Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 15:5 through Revelation 16:7.

 

“⁵ After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of testimony in heaven was opened, ⁶ and the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes.  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 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power;  and no one was able to enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished.

 

¹ Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.”

 

² So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth;  and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.

 

³ The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood like that of a dead man;  and every living thing in the sea died.

 

⁴ Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters;  and they became blood.  ⁵ And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things;  ⁶ for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink.  They deserve it.”  ⁷ And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”  Revelation 15:5 through Revelation 16:7.

 

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Today’s Scripture provides visual support for the conclusion that God’s judgments are true and righteous.

 

The angels were not some dark grim reapers, but “the seven angels who had the seven plagues came out of the temple, clothed in linen, clean and bright, and girded around their chests with golden sashes.”  Revelation 15:6.

 

The place where these events were planned was not some secret hidden room, but “the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from His power”.  Revelation 15:8.

 

We tend to think of God’s wrath as a dark side of God.  But, today’s Scripture teaches us that God’s wrath is true and righteous.  “They deserve it.”  Revelation 16:6.

    

“³ And they *sang the song of Moses, the bond-servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and marvelous are Your works,
O Lord God, the Almighty;
Righteous and true are Your ways,
King of the nations!
⁴ “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy;
For all the nations will come and worship before You,
For Your righteous acts have been revealed.”  Revelation 15:3-4.