Revelation 6:12

“The Wrath of the Lamb”

Revelation 6:12-14 says, “And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved of their places.”

We were told in the previous verses of the war and famine and death which shall come upon all the world during the time of the great tribulation. These verses go on to describe other events that are a part of the great tribulation. Perhaps these verses describe the effect of nuclear war upon the atmosphere. Or perhaps God simply uses natural disasters. It is very likely that is it’s a combination of nuclear war and physical disasters.

Why would God take away the light of the sun moon and stars? Physical light symbolizes spiritual light. Perhaps during this time of the great tribulation God takes away the physical light so that men will see just how great is there need for spiritual light.

Revelation 6:15-17 says, “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and very free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

It is evident there will be a certain understanding among the lost people of the world that the events taking place is the wrath of God and the judgment of God. Its amazing to think that these men do not repent of their sins and turn to Jesus knowing and understanding this truth. Instead of repenting they seek to hide from God much in the same way that Adam hid from God in the garden of Eden.

God is all powerful and all knowing and everywhere present. There is no place to hide from Him. Psalms 139:8-12 says, “If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”

Revelation 6:17, “for the great day of His wrath is come: and who shall be able to stand?” Who shall be able to stand is a question easily answered. Those who stand in the righteousness of Christ shall be able to stand.

To know the truth and to face the judgment of God during the great tribulation and yet still refuse to repent of sin to Jesus is to have a heart as hard as a rock. No wonder these judgments must come.

But in thinking about judgment we should always remember how Jesus was judged for our sins. How He suffered and how He died so that we might be able to stand before His throne to stand in His righteousness.

The book of Ezekiel describes the judgment of God on Jesus when it says in Ezekiel 31:15-16, “In the day when he went down to the grave I caused a mourning: I covered the deep for him, and I restrained the floods thereof, and the great waters were stayed: And I caused Lebanon to mourn for him, and all the trees of the field fainted for him. I made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall, when I cast him down to hell. ”

What a sorrow and what a tragedy it is that so many billions of mankind will refuse to repent of their sins to Jesus even during the great tribulation.

Revelation chapter 7:1-3, “And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.”

Its interesting to notice that some of the judgments are withheld for a time because of the believers. The work God does in this world is centred around brining people to Christ for salvation. Therefore if a particular judgment comes or does not come or if a particular judgment is withheld for a time it is because of those who will be saved.

In talking about those who would come to Jesus for salvation the Jews are mentioned first. Revelation 7:4-8, “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.”

Perhaps this is one of the primary purposes of the great tribulation to bring Israel to be saved. After all the Gentiles had their opportunities for thousands of years. What a blessing and an encouragement it is to know that so many Jews will at last bow before the feet of Jesus. Yes it will take great sorrow and woe and judgment to break their hearts to repentance. If there can be such a marvelous work of salvation in the hearts of men during the great tribulation then surely here and now during the age of grace there can be too.

Don’t underestimate the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yes we live in a wicked world a world that has heard the gospel over and over yet still there is hope for the hard hearts of men. God is working in the hearts of men in this age of grace so that men might be saved just as he will work in the hearts of men during the great tribulation.

Perhaps the Spirit of God is touching your heart and telling you of your need to repent of your sins to Jesus. Please do so today. Today is the day of salvation. Turn from your sins to the loving Savoir.

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