Sermon Devotional: The Sights and Sounds of Judgment
Sermon Title: The Sights and Sounds of Judgment
Scripture: Revelation 9:13-21 (ESV)
In the past few weeks, we have focused on the end times and how our bodies, our world and our perspective will all be made new. Last week’s passage focused on the questions believers have asked throughout time – “Lord how long?” We learned that “the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, but is patient, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Given these words we contemplate how we ought to live as we await the promise of a new heaven and earth where righteousness dwells.
Today’s passage is sobering as we witness the horrors of the tribulation and a time of God’s wrath. It is during this time that God no longer restrains evil. The sixth angel’s trumpet blast releases four bound, demonic angels, living in a state of bondage until Almighty God allows them, at His exact, appointed time, to execute their role as instruments of divine judgement. They are prepared in advance for this time of destruction. Their mission, with an army of 200 million, is to annihilate a third of mankind, with their war beasts that incinerate by fire, asphyxiate by smoke and/or the deadly gas of sulfur given off by burning brimstone. The lion-headed horses ridden by the demonic angels, not only produce fire, smoke and sulfur, but they are able to poison people with their tails made of venomous snakes. People who have repeatedly turned against God, who have ignored the prompting of the Holy Spirit are the recipients of this judgement and wrath. Consider the global catastrophic impact of the death of over a billion people in a short space of time!
For those remaining, God allows more time to repent. Although plagued with horrors of fire, smoke and poisonous wounds, His Spirit still invites and seeks souls that see and acknowledge the light of truth. The Father will continue to draw people to Jesus, who, even during this time of tribulation, will answer the call and be cleansed by the blood of Christ shed for them. The heart break of this passage, however, shows that most of the remaining earth dwellers continue their defiance, refusing to repent. John lists five sins that represent their defiance. There will be a resurgence of idol worship. Violent murders will be widespread and unchecked, “religion” will be experienced by using drugs to commune with deities, indescribable sexual perversion will be rampant, and theft widespread as people compete for scarce resources. Most will harden their hearts, unwilling to glorify the only true God, creator of the universe, creator of all good things and creator and supreme lover of all mankind.
These are serious words. The hearts of believers should be quickened to faithfully share the Good News of Christ while time remains. How should we then live? As people who are submitted to the Lordship of Jesus, take every opportunity to speak the love of Christ into the lives of others. Pray unceasingly for the souls of lost individuals known and unknown. Be not distracted by the cares and responsibilities of this life to the point you miss the bigger picture of our call to sow seeds of truth into every life we touch. Ask the Father of love how you may serve Him best and consciously prepare and ready yourself to defend and share your faith at any moment there is opportunity.
Consider –
╬ It is often easy to focus upon the business of our personal lives and relationships while we neglect the bigger story of God’s world. Today’s text shows us the reality of what is to come. It invites us, compels us, to be vigilant in sharing the Good News of transformation from death to life that is available to all who receive God’s salvation in Christ Jesus. Who do you know who needs Jesus? Let your life and your words speak God’s love and grace. Pray unceasingly for the Spirit’s work in their lives.
╬ Abba Father, Good and Gracious God, Creator, Redeemer, Friend and Companion, give me a heart like yours, curb my complacency, convict me of cocooning in the safety of the church body and segregating from the world around me. Teach me that it is not in activism that salvation lies, but in earnest repentance and submission to the risen Christ, who paid the ultimate price for my salvation. Melt my heart of stone and give me the heart of Christ and a desire to share the saving faith of the cross with every soul I encounter. In the name of Christ Jesus our Risen Lord, AMEN.
Scripture: Revelation 9:13-21 (ESV)
The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality of their thefts. Revelation 9:20-21
In the past few weeks, we have focused on the end times and how our bodies, our world and our perspective will all be made new. Last week’s passage focused on the questions believers have asked throughout time – “Lord how long?” We learned that “the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, but is patient, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Given these words we contemplate how we ought to live as we await the promise of a new heaven and earth where righteousness dwells.
Today’s passage is sobering as we witness the horrors of the tribulation and a time of God’s wrath. It is during this time that God no longer restrains evil. The sixth angel’s trumpet blast releases four bound, demonic angels, living in a state of bondage until Almighty God allows them, at His exact, appointed time, to execute their role as instruments of divine judgement. They are prepared in advance for this time of destruction. Their mission, with an army of 200 million, is to annihilate a third of mankind, with their war beasts that incinerate by fire, asphyxiate by smoke and/or the deadly gas of sulfur given off by burning brimstone. The lion-headed horses ridden by the demonic angels, not only produce fire, smoke and sulfur, but they are able to poison people with their tails made of venomous snakes. People who have repeatedly turned against God, who have ignored the prompting of the Holy Spirit are the recipients of this judgement and wrath. Consider the global catastrophic impact of the death of over a billion people in a short space of time!
For those remaining, God allows more time to repent. Although plagued with horrors of fire, smoke and poisonous wounds, His Spirit still invites and seeks souls that see and acknowledge the light of truth. The Father will continue to draw people to Jesus, who, even during this time of tribulation, will answer the call and be cleansed by the blood of Christ shed for them. The heart break of this passage, however, shows that most of the remaining earth dwellers continue their defiance, refusing to repent. John lists five sins that represent their defiance. There will be a resurgence of idol worship. Violent murders will be widespread and unchecked, “religion” will be experienced by using drugs to commune with deities, indescribable sexual perversion will be rampant, and theft widespread as people compete for scarce resources. Most will harden their hearts, unwilling to glorify the only true God, creator of the universe, creator of all good things and creator and supreme lover of all mankind.
These are serious words. The hearts of believers should be quickened to faithfully share the Good News of Christ while time remains. How should we then live? As people who are submitted to the Lordship of Jesus, take every opportunity to speak the love of Christ into the lives of others. Pray unceasingly for the souls of lost individuals known and unknown. Be not distracted by the cares and responsibilities of this life to the point you miss the bigger picture of our call to sow seeds of truth into every life we touch. Ask the Father of love how you may serve Him best and consciously prepare and ready yourself to defend and share your faith at any moment there is opportunity.
Consider –
╬ It is often easy to focus upon the business of our personal lives and relationships while we neglect the bigger story of God’s world. Today’s text shows us the reality of what is to come. It invites us, compels us, to be vigilant in sharing the Good News of transformation from death to life that is available to all who receive God’s salvation in Christ Jesus. Who do you know who needs Jesus? Let your life and your words speak God’s love and grace. Pray unceasingly for the Spirit’s work in their lives.
╬ Abba Father, Good and Gracious God, Creator, Redeemer, Friend and Companion, give me a heart like yours, curb my complacency, convict me of cocooning in the safety of the church body and segregating from the world around me. Teach me that it is not in activism that salvation lies, but in earnest repentance and submission to the risen Christ, who paid the ultimate price for my salvation. Melt my heart of stone and give me the heart of Christ and a desire to share the saving faith of the cross with every soul I encounter. In the name of Christ Jesus our Risen Lord, AMEN.