As
John continued to share concerning the events during the tribulation,
He wrote about the antichrist, the false prophet and angels who were
involved in the reaping of the harvest of believers who received the
Lord Jesus during that time.
John saw when, “seven
angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in
pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden
girdles. And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven
golden vials full of the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.
And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from
his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the
seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. And I heard a great
voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and
pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first
went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a
noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the
beast, and upon them which worshiped his image. And the second angel
poured out his vial upon the sea;
and
it became as the blood of a dead man:
and every living soul died in the sea. And the third angel poured out
his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became
blood. And I heard the angel of the waters say, you are righteous, O
Lord, which are, and was, and shall be, because you have judged
thus”,
and
in
chapter sixteen and verse six of Revelation John heard the reason for
the “blood” upon the waters - “they
have shed the blood of saints and prophets”
where
we read:
For
they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
The
verse reads, “For
they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
...”
John
began with the word, “for”
which means “because and since” “they
have shed”
or “the people who worship the antichrist have poured out, gushed
and spilled”
“the blood”
which means “the life giving blood” “of
saints”
or “of the pure, morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially
consecrated” “and
prophets”
which refers to “those who were moved by the Spirit of God and
hence his organ or spokesman and solemnly declared to men what they
have received by inspiration especially concerning future events and
in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to
human salvation”. The reason given for the “blood”
upon the waters on the earth was because people within the earth
“shed
the blood”
of God's “saints”
and “prophets”.
The
verse continues, “... and
you have given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.”
John
added the words, “and
you have given them”
which means “and God has granted, bestowed, furnished and supplied
these who worship the antichrist” “blood”
or
“bloodshed” “to
drink”
which means “to imbibe”;
“for”
or “because and since” “they
are worthy”
which means “these who worship the antichrist deserve, befit and
are due this judgment”. God gave those who opposed Him and rather
worshiped the antichrist “blood
to drink”
because they deserved to have the same as they gave.
When
we consider John's words in this verse, we are reminded of the “law
of reciprocity”. The Bible says, “Be
not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that
shall he also reap”
(Galatians 6:7), and these people who worshiped the antichrist and
killed God's “saints and prophets are receiving “reciprocal
judgments” for their ways. God does
not desire to bring this deserving judgment upon people, and if they
will only turn to Him and His Son Jesus from their wicked ways, they
shall be saved. Let all who read these words take note: God sees
those who oppose Him and His people, and He will repay them if they
do not repent. “Vengeance
is
mine; I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans
12:19)
Next
time John shares how he “heard
another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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