And the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun;
and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire.
And men were scorched with great heat, and
blasphemed the name of God, which hath power
over these plagues: and they repented not to give
him glory. And the firth angel poured out his vial
upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was
full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues
for pain, and blasphemed the God of heaven
because of their pains and their sores, and
repented not of their deeds.
Revelation 16:8-11
Once again we can see the wrath of God upon the ungodly. Nothing would or will bring them to acknowledge God or the Messiah to repentance. The fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun. Why the sun? The sun is great energy, power, and hot. Furthermore the sun rules the atmosphere. Remove the sun and cold is created. Bring back the sun and warmth, life, even comfort is created. The sun though with all its possibilities of goodness can also bring death. We must notice that the vial having been poured out on the sun did not kill but scorched. To scorch something is burn slightly, to affect color, or taste (burned toast comes to mind), or to shrivel, a superficial burn. Fire is cleansing but when this heat, this fire causes scorching men, although alive, blaspheme the name of God. What does blaspheme mean? it is speak impiously, or irreverently of God, or of sacred things, to speak evil, and to utter impieties. This power this scorching should bring men and women to know that God is a God of power and that God is bringing plagues upon them for only God could cause this to happen to them and with all this they would or will not repent and give glory to God. What if they did? God is merciful and when a man or woman truly repents of their sinfulness God will forgive. These people will not do this so they must suffer this great heat. Is this the actual sun? No! This analogy must not be lost and make it to be a literal sun but to know that God uses means to bring people to Himself even if it means to use fire. Paul writes: "Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire: and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire" (1Corinthians 3:13-15). Peter gives hope: "Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need by, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1Peter 1:6-7). "But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (2Peter 3:7). We have warning that fire can be used to destroy ungodly men: "Even as Sodom and Gommorah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude7). Again fire is used by God to cleanse and although many will come to glory as though by fire, to be scorched due to their sinfulness know that they must hate this world with all it fading glory and hate sinful flesh, will be saved: And some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh" (Jude 22-23). Sometimes it takes the heat from God to bring a person to the realization that they need God. Yet, they needlessly go through trial and have the need of the wrath of God upon them. So then, would it not be better to never get into that situation?
The fifth angel pours out his vial upon the seat of the beast. Who can this beast be? The beast is one that opposes the truth of God, opposes God in several different ways while attempting to be an authentic church, but is not! Jesus says: "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in they name? and in they name have cast out devils? and in they name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:22-23"). You cannot just say that you are a Christian and that you love God, Jesus, and do many wonderful things and think that this will save you. You are full of darkness and follow after the beast. When you hear the truth you cry out in pain gnawing your tongues to defend your false teaching and by this you will be blaspheming God. They hear the truth of God but their hearts are full of darkness and they will not repent of their deeds. The doctrines of the Mormons who claim to the "Latter Day Saints of Jesus Christ" and see that their Jesus is not the Jesus of the Bible. See how the Jehovah Witnesses say that Jesus is an angel, and this is contrary to Scripture. The Roman Catholic Church that teaches that they are the true church when their doctrines and practices are not Scriptural. Yes, they hear the truth but will not accept the truth. I do hope that you are not of this kind, rather are of the kind that hear the truth and repent and believe upon Jesus and be saved when the wrath of God comes to a completion and Jesus returns for His bride.
And it shall come to pass,
that like as I have watched
over them, to pluck up, and to
break down, and destroy,
and to afflict; so will I watch
over them, to build, and to
plant, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 31:28
Avoid the heat, the darkness: believe on God
Richard L. Crumb
No comments:
Post a Comment