BIBLE READING

Revelation 6: 9-17

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’ Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.

I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig-tree when shaken by a strong wind. The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?’

REFLECTION

In the midst of all this pain and suffering, God’s people, the church, are crying out to Him for relief and justice and for Him to do something:

“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?’ Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers and sisters, were killed just as they had been.” (vv 9-11)

'How long O God!!! How much longer do we have to endure this? Why aren’t you doing anything? If you are King and if you rule – why don’t you defeat those who are killing us?' It’s a cry for justice, for God to act on their behalf.

What’s God’s response?

He gives them a white robe. Do you remember what that means? They are covered with the righteousness of Jesus. They are clean, pure and holy in God’s sight. How did they become righteous – because Jesus suffered for them and look what it accomplished – so stay faithful in your own suffering. It accomplishes more than you realise.

And God then also says: "Wait a while longer – there will be more deaths, more persecution, more martyrs – but God wants to wait before He steps in with final judgment."

Why? Because He wants to give more people time to repent. He is so patient, so loving, that He wants to wait as long as possible so that everyone has a chance to hear the Gospel and turn to Him in repentance and faith.

In 2 Peter, we read the same written to a church undergoing extreme pressure:

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

There’s a difference between God being slow and God being patient.

When it comes to judging those who have wronged us or who are seeking to hurt us, we don’t want him to be slow or patient – God, get them!

But what about us – before we came to Christ? I’m so glad He was patient with me. He gave me chance after chance to hear the about Jesus.

What about those we love, those in our families who don’t yet know God? We want Him to be patient. Give them another chance.

So God reassures His people, that He will act, He will decisively judge the wicked. But not yet. His patience towards sinners doesn’t mean He is tolerant of sin. He has to let sin and evil run it’s full course, knowing that as it does, many will reject Him and remain hardhearted, but many will also turn to Him.

Look at the end of chapter 6:

“Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?’” (15-17)

Even non-believers, as they see how awful the world has become around them when God removes His restraint and protection, the devastation their own choices have caused, they cry out for mercy.

Look at their language: ‘the wrath of the lamb’.

The spotless lamb who was slain, this Jesus, who they crucified, they now realise He wasn’t just a man, or a prophet, or a teacher, or another religious leader – He was the King and judge of all the earth. They at last see Him as He is.

Let me say this very clearly - God is never the source of evil, He is never ever the cause of wickedness. The Bible makes that very clear. But God can and will, at times, use even evil and sin against itself, for His own greater purposes and plans.

He may at times let us see and experience sin and wickedness so that we will see it for what it is. We will look at it and find it so repugnant, so disgusting, so vile – that we turn away from it and turn towards Him.

That’s what Joseph in the Old Testament realised as he looked back over his life – sold as a slave, falsely accused, forgotten in prison. And yet at the end of it all he says this to his brothers:

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Gen 50:20)

And of course Romans 8:28:

“..we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i]have been called according to his purpose.”

It doesn’t say that all things that happen are good. And it doesn’t even say that God works for the good of everyone. It says that if you love Him, He can take whatever happens to you, the sorrow, the suffering and even the pain, and He can bring good out of it.

Why? Because we are His.

On this Good Friday, we look at the cross. We remember that in the midst of the most horrific pain, hopelessness and loss - God was accomplishing the redemption of all humanity.

What looked like defeat was the greatest victory in history.

Have a wonderful Easter as you celebrate the Risen Saviour!