A Revelation Invitation

The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts. (Revelation 9:20-21 ESV)

We have all seen this before either in ourselves or in others: A vice or addiction grips a person’s life but he refuses to acknowledge that there’s a problem, never mind to seek help. Invariably, this evil consumes him, ravages him and ruins just about everything in his life. When the full weight of the evil finally becomes more than he can bear, then he seeks help. A drunkard crashes his vehicle nearly escaping death. He finally checks into a rehab facility to get the help he needs. A gambler loses his house after playing the tables at the casino with the mortgage money. Only then does He join a recovery group and set his life on a path to financial responsibility. These are the stories of the ones who do repent. Many more will suffer the consequences of their sin and continue down the road to destruction. They prefer to worship created things rather than the creator. They arrogantly choose death and ruin rather than acknowledge the error of their ways.

In the passage above God describes how he was working to bring Rome to repentance. They worshiped false gods. They bowed to idols. They tolerated murder, sorcery, sexual immorality and theft. It all seemed so normal. Before Rome could awaken to its wickedness, it needed to suffer the full weight of the evil that they had embraced. Then maybe Rome would acknowledge its problems and reform. The plagues of the first six trumpets were God’s way of exposing evil for what it is. Those warnings were God’s gracious attempt to bring Rome to repentance. The wars, pestilence, famine, political upheaval and moral darkness were not meant to condemn, but to warn, to shake Rome at its foundation to turn it from imminent ruin. For Rome’s own well-being those tribulations were necessary and even beneficial. Maybe if Rome bore the full weight of the evil within, it would turn to God before it was too late. But it didn’t. The nobility, the wealthy, the powerful and those who bought into Roman culture and its systems refused as a whole to heed the warnings, repent of their wicked ways and worship the creator God. Those who survived the plagues still did not repent. They sought death instead. They longed to die but death fled from them. Even as salvation was close at hand, they refused to accept it.

God still works this way at a national level today. The tribulations and sufferings of a nation can be horrific as evil is allowed to bring destruction to the nation. The terrors can be dreadful. The destruction can be massive. God must expose evil for what it is. Always so alluring evil’s illusory beauty draws people in. But this deceptive facade hides sin’s snares which lead to dreadful ends. When the Lord sends plagues upon the sinful, his motives are merciful. His actions are attempts to open the eyes of the blind. His aims are not punishment and destruction, but grace and healing. God’s goal is reconciliation. He is a merciful God who wants all to repent. He permits these plagues because its the only way to get some people’s attention. He delays his final wrath in hopes that maybe some will turn to him. Would that more people opened their eyes to God’s gracious invitation.

Gracious God of heaven, I am in need of your great mercy as are my family and friends, my neighbors and coworkers. I see wickedness all around me, much like the wickedness from which you rescued me. May others see your merciful hand in the difficulties they face because of their sin and turn to you in repentance. Give me opportunity and courage to proclaim your saving gospel to these people in my life. Amen.