The Seventh Trumpet

So much confusion...so much destruction.....now comes judgment.

Have you been wondering how it is possible that the people living in these days will not turn to God in the face of all that will occur? We already read that "the people who did not die in the plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols." One-third of the world's population has been decimated, and yet there is no repentance?

The prophets have spoken, been killed, and resurrected. They ascended to heaven in a cloud, and after an earthquake, it seems some now believe. "Everyone else (who didn't die in the earthquake) was terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven." In the midst of the confusion, some have turned to their idols, and now others to the Living God.

At the sound of the seventh trumpet, loud voices are heard proclaiming the final triumph of God and Christ over the world. This moment seems to mark the blending of the millennial kingdom with the eternal kingdom. "The world has now become the kingdom of our Lord and and his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever." This is the announcement of the reign of the King, but we are left waiting for the final breaking of the enemies' hold on the world which will occur once and for all with the return of Christ.

I thought there would be some sense of relief at this point in the reading. But there is something ominous about the final judgment, which is about take place:

The nations were filled with wrath, but now the time of your wrath has come. It is time to judge the dead and reward your servants the prophets, as well as your holy people, and all who fear your name, from the least to the greatest. It is time to destroy all who have caused destruction on the earth.

Our God is just and he is holy. While the sufferings of those living in these days will be unspeakable, so will it be for all who die outside of Christ. Our Righteous Judge will either reward or condemn everyone.

That fact should cause us to shiver....and kneel at the manger of the Christ Child. May our look ahead to the end times cause us to take a fresh look at Christmas as we celebrate Immanuel, God with us. He is The One who provided the way of escape - our Deliverer.