Wow! There is a lot to take in here in these verses!!
I think part of what makes this confusing to me is that it is not written in the order of events that seems like a logical progression to me. In true Hebrew style, it circles around, coming back to a thought, restating in a different way what has already been said with significance found in the middle of the "circle". This goes against my "Western" mindset and when I'm ready to hear what comes next, the text swings back with no warning! Ahhhhhhhh!
However, this is an important note to make because this is the way this book is written and it really helps to keep this mind. God knows us so well that he knew we'd need to have his words and their meanings be repeated over and over and over again because we have the attention span of a flea. No offence against fleas...
The 4th vision shows a victorious church after Judgement Day. Yay! A vision I like to stay with for awhile:)
Because in the next vision (5) we're back to things on earth before Judgement Day. The message continues circling this truth - the gospel will continue to be preached, the enemies of God will get their comeuppance, the promise of the fires in hell for unbelievers and the promise for a life of glory in heaven for believers.
Vision 6 is the judgement of the harvest on Judgement Day by Jesus, holding the sharp sickle. The whole wine thing/grapes through me off at first because number 1 - I like wine. And number 2 - it's usually been a good thing referred to in the Bible i.e.. Jesus turns water into wine and we receive his blood of forgiveness through the wine offered in the Lord's Supper. But the grapes are wicked as referred to here! TPB writes, "The fact that the grapes are ripe means that their wickedness has matured to the limit God set for it. John explains that the winepress is God's wrath." Yikes. Won't be making that mistake again!
Again, these words are meant for comfort for believers and the harsh reality for unbelievers. Oh, if more people would believe this message! May God continue to use us through his Word to reach these lost souls! Time is short ...
1 comment:
I agree, Rachel, that the circular "timeline" of this writing is a challenge. Again, I'm just thankful to have help with the interpretation. Attention span of a flea. Absolutely. God is patient with us!
Oh, the new song! I was a part of some awesome choirs in my pre-motherhood life. Singing with a large choir is a great joy for me. I miss that. But to sing in heaven with countless saints from all time, all with voices from glorified bodies, and with hearts untainted by sin... It's hard for me to imagine anything better!
I love the last paragraph of our devotional reading for this day.
And Rachel, thank you for that reminder about reaching lost souls. When the text starts talking about the horrors of judgment for unbelievers, I think part of my brain kind of tunes out waiting for the next victorious section to come around. But you are right - the horrors of God's wrath should remind us that we have something that can save our fellow humans from an eternity of torment. Lord, give us the courage to lovingly share what we have.
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