“The Wrath of God”

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

The Wrath of God - Revelation 16

In Revelation 16, God has “gathered together the horrors from all the stories of the avenging wrath of God and… hurled them on the unbelieving world in one last terrible deluge of disaster.” (William Barclay, The Revelation of John)

In chapter 16 we read about the bowls of wrath. We get the image of pouring out wrath on the enemies. God is loving, merciful and patient, slow to anger, abundant in mercy (Psalm 86:15), and yet our God is also a God of justice. Evil and wickedness will not go unpunished. The righteous have cried to God, asking for His action, His vengeance. Chapter 16 is the final group of “7” symbolic judgments, sending the message loud and clear: Justice will be done!

As you read through the bowls today – look back to chapters 8 and 9. There are similarities between the bowls and trumpets. For instance: 

• 1st trumpet: 1/3 earth burned (8:7) – 1st bowl: earth sores (16:2)
• 2nd trumpet: 1/3 sea becomes blood (8:8) – 2nd bowl: sea becomes blood (16:3) 
• 3rd trumpet: 1/3 rivers poisoned (8:10) – 3rd bowl: rivers become blood (16:4-7)
• 4th trumpet: 1/3 sun darkened (8:12) – 4th bowl: sun scorched men (16:8-9)
• 5th trumpet: locust released from pit (9:1-11) – 5th bowl: darkness on beast’s kingdom (16:10)
• 6th trumpet: army from Euphrates (9:13-21) – 6th bowl: army from Euphrates (16:12-16)

In this chapter we see that the wrath of God is just (they have poured out the blood of the saints – 16:6). We see that the wrath of God is complete (there are no more partials, no more thirds affected; in v. 17 the final bowl is announced as “it is done.”). We see that the wrath of God is intense (loathsome and malignant sores v. 2; scorched with fire v. 9; gnawed tongues because of pain v. 10; extremely severe v. 21). 

Will God punish the wicked? Will God deal with the evil that has existed in this world? Will God answer the cries of His people, those afflicted and suffering? Yes, yes, and yes. Remember from Revelation 6:11, God will answer in His time. Though this chapter had it’s specific/intended audience, addressing the Christians suffering under the oppression of Rome, there is a message here for all Christians of every generation. Its what Peter said in 2 Peter 3:9-10, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come…

God is patient. God gives us time – time to change, time to repent. But there will come a day when He will be patient no more. The day of the Lord will come. May we live each day in Christ. Be patient. Be prepared. The day of the Lord will come. 

“Righteous Father, You are just and true. Your judgments are fair and right. I know that You know all and see all. You hear our prayers. You understand our hardships. You are pained with sin and evil. I know Lord, that You have promised to come. I know You will judge the living and the dead. I know we will stand before Your throne. My prayer today is that I be found right in You. Whether if Christ comes today, or tomorrow, or after I have passed from this life, may my heart, and my life, be pleasing to You. I ask for Your patience for myself as I daily strive to become more like Jesus. I ask patience for those who are drifting from You, for time and opportunity to help draw them back. One day Your justice will fully come. One day all evil will end. One day every knee will bow – what a glorious day that will be. Help me to be patient with others, as You are with me. Help me to live prepared for the day You return. My heart’s desire, my life’s longing is to be pleasing to You, my Lord and my God.” 

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