DAY 360

IT IS DONE

Haggai and Revelation 17

HAGGAI: when the first wave of Jewish exiles returned from Babylon to Jerusalem in 538 bc, they began to rebuild the temple but soon gave up. Inspired by the prophetic ministries of Haggai and Zechariah, they finally completed the task in 516. Haggai rebuked the people for living in “paneled houses” while the house of God remained in ruins (1:4). He warned that, despite their best efforts, their wealth would never suffice, because the Lord was not pleased with their neglect of his temple (see Lev. 26:2-20). He called them to repent and renew their covenant with the God of their fathers. He assured them that God would achieve his purposes for this people and for all nations. The rebuilding of the temple symbolized God’s restored presence among his people.

Today I want to comment on REVELATION 15:5—16:21 and the seven bowls of God’s wrath. I know today you are reading chapter 17, but I will take you back just a couple days. REVELATION 15:5—16:21 is Scene 5 of our drama—the title for this scene, Punishment for the World.

Two days ago I summarized where we had come to this point in REVELATION.

·         So far I have read of the Son of Man writing to “Seven Churches”—or to the essence of the One Church of every generation—we are not a perfect church and we have our foibles and challenges.

·         I have read of the “Seven Seals” the scene which shows the suffering which this every generation struggling (yet indestructible) church must endure knowing that the Seventh Seal—which is yet to opened—is the time when full victory will be won and rest will be achieved.

·         In parallel with the Church, the third scene blasts with “Seven Trumpets” warning the World. Again with the Seven as if these warning are the essence of what the world should worry about.

·         Lastly—at least up to this point—as I have been reading about the earthly struggle of the church and the world—I am given through John a glimpse of the cosmic conflict in the spiritual world as “Seven Visions” are shared of beasts, and angels, and the Lamb.

·         Seven Letters—Seven Seals—Seven Trumpets—Seven Visions: the point I think is that the REVELATION is showing us the essence of the full span of history.

In REVELATION 15:5—16:21, as the curtain rises we see the Sanctuary opened and seven angels coming out from it. My sense is that we would be filled with a sense of dread. These angels have similarities to the Son of Man in chapter one and they are carrying bowls “full of the wrath of God.” What do bowls that are full of God’s wrath look like? I cannot imagine, but my sense is one of terror and dread.

The Seven Trumpets were warning and their effect was only partial…the Seven Bowls are total destruction. Each Bowl is parallels the Trumpets. I find the fifth bowl remarkable. There is the throne of Satan, the bowl poured out upon it, and even in torment the men refuse to repent. The sixth bowl has an interesting twist. The fifth bowl is poured upon Satan’s throne…and he, Satan, knows it is over. Then when the sixth bowl is poured out, we see Satan stirring up the kings of the nations to fight against one another. All this leads is to the seventh bowl and we hear God say, “It is done.”

We might ask, "What is done?" The answer is the struggle of living in this world. It is graphic and it shows us the spiritual dimension to the conflict. Spiritually we know that this world is "not perfect" and we are "no perfect" because of Satan and sin. Satan and sin must be overthrown. Jesus has won the victory and we on earth are given the opportunity to respond to Jesus' love. Of course not everyone will and that is what the Seals and Trumpets and Visions are all about. It can be challenging to read, but the root spiritual reason for the sin, disease, and death in this world is Satan and sin...and until is he is fully defeated, the harassment will continue. And so the bowls are poured out and it is done.