The day of judgement
Then the kings of the earth, the rulers and the military chiefs, the rich and the powerful, and all other people, slave and free, hid themselves in caves and under rocks on the mountains. They called out to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the eyes of the one who sits on the throne and from the anger of the Lamb! The terrible day of their anger is here, and who can stand up against it?’ (verses 15-17)
Read Revelation 6:1-17
There is a lot of evil, injustice, terror, persecution, greed and human-inflicted pain in this world. This has always been the case, but as the world ‘progresses’ and becomes ‘smarter’, the evil, injustice and terror increases. The vision of John’s Revelation shows us that we are heading to the end of time and the day of God’s judgment.
Because God is just and all-powerful, he will not forever stand on the sidelines. He gives the wicked ample time and opportunity to repent and to tum from their sinful ways. But if they steadfastly refuse and continually reject the loving offer of the grace of God, the day of their total annihilation will come. The martyrs and all those who suffered unjustly will be avenged and will be given their eternal reward.
The vision shows us that no-one can escape – not mighty rulers, military chiefs, the rich and powerful, ordinary people or slaves and prisoners. All who rejected the redeeming love of the Lamb will try unsuccessfully to escape the revealing presence of God. For them it will be a day of wrath and mourning.
But for God’s saints, that is for forgiven sinners, it will be the day of their final salvation, the day when all things will be made new, and they will see with their own eyes the justice and glory of God.
Almighty and eternal Judge, cover me with the blood of the Lamb, so that I can be rescued from your just judgment and can inherit the joys and glories of heaven. Amen.
by Kevin Schmidt, in ‘God’s Peace for each Day’ (LCA, Openbook, 2006)
Visit the Daily Devotion archives page.
