He Reigns
Bible reading
1 I saw in heaven another great and marvellous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues – last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. 2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:
– Revelation 15 (NIVUK)
‘Great and marvellous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.
4 Who will not fear you, Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.’
5 After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple – that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law – and it was opened. 6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes round their chests. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no-one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
Devotional
If you have ever done strength training, you will know that it is typical to lift your dumbbell 10 times for 3 sets. The first 10 lifts are usually easy, the second set is when you can feel your muscles becoming fatigued and the next 5 lifts of the third and final set, everything begins to shake. You wonder if you can lift the weight even one more time. Your muscles tell you to stop, that you’ve gone far, but your brain tells your muscles to keep lifting. On lift number 6 you suddenly feel better! You’ve passed the half-way mark, surely you can lift the weight 4-more times. The end is so close, you realize that you are going to make it!
That’s how John must have felt as he sees another marvelous sign and he realizes that at the end of these last 7 plagues, the wrath of God will be completed. It has been a lot to take in for John. He has experienced incredible moments of worship, he’s come face to face with the Lamb, he’s seen the heavenly purposes of history, and he’s watched human suffering and rebellion. He must have wondered how much more he would have to see, perhaps he wanted to stop seeing it and return to his simple prison life on Patmos. But now he understands that the worst is almost over.
You would think at this point that there would be silence, but that’s not what John sees and hears. Once again John is treated to a worship concert explaining that everything that has happened and that will happen are because the Lord is just, true and holy. Everything that the Lamb has done has been done from righteousness and not vindictiveness.
You may feel tired from standing firm in your faith. You might feel hurt and scarred from persecution. But do not be afraid and do not give up. The Lamb has acted in righteousness and soon your work will be done. Everything that is happening is working its way to completion, and then we will rest and join in the worship song of eternity – The Lamb is just, true and holy!
– Connie Main Duarte
This devotional is part of a series that helps us navigate the texts of the book of Revelation with fresh eyes. A new devotional every Saturday.
These devotionals are available in Portuguese and in English.