Sandyford Henderson Memorial Church

THIS chapter prepares us for the final fury of God’s wrath descending on the wicked. First, God’s people are portrayed as victors over the vanquished devil and his agents. This vision deliberately takes us back to the great deliverance the people of Israel experienced when they crossed the Red Sea dryshod from slavery in Egypt and their pursuers were drowned in the returning waters. The Bible always sees the Red Sea deliverance as a foreshadowing of the victory Jesus has won for us on the Cross. We should praise the Lord today in the words of vv 3-4 just as the saints ever praise Him in Heaven. We praise Him because we can contribute nothing to our salvation. He does it all - indicated by God providing the harps for His redeemed people in glory.

            When John sees the inner tabernacle of the Testimony opened it underlines the fact that the following acts of judgment and wrath do indeed come from the Lord. It is “time up” for the wicked of the world. No one could enter the temple to offer prayer and intercession; the door of salvation is finally shut in the face of evil-doers. Let us make every effort by prayer and witness to bring the message of salvation to the people around us because time is rapidly running out for them.

            The final judgment described here isn’t meant to stand for any particular historical time but for the period between Jesus’ return to Heaven (see Acts Ch 1) and His Second Coming at the end of time. This is when we are to make known to the whole world the salvation to be found in Jesus. Nevertheless, the door of mercy is being shut on unbelievers, chiefly when they die, but also when the Lord ceases to strive with those who repeatedly reject the Gospel. Let us take this truth seriously and ask the Lord to give us a burden for the lost.