Morning everyone...so, the holidays are nearly over and it's the dreaded thought of the approaching exams....but today in Revelation, something else is approaching...
Ch 14 v14-20-
14 Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 Then another angel came from the Temple and shouted to the one sitting on the cloud, “Swing the sickle, for the time of harvest has come; the crop on earth is ripe.” 16 So the one sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the whole earth was harvested.
17 After that, another angel came from the Temple in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another angel, who had power to destroy with fire, came from the altar. He shouted to the angel with the sharp sickle, “Swing your sickle now to gather the clusters of grapes from the vines of the earth, for they are ripe for judgment.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle over the earth and loaded the grapes into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20The grapes were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress in a stream about 180 miles long and as high as a horse’s bridle.
This is an image of judgement. Just like a farmer harvests their crops, Christ is separating the faithful from the unfaithful. This is a time of joy for all believers who have been persecuted and faced temptation in their journey of faith- they will receive their long awaited reward of eternal life. Us as Christians shouldn't fear this final judgement for Jesus said...(John 5:24)
"I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life."
Those who have rejected Christ and ignored God's warnings will be punished :( This is quite disturbing. For God's wrath on these people is like pressing grapes that were once ripe into wine. The depth and length of the blood is a symbol of the immensity of God's judgement.
Those who know God's wrath well enough, or know what is coming, should know to desire his grace...do you desire His grace?
Ch 15 v1-4
1 Then I saw in heaven another marvelous event of great significance. Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues, which would bring God’s wrath to completion. 2 I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them. 3 And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb: “Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. 4 Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”
So, seven plagues are on their way to bring the final judgement on these people....you would have thought by now after the wine press, the beasts, the dragon (things people usually would not go anywhere near), they would have seen sense and repented, but nope, so God is now sending his final judgement in the form of seven plagues. Unlike the previous plagues in Revelation, these are universal, not partial.
The song of Moses in Exodus 15 celebrated Israel's deliverance from Egypt. This song of the lamb is celebrating the ultimate deliverance of God's people from the power of Satan!! WOOO :D
Tune in tomorrow for more on the seven plagues...
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