again sung a song of deliverance (ch15) except somebody forgot to pack Miriam’s tambourine. Here, through the symbol of seven bowls we see the same truth as the seven trumpets and the seven signs; and the same truth as we saw in the story of Moses - God has such commitment to setting his people free that he will even whip up a storm to bring it into being on the earth. What this letter told the christians getting ripped apart by the beastly rule of Rome was that  God would bring them deliverance. What this letter has shouted to those ravaged by persecution, or smashed by oppression, or relentlessly looted of possessions was that they will be delivered by God and then they finally will be free.

The imagery no-doubt sounds harsh to us - it is meant to. It points to the intransigent insufferability of living under the beast. There is massive corruption, hostility towards God, dehumanisation of whole classes of people, celebration of greed and pride. Human efforts are only scratching the surface of these problems. The world needs to be shaken to root out every cause and consequence of evil. God will split into three parts the great city and he will end those who have got fat and brazen with their abuse of human power. God will win back his earth, and nothing can stand in his way. To really grasp this and accept it actually encourages us to show mercy to others trapped in this narrative. We know God’s wrath will be a real storm felt by real people in real places. The recipients of God’s judgement will be human beings, and the earth will feel it too. If we are like the lamb we will lovingly pray and urge others to flee from this; to come to Jesus and - like the Israelites on the brink of Exodus - to paint his blood around the doorway of their lives.

Question for reflection

What does the reality of God’s coming wrath spark in you?