Day 89: Revelation 16-18, No Repentance, Babylon and Company
As we enter Chapter 16 of Revelation, what I notice most is not just the plagues, but the fact that it seems that no matter what plagues are unleashed on the earth, people do not repent. (This reminds me of the story of the Pharaoh and the people of Israel in Egypt. God sends many plagues, and yet Pharaoh does not repent. It also reminds me that the book of Revelation was written during a time of great persecution, and was written for a people who were being persecuted.) (Although I do think Christians have some challenges in the United States, as there are more people who do are hostile to the church or just apathetic, I define persecution in times of imprisonment, abuse and being killed for being confessing faith.) We are nearing the end of the Book of Revelation, and I can't say that I'm unhappy about that. It's hard to read, for a number of reasons: 1) the symbolism, some of which is pretty easy to follow, some of which is impossible to discern; 2) the violenc