November 28: JUDGMENT THAT ENDS
And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Revelation 16:18
The period of time between the earthly ministry of Christ and His second coming is described four times in the book of Revelation. In the letters that Jesus sent to the churches, there are seven stages of development within the church itself. Today, He is encouraging His church to overcome a state of lukewarmness with which He is not at all pleased. This can happen one-by-one as individuals fall into step with the Holy Spirit. The choice is up to each of us . . .
The seven seals, opened by the risen Christ Himself, reveal the gospel herald going into the world, and the state of the church as it becomes compromised and corrupted. The state of the world is also seen, and many reject the good news of salvation in Christ. Miraculously however, there are souls who find the Lord’s salvation, many of whom lose their lives due to opposition in the unbelieving world and also within the corrupted church.
The seven trumpet plagues represent partial judgments that fall upon the world over the course of time between the two comings of Christ. These judgments are quite severe in order to gain the attention of any who would seek the Lord in repentance. They serve redemptive purposes, while providing the world with a view of the terrible state of lostness for all who reject the gift of repentance offered by God’s Holy Spirit.
The seven last plagues, or bowl judgments, are not redemptive. They are punitive because of the fixed determination of those who dwell on the earth (Revelation’s unique phrase for the lost) to resist the message of salvation. However, learning of these beforehand can surely serve the purpose of redemption. Why not thank God today for His wonderful, life-giving word! Sadly, many of those who dwell on the earth will be church-goers who knowingly place tradition and man’s values above the simple, straight-forward truths found in God’s word. Living life their own way instead of God’s echoes the practice of Cain (Genesis 4:3-7) as well as all who have a doctrine of salvation by their own works, their own way.
At the end of the seals, trumpets, and bowl judgments, we come to the same event that is described in 8:5, and 11:19, as well as today’s opening verse. These three verses all lead directly up to the close of the righteous judgment known among Adventists as the pre-advent judgment that began in 1844 and is soon to end. With this event, which is consistently portrayed in the final book of God’s word, we are told no less than three times that His judgment is real and it will come to a close. Denial of this truth is prevalent, but He is telling us that it is a sure thing!
See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.* Hebrews 12:25-29
*Isaiah 33:14-15, Daniel 3:25