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plagues and the future

Revelation 15:1-8

Revelation 15:1 Then I saw another great and awe-inspiring sign in the sky: seven agents with the seven last plagues; for with them God’s wrath will be completed.
Revelation 15:2 I also saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who had won the victory over the wild animal, its image, and the number of its name, were standing on the sea of glass with harps from God.
Revelation 15:3 They sang the song of God’s slave Moses and the song of the Lamb: Great and awe-inspiring are your works, Lord God, the Almighty; just and true are your ways, King of the nations.
Revelation 15:4 Lord, who will not fear and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All the nations will come and worship before you because your righteous acts have been revealed.
Revelation 15:5 After this I looked, and the sky temple — the tabernacle of testimony — was opened.
Revelation 15:6 Out of the temple came the seven agents with the seven plagues, dressed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes wrapped around their chests.
Revelation 15:7 One of the four animals gave the seven agents seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God who lives for ages and ages.
Revelation 15:8 Then the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven agents were completed.

plagues and the future

First the good news: When God’s wrath is finished – there will have been a harvest of worshippers who praise him for his great deeds and holy ways. This will happen in spite of the bad news. During this time the earth will not be at peace or without pain. Instead, terrible plagues will destroy the lives of millions.

The common denominator for both the good news of redemption and the bad news of wrath is God’s holiness. The same holiness which punishes this planet for its rebellion also rescues believers by the blood of the Lamb.

LORD, may we endure your wrath and celebrate your grace. May the gospel of salvation through faith in Jesus be our constant chorus.