29 December

Bible In 365 Days                    

Revelation 13-16

Revelation 13

Still reviewing the process, a beast is seen as the agent of Satan. It is the Antichrist, who is counterfeit of Christ. He appears with the signs and symbols of kingship. He is characterized by attractiveness, for the whole earth wonders after him, and is constrained to worship. It is the ultimate blasphemy of the counterfeiting of God's anointed King by Satan.

Yet another beast is portrayed, and in him the deception is still carried forward further. The methods he employs are a counterfeiting of those which mark the activity of the Spirit. Nevertheless, they are all rendered valueless by the erection at the center of his propaganda of an idol representative of his master. As the counterfeit ever demonstrates the existence of the genuine, so the genuine makes opportunity for the presence and activity of the counterfeit. Imitations have ever formed the gravest perils in the history of the Church and the world, and the devil's final attempt to gain the government of the race will thus be an appalling attempt to imitate the Person of God's crowned and anointed King. The mental enlightenment of the race by that time will admit of no positive denial of the existence of God or of the reality of the spiritual. The world, therefore, must be deceived by misrepresentation.

Revelation 14

The attention of the seer was now turned again to the heavenly order. The redeemed are seen standing with the Lamb, a company of obedient souls who follow Him "whithersoever He goeth."

In distinction from the seventh angel who had sounded the trumpet John now refers to "another angel." At this point the unfallen angels are described as exercising a remarkable ministry on earth. The first of them proclaims eternal good tidings. Yet another proclaims the fall of Babylon. The Gospel calling men to submission having been sounded, and the defeat of Babylon announced "another angel, a third," goes forth with a message of warning. In this proclamation the continuity of the divine recognition of human will is evident. All are called on to choose. The beast and the prophet insist that men receive their mark, and those refusing are slain. On the other hand, God's angel messenger warns against receiving that mark.

It is in that connection that it was announced, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth." To those who through terrible suffering are faithful unto death will be granted the way of entry on the higher service.

A double view of impending judgment is given in the figures of the harvest and the vineyard. As to the harvest, it is briefly stated, "He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped." That sweep of the sickle in the right hand of the Son of man is a perfect symbol of the final and all-inclusive judgment. The figure of the vintage is an angel holding a sickle and gathering "the clusters of the vine of the earth."

Revelation 15

Seven angels having seven plagues constitute that which "finished the wrath of God." First, the seer beheld the sea of glass and, standing by, the victorious host who had overcome the beast. They are seen, not as defeated and killed, but as triumphant and living. They sing the song of Moses, which is the song of law, and the song of the Lamb, which is the song of love. They have learned perfectly how law and love mingle and merge in the divine economy. The burden of song is praise to the Lord God Almighty. His words, His ways, His character, His acts are all referred to. Through all the terrible times of stress and strain these souls have walked by faith.

Now for them at last faith is lost in sight, and they chant the praise of God whom they served even at the cost of suffering and death.

Following this vision of the victorious hosts, John beheld the opening of a temple in heaven. It is "the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony." From it come the seven angels having the seven final plagues. To these angels the bowls of wrath are given by one of the living ones. Behind these angels is seen in the temple the glory of God in such magnificence and majesty that none can know it until the judgment is fullled.

Revelation 16

A condensed and graphic description of the processes of judgment on the rebellious and sinful race follows. Evil has wrought itself out to its most terrible expression, and now it is to be smitten without mercy.

Everything opened with a great voice sounding from the temple. Terrible physical suffering follows the pouring out of each of the first four bowls. The fifth angel pours his bowl, and the kingdom of the beast is wrapped in darkness. Notwithstanding the unimaginable terror of their condition, the evil men still "blasphemed the God of heaven," and "they repented not of their works."

The sixth angel pours his bowl, and there is a change in the method of judgment. The great river Euphrates is dried up. The drying up of this river makes easy the gathering together of the kings of the earth to do battle against the hosts of God. Then comes Armageddon.

In the midst of all this John seems to hear a word of Christ, and answers it in a parenthesis. It announces His coming, and pronounces blessing on those who watch. In all these processes of judgment it would seem that a remnant was continually being lifted into the position of submission and loyalty, and every now and again some such word as this declares the watchfulness and tenderness of God and His readiness to receive and rescue from the judgments those who turn to Him.

The seventh angel pours his bowl upon the air, and the voice from the temple is again heard crying, "It is done." The all-permeating power of God which has operated in beneficent gentleness now shakes the earth, and the judgment of Babylon takes place. Yet again it is written that men still blaspheme God.