Tag: second angel

7.x. Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments.

Revelation 16:1   Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve!” And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!”

God’s wrath is let loose on mankind.  All of those who have rejected Him, His message of repentance, and salvation through Jesus Christ will experience His wrath in ways that have not been known to mankind.  Know this, His wrath is furious as His love is full of grace and mercy.  We often think about His absolute pure and holy love but fail to see that His wrath, anger, and judgment are absolutely pure.  All of the judgments that have come at the hands of man and Satan are nothing compared to God’s wrath and judgment.  The first bowl is harmful and painful sores.  This afflicts all who have taken the mark of the beast, all who have rejected the message of His witnesses, and those who have killed the saints (those who have rejected the beast and have come to Jesus Christ.)  Even during the 7 seals and the 7 trumpets and all of the calamity, unrest, and wonders associated with these judgments, people still choose to deny Jesus Christ.  Do you ever wonder how hard a heart has to be to reject the grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ and choose to be blind to things that are happening at God’s command?  We might understand how it happens right now in the US as we live during a time of prosperity.  People just don’t see a need for Jesus Christ, and if they do, it seems as though it is not with their whole heart, mind, and soul, but with a want for the benefit but without and change in their life.  How many times are we neglectful and complacent with our time in His Word, prayer, and humble service?  How many times are we chasing after things this world has to offer and not the things of God?  How many times do we choose the worldly stuff over Godly living?  We can read about God’s judgment against those who have willfully and knowingly rejected Him but how much more do we deserve His judgment for willingly and intentionally choosing to live lukewarm Christian lives that serve no more as a testimony to Jesus Christ than those who openly deny Him.  We do well to search our heart, mind, and soul for that which hinders us from humbly serving, honoring, following, trusting, and obeying Him.

7.t. The intoxicating wine

Revelation 14:8   Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality.”

Some think that the actual city of Babylon will be rebuilt and established as the epicenter of idolatry, immorality, and political system of the world during the tribulation period.  Some think that this refers to another city which, like Babylon of old, has influenced the world into idolatry, immorality, and political reliance through deception, force, signs and wonders, miracles, and lies.  I am not sure it is important to say one or the other but to know it is fallen.  This angel proclaims a future event for us, which will be explained more in Chapters 17 and 18.  I am intrigued by “she who made nations drink the wine of her sexual immorality (fornication, adultery, infidelity, and unfaithfulness)”.  John Gill put it this way: The intoxicating wine and the alluring methods used to draw gives false promises, appearances of holiness and religion.  It deceives people into believing lies.”  It entices people into lusts of their sinful heart and pride of life.  They willingly follow after that which is false to their eternal destruction.

We are given many great promises from God through His Word.  There are promises of eternal life through trusting in, relying on, and clinging to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin, if we but believe and follow, serve, honor, and obey Him.  There are promises of eternal damnation, torment, and weeping and gnashing of teeth when there is an intentional choice to reject salvation through Jesus Christ.  The second angel proclaims a time when Babylon falls.  All of it pomp and lure to people will be gone and with this fall multitudes will be entering eternity in hell forever and ever.

7.c. “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth”

Revelation 8:8   The second angel blew his trumpet, and something like a great mountain, burning with fire, was thrown into the sea, and a third of the sea became blood. A third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed. The third angel blew his trumpet, and a great star fell from heaven, blazing like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the water, because it had been made bitter. The fourth angel blew his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of their light might be darkened, and a third of the day might be kept from shining, and likewise a third of the night. Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying with a loud voice as it flew directly overhead, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, at the blasts of the other trumpets that the three angels are about to blow!”

One-third of the grass and trees, sea creatures, ships, water, sun, and moon are affected in ways that only can point to the God of creation.  All of this follows wars, famine, disease, earthquakes and other life taking actions within God’s purpose and plans.  You would think this is the end of these terrible events, but no.  John heard an eagle crying, woe, woe, woe.  Much worse is to come.  All of this comes upon those who have rejected God, despise God, hate God, and are suffering consequences of their disbelieve and of God’s wrath and anger.  This wrath and anger have been stored up by God.  For sure it will come upon mankind at a time they do not see coming.  Those that are alive will suffer greatly at the hands of God for their rejection.  There is much to be said about living now in the time of grace, mercy, and love of Jesus Christ, where there is the time right now to repent and turn away from sin and rely on, cling to, and trust in Jesus Christ.