SPIRITUAL
DIARY FOR 8/7/2015 11:57 AM
My Worship Time Focus: The
First Bowl
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference:
Revelation 16:2
Message
of the verses: “2 So the first angel went and poured out his
bowl on the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore on the people
who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.”
I want to begin this SD with what I
wrote on this verse on September 12, 2005 “The first judgment is very painful
sores, but it is only those who have the mark of the beast and have worshiped
the image of the beast that will be affected by it. This judgment is similar to the later
judgments that God gave to Egypt in that not all of them affected the children
of Israel, only the Egyptians. The word
used for these sores is the same word that is used for Job’s sores, and also
affected those Egyptians in Ex. 9:9-11.
The word is also used for the sores that Lazarus had, (See Luke
16:21). Of course this word in the OT is
from the Greek translation of the OT called the LXX. One more thing of interest is that when the
fifth vial judgment is poured out upon the earth it seems that these
unbelievers are still suffering with this first one. (See Rev. 16:10-11)”
We have mentioned that the bowls are
actually shallow saucers and when the angel would dump them on the earth the
contents would come out very fast. John
MacArthur writes the following about the words “loathsome” and “malignant” these
words are “translated two general Greek words for evil (kakos and poneros). Used together translates they stress that the
sores will be festering, painful, and incurable. ‘Sore translates helkos, the Greek eequivalent of the Latin word from which the
English word ulcer derives. It describes inflamed, oozing, ulcerous
sores, such as those that affected the Egyptians, and the ones that covered
Lazarus the beggar. They will bring
unrelieved physical torment to those who have rejected Christ.”
We read the following fate of these
unbelievers from an angel that is recorded in Revelation 14:9-11 “9 Then another angel, a third one, followed
them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his
image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink of the wine of the wrath
of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be
tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the
presence of the Lamb. 11 "And the
smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and
night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark
of his name."” MacArthur adds “That
passage describes eternal judgment; the present one describes temporal
judgment. Antichrist’s followers are
suffering the consequences of having rejected the preaching of the gospel and
the warning of the angel given in 14:7: ‘Fear God, and give glory, because the
hour of His judgment has come.’” Part of
that judgment is now being poured out on those who have rejected Christ and
have taken the mark of the beast as they are aligned with Antichrist and will
continue to suffer for that decision.
I now want to share a verse from the
prophet Zechariah that probably has to do with this section, if not this one
then surely one that happens during the Tribulation period. “12 Now this will be the plague with which
the LORD will strike all the peoples who have gone to war against Jerusalem;
their flesh will rot while they stand on their feet, and their eyes will rot in
their sockets, and their tongue will rot in their mouth.” A bit graphic to say the least, but I have
read or was told that similar things happen to people who have suffered the
effects of a nuclear explosion.
Spiritual meaning for my life today: As I look at what is going to happen to
those who follow the Antichrist I can say that I truly am thankful for the grace
that God has given me for salvation and continues to bestow upon me
everyday.
My Steps of Faith for
Today: To love the Lord and to tell others
the truth of the Gospel and to tell others what will happen in the end.
Answer
to yesterday’s Bible question: “A
centurion” (Matthew 8:8).
Today’s
Bible question: “Where did Jonah try to
go instead of Nineveh?”
Answer
in our next SD.
8/7/2015
12:21 PM
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