When Jesus returns the people will mourn, lament and wail, but these reactions will not change the reality. Just as Trump’s inauguration evoked global responses so will the return of Christ. Now that I have risked running aground in fiery political topics we need to turn back to John’s prophecy. When John says that people will weep, mourn, wail that is but a precursor to what comes later. Just as many cast their allegiance against Trump the world will cast their allegiance against Jesus. It will be futile, but that futility will weld together their opposition. A difference will be that the world will rise to throw off the fetters of Jesus. So far, at least, America has had no rising against our elected leader.
Verse 3 versus verse 7
In Verse 3 John told of a blessedness. He said that those who read, understand and accept the words he put in the book of Revelation will be blessed. Accept Jesus’ reign and there is blessing that will come. Verse 7 tells of the opposite reaction, a default reaction. To be blessed you need to read, understand and accept. Weeping, mourning, wailing will come all the easier, but hurt all the more. Look briefly at the passage below from Romans as it further embellishes some of these ideas.
6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. (Romans 2:6-10–ESV)
Hopefully these contrasting reactions have painted the picture that you can grasp. For me the parallels are poignant and valuable.
God is God
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8–ESV)
God Almighty encompasses all things. In my first lesson on the book of Revelation I made the point that God is the source of all truth. God was present as initiator of the cosmos. He made mankind and gave them dominion over all these things. When he deems time is done he will close out the era as we have known it. These closing events are related in the book of Revelation.
The point for us is: what do we do with this. Foremost should be the acceptance of it. In a game of hide-and-seek after counting the seeker yells, “Ready or not here I come!” It does not really matter if one of the children hasn’t hidden themselves well enough the person who is “it” is coming after them. When Jesus comes back to the earth it will be a “ready-or-not moment.” People can and will take up sides against Jesus, but as is said in Psalm 2, “the one enthroned in heaven laughs.” He will not be happy over their demise, but rather his laughter is a fitting response to humanities futile resistance.
Here is a bit of a summary:
- Knowing God evokes worship. (Verse 6)
- Recognizing the God you have rejected will evoke terror. (Verse 7)
- God Almighty encompasses all things. (Verse 8)
This concludes our four week beginning in the book of Revelation. John’s Truth Challenge was that reading to understand would bring blessing. It has been working out that way for me as I have studied these words and I know it can be that way for you too. Read on! Study on! It is wail prevention, protection from mourning. It will be a blessing.
Leave a Reply