Revelation 15-16 (It is Finished) John sets forth another cycle of the judgment of God illustrated by seven plagues and then seven bowls of wrath. We are told here: “…seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.”__Revelation 15:1(ESV) Then later in same chapter we are told: “…no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.”___Revelation 15:8(ESV) In one sense this looks forward to the great day when God indeed will finally judge those who remain in opposition to him, but for us who believe in the Lamb the judgment is finished because it has fallen on him. When he hung on the cross those were his very words: “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”____John 19:30(ESV) Christ has fully satisfied the wrath of God for those who have faith in him. We can enter the sanctuary now because the plagues have fallen on Christ and are finished. The great goal of salvation is exactly that. It is to bring us into the presence of God that we may enjoy and worship him. If you read through the book of Revelation you will see John constantly circling back around to this. It is the recurring theme in the book of Revelation and the entire Bible. If you look at the wrath of God in the Bible it does not produce repentance in those who are under it. Notice that John says this more than once in Chapter 16: “They did not repent and give him glory” Vs 9 “They did not repent of their deeds.” Vs 11 “they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe.” Vs 21 The Psalms speak along these lines: “If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared”___Psalm 130:3-4(ESV) It is the mercy of Christ that wins over to God and recreates us into what we were intended to be. It is for this reason that we must strive to live under the grace of the Gospel every day. As Francis Schaffer said many years ago: “In every moment of time, our calling is to believe God. . . raise the empty hands of faith (we bring nothing to the table!). . . and let fruit flow out through us. Furthermore, Christian faith is never faith in faith, it is never without content, it is never a jump in the dark, it is always believing what God has said. And Christian faith rests upon Christ’s finished work on the cross.”
Posted on: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 02:56:01 +0000
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