Title: Five Attributes of God's Judgment
Revelation (66) The Five Attributes of God's Judgment (Revelation 16:1-7)
<Five Principles of Judgment>
In the book of Revelation, the end times are described in the order of seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls of judgment. However, it is not depicted in a parallel order, but the judgment of the seven trumpets is depicted when the seventh seal is opened, and the seven great judgments are depicted when the seventh trumpet is blown. After all, the judgment of the seven seals is a general description of the final judgment, the judgment of the seven trumpets is a more detailed description of what will happen later in time than the seven seals, and the judgment of the seven trumpets is a more detailed description of what will happen later than the seven trumpets Described are the seven bowl judgments.
The text describes three of the seven bowl judgments (verses 2-4). In particular, the third angel said, “Holy One, who was and is, and is now! You are righteous in judging like this. Because they have shed the blood of the saints and prophets, it is fitting that you give them blood.” The heavenly altar responds that God's judgment is true and just (verse 7). This scene teaches five attributes of God's judgment.
1. God's Judgment Is Sure
Without God's judgment, all creatures and people in the universe would be like cars without brakes. The universe moves in an orderly fashion without any error, and just thinking about that order makes us realize that God's judgment is sure to exist. Human beings do not fall into pride when they are deeply aware of the fact that God's judgment exists. Alexander the Great's father, Philip II, had his servants greet each morning like this: “O great king! Do not forget that you must die.” Just like that, do not forget that one day you will die and stand before the judgment seat of God, and you should always pursue an existence-oriented life instead of a material-oriented life.
2. God's Judgment Is Very Severe
How serious are the three bowl judgments in the text? Still, I can't tell you what God is like. To say “God is a cruel God, not a God of love” while ignoring God is even more disrespectful of God. If you look on the Internet, there are people who intentionally despise God. When I see people like that, it seems like they are determined to be ruined and are clenching their teeth and fighting against God. Although we are ignoring God to our heart's content now, the day will come when we will realize how terrifying the consequences of our actions are at the time of the final judgment. Judgment for easily teasing the lips at that time will not be light and easy.
3. God's Judgment Is True and Just
God's judgment is a just and accurate judgment without error or partiality (verse 5). People think that Jesus loved the poor more than the rich. It is true that Jesus loved the poor when he said to the rich young man who was seeking eternal life, “Sell what you have and give to the poor” (Matthew 19:21). However, it does not necessarily take the poor side. Jesus delights in righteous riches more than unrighteous poverty. In Leviticus 19:15, we are told not to take sides with the poor, and not to rule over those in authority, but to judge people with justice. It is not justice to be on the side of poverty, but justice to be on the side of justice.
4. God's judgment is a reward judgment.
Because those who are being judged shed the blood of the saints and prophets, they deserve God's judgment. God's judgment contains the wrath of God for the unbelievers and has a compensatory meaning for the believers. God's judgment is the day when all the injustices of the saints are relieved. At that time, all wounds and sorrows will be washed away, and we will be fully compensated for what we sowed for God. There is always a turning point on the path of faith. If you persevere and go out following the life that God is pleased with, you will be given salvation and heaven, as well as prayer answers, vision fulfillment, and abundant grace and reward in the near future.
5. Grace is greater than God's judgment
If the Lord thoroughly examines our sins, there is no one who will be proud before the Lord, but the reason we live well is because God's grace is greater than our sins. God is essentially a forgiver of sins, not an accountant who counts sins. If you go to God and sincerely ask for forgiveness, He will forgive you no matter how many times. The size and scope of God's forgiveness is beyond imagination (Isaiah 55:6-7). Have confidence in God's forgiveness. Sometimes when we face difficulties, I know that such a thing happened because God did not forgive me. It is limiting God to one's own thoughts. Even in God's discipline, there is God's forgiveness.