God Speaks
And I saw in heaven another mighty pageant showing things to come: Seven angels were assigned to carry down to earth the seven last plagues—and then at last God’s anger will be finished.
2 Spread out before me was what seemed to be an ocean of fire and glass, and on it stood all those who had been victorious over the Evil Creature and his statue and his mark and number. All were holding harps of God, 3-4 and they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous
Are your doings,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true
Are your ways,
O King of Ages.
Who shall not fear,
O Lord,
And glorify your Name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
And worship before you,
For your righteous deeds
Have been disclosed.”
5 Then I looked and saw that the Holy of Holies of the temple in heaven was thrown wide open!
6 The seven angels who were assigned to pour out the seven plagues then came from the temple, clothed in spotlessly white linen, with golden belts across their chests. 7 And one of the four Living Beings handed each of them a golden flask filled with the terrible wrath of the Living God who lives forever and forever. 8 The temple was filled with smoke from his glory and power; and no one could enter until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.
Source: The Living Bible: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection
This short chapter portrays the two w’s of the book of Revelation, the worship and wrath of God. There was a choir of those who had been victorious in their stand against the Beast, his statue and his mark and number. Their song ascribing great praise, glory, victory and honor to God was similar to Moses’s song in Exodus 15 after God had rescued the Israelites from the Egyptians. It also praised and glorified the Lord Jesus, the Lamb, who rescued them (and us) from sin and death. Then the seven angels prepared to deliver the seven plagues contained in seven bowls. At the end of these plagues, the expression of God’s wrath upon the earth would be complete.
Prayer
Great and mighty God, all I can do is to join with those to whom You gave victory over the Beast. “Great and marvelous are Your doings, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are Your ways, O King of Ages. Who shall not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your Name? For You alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous deeds have been disclosed” (Revelation 15:3-4 TLB).
LORD God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, You are worthy to receive all the praise of the ages and throughout eternity. You have continued to rescue Your people from the grasp of the Evil One and those who serve him. Thank You is not adequate to express the overwhelming gratitude in my heart for all You have done for me. May I live out the thanks I cannot fully express in words, by telling others what You have done and urging them to turn to You as well. AMEN
Action
Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.
- I will thank God continually for rescuing me from the path of sin and death I used to follow.
- I will tell someone how they can be rescued as well.
- I will thank God for rescuing me by showing His love to someone else in some way today.
- I will start a list of things God has rescued me from so that I can be specific when I thank Him.
Share
I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________