May 25, 2022 – Wednesday
Revelation 9:20-21 NIV
20 The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk.
21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Comment.
In chapter nine, 1 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. The first four angels are discussed in earlier chapters. Here, out of the Abyss came locusts that were given the power of scorpions, but could not harm the grass or any plant or tree nor anyone who had the seal of God on their head. They were not to kill the other people, but to torture them for five months. That was the first woe. 12 The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.
Then, 13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” 15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number. And. 18 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths.
Now we come to our two verses for today, 20 The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts. You have to wonder why, after one-third of mankind survived these plagues, they did not repent? Then you look around at what is on TV, the internet, many magazines, the music played today, day in and day out. Then there is the worship of power, of money, of sex, the bowing down to manmade idols and to demons who promise power or wealth or pleasure. They refuse to turn from all of this. Why? One thing is for sure, punishment and suffering will not change a person’s, a sinner’s, character by itself. Only a new spiritual birth can do that, a new birth of faith and repentance.
God’s purpose in all of this? The first purpose of the plagues is simply judgment on the human race for their willful choice of idolatry and the corrupt practices that go with it The second purpose of these terrible plagues in chapters eight and nine is to bring people to repentance and into the will of God. God does not want anyone to suffer His judgment if they are willing to repent and turn to Him. This is what Jesus said in Luke 13:3 when speaking to His disciples, unless you repent, you too will all perish. And Peter in 2 Peter 3:9, 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. He may seem slow to us, but when judgment comes, it comes!
Bottom Line: If you are among those caught in the Great Tribulation, repent as soon as possible. Better yet, repent now and avoid having to repent during the Great Tribulation.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Help us to know in our heart of hearts just how much You love us and wish us to avoid Your judgment by repenting and following Christ. – In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
RileyD, nwJ
Riley D. Driver – Pastor
Calvary Chapel of Dayton
in Beavercreek