Reading: Revelation 8:1-9:20

We’re separated here by 4 events and then 3 events. Same thing in chapter 6. 4 seals first, then the 3 additional seals. Remember what I said about the same event, multiple views?

Additionally. Pay attention to chapter 9 verse 4. Who’s not getting harmed? Those who are sealed with the seal of God on their forehead. Except, all I remember hearing about (in regards to marks on foreheads) is the mark of the beast. 666. Anybody else? Yet, multiple times now, we’ve seen a mark on God’s people. And. Because of that seal, they’re not harmed. Kind of like the Jewish people were not harmed during the Egyptian plagues. Remember. This is initially written to them. When they see this language about locusts, and blood in the water, they’re thinking about the stories great-grandpa used to tell about Egypt.

Another thing I find compelling is: if you go look up how long the siege of Jerusalem lasted—like—when the Romans finally invaded the city, you’ll read it “occurred from April 14 to September 8 in CE 70.” That is: May, June, July, August, September—5 months of torment and torture in the city of Jerusalem before it was destroyed. I ask you, “Is it possible that’s what John is talking about?”

Regardless, when we read about trees dying and the earth going black, and all these locusts, and 1/3rd of humanity dying (that’s billions of people) people start freaking out. And. “When is this going to happen?” But. The truth is: it doesn’t matter, if you’re sealed. Right?

Plus, people get hung up on this number: 1/3rd. They’re like, “How could a good God kill 1/3rd of humanity? So let me give you my insincere answer first—because I have a reputation to uphold—“Thank God it wasn’t 3/3rds.” Right? But. People, I guess, skeptics, in order to justify themselves, say, “How can a loving God kill anyone? If He’s ultimately in charge how can He allow death to a third of humanity? Furthermore, if He’s so good and just how can He send anyone into hell? If it’s eternal torment, He seems like a cosmic narcissist.”

Ok. Well. First of all, the God of the bible didn’t create death. We did that. There was no sin or death in the beginning, only the potential for it, and the promise was that it would come if we disobeyed. Which we did, and God was true to His Word.

More importantly, though, Jesus talks about the end of time in Matthew 25. And He says, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. That should sound familiar, we’re in the middle of it here in Revelation. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Now here’s the part you need to pay attention to: “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for who? the devil and his angels.’”

See. Hell was never meant for you. It was never meant for any human. People always want to say, “If God would just show up to me, if He’d make Himself known…then I’d believe.” I mean. Maybe. However, the devil and his angels lived with God! In Heaven. Potentially for millions of years. We don’t know. What we do know is he rebelled, and didn’t repent—and according to Jesus, those who don’t repent are removed from His presence.

So. Plain thing, main thing. What’s plain? What’s plain is: God takes sin seriously. What if we took our sin as serious as God did? Secondly, God takes grace seriously. How good is God that all of humanity doesn’t die? That those who are sealed don’t experience the same outcome as those who aren’t. Here’s the big idea: There’s a type of death that worse than physical death, but it was never meant for you.

With Gratitude,

pLJ