Monday, April 1, 2013

A Look Back at Easter


Rev 15:1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete. 2 And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. 3 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! 4 Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested." 5 After these things I looked, and behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. 6 And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. 8 The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power, and no one was able to enter the temple till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed. Rev 16:1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth." 2 So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. 3 Then the second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man; and every living creature in the sea died. 4 Then the third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying: "You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things. 6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due." 7 And I heard another from the altar saying, "Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments."

A week removed from the glorious celebration of the resurrection of our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ, we take a look back, even as we look forward.

You see, it is only the resurrection of Christ that spares us from the wrath of God that we read about here in Revelation 15 and 16.

We really enjoy what God has done for us on a day like last Sunday, when the weather was perfect, and the worship uplifting, the Word of God spoken, the food tasty, and the fellowship sweet…

There are few days to compare with the special joy we have as The Church on Resurrection Day – and this past Resurrection Day was certainly one of those joyful days to remember!

But then we read of those who have not known Resurrection Day as we have. And we see the destruction of soul and material as God’s wrath is poured out in a very personal way on those who have refused to look upon the Risen Savior. Even when God’s wrath is poured out they refuse to look.

It is a tragic thing when people reject Jesus. But as tragic as it may be, their judgment is also justified, and true, and righteous – and all of us who have looked upon the Risen Savior will agree. Amen! So be it!

-Pastor Bill

No comments: