November 30: UNLAWFUL HEARTS

Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And great hail from heaven fell upon men, each hailstone about the weight of a talent. Men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, since that plague was exceedingly great. Revelation 16:20-21

We have seen recurring and overlapping themes developed during these last two thousand years of earth’s history, as recorded in the New Testament. Two of the most prominent themes are acutely developed in John’s revelatory vision, one being Satan’s methodology of preparing the world to take a stand against God, and the other being His people who have accepted His preparations and stand with Him as He stands with them. Up until the very close of probation, the gospel herald will continue to be proclaimed among the nations.

Notice the similarity of the event described toward the end of Jesus’s opening of the sixth seal and verse 20 above: … every mountain and island was moved out of its place (6:14). Each series of seven in Revelation leads up to His return. Those who accept the beast’s mark are gathered…to the place called… Armageddon (16:16), symbolizing the final battle in the history of the world. Christ’s warning in verse 15 to His end-time people reminds them of the nature of this final battle, for they will be at the center of this long-anticipated scene that ends the great controversial war. Though most of those who dwell on the earth anticipate it as a political and military event, it is neither. Nor is it a battle to create a good economy or to reestablish the world’s ecological balance. This battle is shown to us by Christ as being a theological and spiritual battle. It is a struggle between good and evil for the heart, mind, intellect, loyalty, allegiance, and unreserved faithfulness of every individual. The climactic Day of this final battle will be the Savior’s return for His faithful ones.

So far, the world’s record weight for hail is about two pounds. On the 14th of April, 1986, ninety-two people in Bangladesh died from direct hits of this hail. The weight of a talent approaches sixty-six pounds. No doubt, some with the beast’s mark will be killed by such hailstones. But those who are not killed by them will continue doing what they have already been doing: blaspheming God. Today’s passage is the third account in this chapter of blasphemy against the Almighty (see also vv. 9,11). In spite of all the opportunities they have had to be saved, they are demonstrating their thoroughly corrupted character before the watching universe. At the core of their rebellion against their Maker is an attitude devoid of appreciation of His character. The very fact of creation is an extension of His amazing love. It is love expressed. In this light, let us review the close of chapter 11: Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail. (11:19) Our amazing God is the great covenant keeper! In keeping it, He maintains the entire universe. None of us could even begin to count all that He does in keeping His covenant with His created beings. In addition, He is willing to forgive every one of us for our own rebellion against His law, and accompany this forgiveness—if we will allow it—with new hearts!

“This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Jeremiah 31:33