恩典365 - 11/16

2014. 11. 16 |Our Awesome God (Revelation 15:1~8)

1 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues--last, because with them God's wrath is completed.
2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God
3 and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.
4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."
5 After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened.
6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests.
7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.

8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

Reflection

Great and Marvelous (15:1~4) 

The imagery in Revelation is fantastic in ever sense of the word. What is revealed to John can only be described through comparisons, and his words ignite our imagination. We can really only imagine what he saw. We know, at least, that today’s passage is all about God, His great and marvelous deeds and His victory! We are reminded and given hope—biblically certain hope that is based upon God’s promises—that there will come a day when God’s glory will be made fully known for all to see. All His great and marvelous deeds will be brought to light, and all nations will come and worship Him. Therefore, we must not give up. We must count ourselves amongst those who are victorious, singing praises to the only holy God. This is our great and marvelous future!

- The decisions that we make today must be made in light of this future vision—the vision of Christ’s victory and the full revelation of God in the last days. How will you live now as you look toward this vision?

Seven Angels, Seven Plagues (15:5~8)  

The seven angels bring the last seven plagues, which are the most severe judgments from God. The angels, dressed in garments that represent their holiness and purity, carry bowls of God’s wrath. God has always been forthright in regard to what will come in the last days. The consequences for sin will be severe. There will be punishment; it will be devastating, and it will be final. God does not delight in bringing judgment; it is a demonstration of His righteousness and holiness. Ultimately, His judgment will decisively destroy the sin that has plagued mankind from the Fall until today. 

- The last days will bring great suffering and punishment. God’s wrath must be satisfied. For those of us who have claimed Christ as our Lord, let us remember that Christ’s death appeased God’s wrath toward us.