Revelation
Last night in Bible Study we continued with our study of Revelation.It was intense but great!
As we read chapters 6 and 7 we were given a picture of what will take place before the return of Christ. And trust me, its a pretty terrifying picture!
Conquest, war, poverty and inequality, death, persecution, judgement and God's wrath. There are people calling for rocks to fall on them so they will escape the the wrath of the Lamb (6:16). Yup, you may look at the world, and it has been and what it is and where it is leading and see a lot of bad, but this is actually terrifying...
that is if you end at chapter 6; If you are not a God follower it is likely you are one of those to be hiding amongst the rocks.
But thankfully, (and i do not say it lightly) because of Jesus and the love and mercy of our great Lord, it doesnt end there for us all. Chapter 7 offers comfort. They offer a beautiful image of what it will be like once the other side of this judgment has been reached. After one has persevered through the death, poverty and persecution. And man does it make you want to persevere!
6:16 we have a vengeful Lamb to be afraid of.
7:17 that same Lamb is our Shepherd.
These verses provide us with a stark contrast.
And it definately shows that it actually really does matter what side you are on!
Let me leave you with part of this beautiful image we should be both comforted by and striving for:
"Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the centre of the
throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear
from their eyes."
Rev 7:16-17
After the image of poverty and death i know which i'd rather face!
In Him,
Chelsea
3 Comments:
a challenging reflection dude; cheers for posting that :)
I choose life and 'no hunger'.
Hey Chels -- Great the you are studying Revelation. Have you heard the view that Chapters 4-7 are speaking not of the future [ie just before the return of Christ], but of the present in light of the future.
ie Everything you read there is happening in the first century [The 'present' hearers of the Revelation], and it is explaining to persecuted and hurting believers that what they see, hear, taste, touch and smell is not the only reality that matters...
And certainly not the only reality on which to make the decision to take or leave the faith.
Just to prompt thoughts.
hey thanks justin!
yeah i think scott explained it as what will happen between the vision then and return of Christ, so that still works with it been at the present hey....as in what was happening at the time of the vision type thing?
But yeah hadnt really heard it explained in that way, thats cool! thank you!
I guess its kinda like that temptation to read things and always have this desire to apply them to your present and future, rahter than in which they were written...
But i guess with revelation it works with both??
hmm i dont know if i made any sense just then...
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