Day 86: Revelation 7-9. Heaven -- and the Terrible Things
In chapter seven, we switch, and again we see visions of heaven. There are the 144,000 (okay, this is not a literal number, but it is 12 X 12 X 1000, which is a way of saying the fullness of those who will be saved -- and remember that 12 is the number of the tribes of Israel and of the disciples).
And again, there is worshipping. Especially the people who are worshipping are those who have come through persecution.
Chapter seven closes with a promise: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Remember this.)
But back on earth, the seventh seal is broken, and things begin to happen that no one prays for and no one hopes will happen. Seven trumpets are ready to be blown and each will unleash a new plague on the earth. The first four plages have to do with things that will happen in creation, and the last three will be plagues on the people. And incredibly, the plagues do have something to do with the incense, the prayers of the saints. Are the terrible things that are happening a sort of repayment for what has been done to God's people? I don't know. And I'm not sure that it is good to try to think about it too hard, to figure it out too closely. It is enough to know that Terrible Things are happening on the earth. Some of the references will be familiar to those who read the Old Testament (regarding wormwood, and also locusts, and the day becoming like night).
It's a pretty dark picture, with people begging for death, but not dying, and yet not repenting of their sins, continuing to focus on themselves and on things that aren't life-giving. and if I thought that anyone gloated over such a scenario, and said, "they will get theirs!", I would want to throw the book of Revelation out of the Bible.
But then, I think about the Holocaust, and those who were vilified, and imprisoned, and killed. The star of David was imprinted on them, but used as a means to seek them out and kill them. And I wouldn't blame them at all if they thought of those who sent them to the gas chambers, and if they thought, "they will get their! They won't ever repent!"
That's the sort of time that Revelation was written for.
So during this dark time, those who had a seal on them will be saved. If that seems heartless, think of it like a star of David, which at one time was used to identify those who would be killed. But now it will be used to identify those who will be protected. I thin that's what John is doing. 'You were singling us out for death," he says. "But later, God will single us out for protection."
Some people say that the only people who can really understand the book of Revelation are those who are being persecuted, because the book was written for Christian who were being persecuted. It was written to remind them that no matter how bad things are, no matter how bad things get, God is still in charge, will protect and vindicate them. The one who rose from the dead is still victorious.
If we cut through the strange visions and just look for the core, "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" comes up more than once.
And again, there is worshipping. Especially the people who are worshipping are those who have come through persecution.
Chapter seven closes with a promise: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (Remember this.)
But back on earth, the seventh seal is broken, and things begin to happen that no one prays for and no one hopes will happen. Seven trumpets are ready to be blown and each will unleash a new plague on the earth. The first four plages have to do with things that will happen in creation, and the last three will be plagues on the people. And incredibly, the plagues do have something to do with the incense, the prayers of the saints. Are the terrible things that are happening a sort of repayment for what has been done to God's people? I don't know. And I'm not sure that it is good to try to think about it too hard, to figure it out too closely. It is enough to know that Terrible Things are happening on the earth. Some of the references will be familiar to those who read the Old Testament (regarding wormwood, and also locusts, and the day becoming like night).
It's a pretty dark picture, with people begging for death, but not dying, and yet not repenting of their sins, continuing to focus on themselves and on things that aren't life-giving. and if I thought that anyone gloated over such a scenario, and said, "they will get theirs!", I would want to throw the book of Revelation out of the Bible.
But then, I think about the Holocaust, and those who were vilified, and imprisoned, and killed. The star of David was imprinted on them, but used as a means to seek them out and kill them. And I wouldn't blame them at all if they thought of those who sent them to the gas chambers, and if they thought, "they will get their! They won't ever repent!"
That's the sort of time that Revelation was written for.
So during this dark time, those who had a seal on them will be saved. If that seems heartless, think of it like a star of David, which at one time was used to identify those who would be killed. But now it will be used to identify those who will be protected. I thin that's what John is doing. 'You were singling us out for death," he says. "But later, God will single us out for protection."
Some people say that the only people who can really understand the book of Revelation are those who are being persecuted, because the book was written for Christian who were being persecuted. It was written to remind them that no matter how bad things are, no matter how bad things get, God is still in charge, will protect and vindicate them. The one who rose from the dead is still victorious.
If we cut through the strange visions and just look for the core, "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" comes up more than once.
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