We might expect that all the judgements portrayed here would cause the people of the world to repent and turn to God for mercy. But the opposite happens. We read that they “still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons…Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.” This is reminiscent of the response of Pharaoh to the ten plagues that came upon Egypt in the time of the Exodus. Rather than recognising God’s claim and giving up, he continued to defy God, hardening his heart more and more with each judgement that came upon Egypt. Both here in Revelation and in Exodus, the refusal of these people to repent serves to vindicate God’s action. It shows that God never visits judgement where it is unwarranted. These oracles of judgement may seem disturbing to you, and indeed they are. But God is just. We must trust that God will only ever do what is right. God does not want anyone to suffer judgement. He could not have done more to save people from judgement. But in the end, we can still reject God and condemn ourselves. We were given the right to choose, and, in the end, everyone will get what they choose. Such is the authority God gave to human beings. Our choice matters so much. That is the nature of authority. It comes with enormous responsibility and consequence. Choose life. Choose Jesus Christ and salvation. Nothing is more important than this choice.
Pray for God’s mercy and entrust your life to Christ.
Read Revelation 9:13-21.
