The Angry Nations Revelation 11:18

John the apostle shared how, “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever, and the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats,

fell upon their faces, and worshiped God, Saying, We give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which are, and was, and are to come; because you have taken to you your great power, and have reigned”, and in chapter eleven and verse eighteen of Revelation John shared how all the people “we give you thanks, O Lord God Almighty” where we read:

And the nations were angry, and your wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that you should give reward unto your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth.

The verse reads, “And the nations were angry, and your wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, ...” John began with the words, “and the nations” which means “and the multitudes associated together of the same nature or genus, tribes, people groups or companies” “were angry” or “were enraged, provoked and aroused to anger and wrath”, “and your wrath” which means “and God's anger, indignation and punishment inflicted” “is come” or “has arisen, made it's appearance, come forth and shown itself”, “and the time” or “and the due measure, opportune or seasonable time” “of the dead” which means “pertaining to the one who has breathed his last, deceased, departed, destitute of life and inanimate”, “that they” or “that those who no longer living” “should be judged” which means “are to be separated, put asunder, resolved, decreed, subject or censure and examined”. Though the “nations” around the world were “angry” with God because of the pouring out of His wrath in judgment, the time for them to be “judged and examined” was at hand.

The verse goes on to say, “... and that you should give reward unto your servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear your name, small and great; and should destroy them which destroy the earth. ”. John continued with the words, “and that you” which means “and so God” “should give reward” or “would provide, grant, bestow, furnish and supply dues paid for work, wages and hire” “unto your servants” which means “toward God's ministers, bondmen and people of servile condition” “the prophets” or “men filled with the Spirit of God, who by God's authority and command in words of weight pleads the cause of God and urges salvation of men”, “and to the saints” which refers to “and toward the pure, morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated”, “and them” or “and the people whether male or female” “that fear” which means “who reverence, venerate, treat with deference and reverential obedience” “your name” or “everything which God's name covers including everything within His thoughts or feelings of which is aroused in His mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering”, “small” which means “of lesser rank or influence” “and great” or “people who are eminent for ability, virtue, authority and power”; “and should destroy them” which means “and God will ruin, consume and kill the people” “which destroy” or “who ruin, consume and kill” “the earth” which refers to “the arable land, country, territory and region”. God's time of judgment was to come not only to provide “rewards” to those who “serve” Him, but also to bring “destruction” upon those who have caused “destruction” upon the earth.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we see how the “anger” of the nations because of God's judgment upon them will not deter His punishment. They shall rebel against God and His offer of “salvation” through His Son Jesus, and therefore will be judged by Him. However, equally as true, those who have been God's “servants and prophets” will be “rewarded” at this time. God desires for people to have a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and if they will humble themselves and submit to Him, He will “save” them from this awful punishment. But, if they don't receive Him, their fate shall be that of these “nations”, and their “anger and wrath” will not alter His justice at all.

Next time John shares how the “the temple of God was opened in heaven” 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.