Today’s reading is Revelation 9.
The trumpets from Revelation 8 and 9 are intense. Hail and fire mixed with blood, a great burning mountain thrown into the sea, a fallen star poisoning the water, heavenly lights darkened, an army of locusts with scorpion tails, and a cavalry on horses with lion heads and serpent tails. Grass, trees, and other vegetation burnt. Water turned to blood. Sea creatures dying and ships destroyed. People dying from poisoned water. People in pain for five months, longing for death, but not able to die. A third of mankind killed by fire, smoke, and sulfur.
What is all this about?
Revelation 9:20-21 explains:
The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality of their thefts (ESV).
These devastations were intended to bring about repentance. We can’t help but think of similar plagues released on Egypt in Exodus 7-12. Nor can we miss the similar response. Pharaoh refused to repent.
A Message for the Seven Churches
Now, here’s the point we must not miss. John is not writing to the seven cities of Asia. He’s writing “to the seven churches that are in Asia” (Revelation 1:4, ESV). John is not warning the cities. He is warning the congregations. When John recorded specific messages for each of the seven churches he called five of them to repent. And now that call is repeated.
Ephesus needed to repent and do their first works or the Lord would come and remove its lampstand (Revelation 2:5). Pergamum needed to repent of the idolatrous, Balaamite, Nicolaitan teaching and practices some were dabbling in or Jesus would war against them with the sword of His mouth (Revelation 2:16). In Thyatira, Jezebel and those following her idolatrous immorality needed to repent or she would be thrown into a sickbed and into great tribulation and He would strike her children dead (Revelation 2:21-23). Sardis had a reputation of life, but was actually dead. Jesus called her to repent and wake up or like a thief He would come against her at an hour she didn’t expect (Revelation 3:3). Lukewarm Laodicea had become far too much like the city and culture around her. Jesus promised discipline because He loved her. Then charged her to be zealous and repent (Revelation 3:19).
Then in Revelation 9, John gives a picture of incredible warnings and follows it up with the sad story that despite all this, folks didn’t repent. I think we need to recognize John’s message in Revelation 8-9 is not merely to Christians to hang on because God will ultimately judge and defeat the enemy. John’s message is also, perhaps primarily, to the faltering Christians in the congregations to whom he was writing. The message: Repent! This is the kind of thing that happens to those who don’t repent. In fact, it will get worse. Just wait until we see the bowls of wrath and judgment poured out on those who do not heed the trumpet warnings.
The fact is, the five churches he called to repentance, apart from John’s message, had no impetus to repent. It seemed as if what they were doing was working. They had good reputations. They were financially well off. They were at peace. They were getting along with Rome, they were looking a great deal like the cities around them, and they seemed to be rewarded for it. In fact, if they did repent, things might get bad for them. The Imperial cult and the pagan worshipers might gang up against them. They might lose their wealth and peace and face more persecution and more martyrs. The story as the Christians and churches were seeing it, didn’t provoke repentance. John provided the rest of the story. John provided God’s perspective on the story. If the churches or the sinning members of the churches didn’t repent, these trumpets were for them.
Don’t Wait for a Sign to Repent
We need to keep one final point in mind. John was not saying, “Wait until you see a star fall from heaven that poisons the water to repent.” John was saying, “Repent right now.” John wasn’t trying to foretell future events that should be seen as signs for the time to repent. Rather, John was providing the heavenly perspective on the future of those who were lured by Rome and the idolatry and immorality rampant in her cities. His message to the churches was, “Repent now! You do not want to be on Rome’s side when God brings judgment.”
Perhaps now is a good time for us to personally review those seven direct messages to the churches. Where do we find ourselves and our congregations in those messages. Does Jesus call us to repent? If so, let’s not wait to see some heavenly sign. Let’s take John’s letter as the sign and repent.
Tomorrow’s reading is Revelation 9.
PODCAST!!!
PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family
How does Revelation 9 prompt or improve your praise of God?
Read the Bible 