The last few days we've been reading about the opening of the seals and the trumpets sounding in Revelation. And now we hear in Revelation 9 about the plagues coming upon those who have NOT the mark of God in their forehead. Revelation 9:6 says, "And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them."
And still, despite the plagues being poured out... there is no repentance... It's hard to imagine such a day, and yet that is the day we are preparing for even now. People are becoming so hardened in sin, so hardened in their vice, that their consciences have been seared with a hot iron, and despite the judgements of God falling upon them, there is no remorse for sin.
But I want to back up and comment on a verse that I missed in earlier chapters.
Revelation 7:14-17. Here we see described a people who have been through tribulation and suffering but have come out conquerors.
"These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his templed: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more: neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."
What comfort for us today!
I love the following passage from Inspiration:
In all ages the Saviour’s chosen have been educated and disciplined in the school of trial. They walked in narrow paths on earth; they were purified in the furnace of affliction. For Jesus’ sake they endured opposition, hatred, calumny. They followed Him through conflicts sore; they endured self-denial and experienced bitter disappointments. By their own painful experience they learned the evil of sin, its power, its guilt, its woe; and they look upon it with abhorrence. A sense of the infinite sacrifice made for its cure humbles them in their own sight and fills their hearts with gratitude and praise which those who have never fallen cannot appreciate. They love much because they have been forgiven much. Having been partakers of Christ’s sufferings, they are fitted to be partakers with Him of His glory. (Great Controversy, p. 649)What a contrast! We suffer... but we are purified through suffering! And one day, all tears will be wiped away. Praise the Lord!
Tomorrow's Reading: Obadiah, Ps. 142-143
No comments:
Post a Comment