God’s Righteous Judgment: A Reflection of Revelation 8-9 (Pt 1)
Starting in Revelation 6, we are shown the future on earth. The church will have completed God’s purposes for us, and we will have been raptured when the following events occur.
While we are currently in the church age, the era of grace, or “the day of salvation,” God reserves His wrath for that future period known as the Great Tribulation and “the Day of the Lord” (Isaiah 13:9).
The judgments described in Revelation 8-9 are unlike anything the world has ever seen. The first four trumpets bring about devastating destruction, with a third of the earth scorched, a third of the oceans turned to blood, and a third of the freshwater rivers and springs contaminated.
The fifth trumpet unleashes demonic beings like locusts upon the earth, but unlike ordinary locusts, these are not allowed to destroy the crops, “but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads” (Rev. 9:4).
Demons present themselves as angels of light, but here, they are seen for what they are: inflictors of pain and destruction on people. This is what demons would do if God allowed it.
Well, God will allow it in that day!
The sixth trumpet releases four fallen angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates to kill a third of mankind.
Though He uses nature, world leaders, demons, and angels, these are the holy judgments of the One who sits on the throne and of the Lamb! This is not Satan’s doing. Jesus opens the seals. Jesus is carrying out righteous punishment and justice.
Though He uses nature, world leaders, demons, and angels, these are the holy judgments of the One who sits on the throne and of the Lamb! This is not Satan’s doing. Jesus opens the seals. Jesus is carrying out righteous punishment and justice.
Jesus described the future tribulation as something that has “never occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will” (Matt 24:21).
As we consider the tribulation period, we are reminded that God’s judgments are not arbitrary or capricious. They are a response to humanity’s rebellion against Him and a call to repentance and salvation. In this context, we see God’s goodness and justice at work.
God’s goodness is seen in His acting against sin! It is also seen in His patience and longsuffering as He waits for humanity to turn to Him. His justice is seen in His judgment against sin and evil as He seeks to restore righteousness and justice to the earth.
Most importantly, God’s goodness and justice are seen in the cross of Jesus Christ.
But most importantly, God’s goodness and justice are seen in the cross of Jesus Christ. There, we see the ultimate expression of God’s love and justice, as He takes upon Himself the punishment for our sin, and offers us salvation and redemption.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of these judgments is the response of those who survive them. Those who survive will not turn to Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins or to be spared His wrath. There will not be mass conversions.
Revelation 9:20 And the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so, as not to worship demons, and… idols… 21 and they did not repent of their murders… sorceries… immorality nor of their thefts.
People are deeply attached to their false gods and will not give them up.
Even following the rapture, despite witnessing the destruction of over half of the world’s population and with the rest of the world literally on fire, the vast majority of survivors will refuse to repent and trust Jesus to save them. Refuse!
Despite witnessing the destruction of over half of the world’s population and with the rest of the world literally on fire, the vast majority of survivors will refuse to repent and trust Jesus to save them. Refuse!
Ultimately, the refusal to repent and turn to God despite the severity of the tribulation judgments is a manifestation of humanity’s deep-seated sin and rebellion against God. This further justifies God’s decision, but to understand how this glorifies our Lord and brings us great hope, read part 2.