Links for today’s readings:
Read: 2 Samuel 7 Listen: (4:26) Read: Revelation 16 Listen: (3:17)
Links for this weekend’s readings:
Read: 2 Samuel 8-9 Listen: (4:51) Read: Revelation 17 Listen: (3:19)
Read: 2 Samuel 10 Listen (3:19) Read: Revelation 18 Listen: (4:48)
Scripture Focus: Revelation 16.10-15
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done. 12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. 15 “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.”
Reflection: The Time For Faith
By John Tillman
Revelation’s bowls of wrath are comparable to the plagues of Egypt.
Moses targeted plagues at the Egyptian rulers, economy, and gods. The angels target bowls of wrath at the empire of the beast, its economy, and the beast’s worshipers.
Egypt’s people and leaders had the opportunity to repent with each plague. Some did. They joined Israelite families and left Egypt with them. Some encouraged Pharaoh to give in long before he did. Others, including Pharaoh, hardened their hearts, refusing to submit to God despite demonstrations of his power. The bowls of God’s wrath will have the same effect. People will know, beyond a shadow of doubt, that God is real, powerful, and righteous, but will still refuse to repent.
Many sincerely make this claim: If God proved he existed, I’d believe in him. They want indisputable proof. Some might say an audible voice would do it. For some, an appearance of Jesus, a miracle, clouds spelling out a message, or a “feeling” in their heart. Then, they claim, they’d believe, submit, and call him “Lord.”
But would they, though?
Many people who see evidence still refuse to believe. The guards and religious leaders saw the empty tomb and knew what happened, yet they not only refused to believe, they manufactured lies to prevent others from believing. (Matthew 28.1-15) Festus heard the evidence of Paul’s changed life and knew about Jesus because, “these things were not done in a corner.” Yet he refused to believe and wrote Paul off as mentally ill. (Acts 26.24-29) In Revelation, indisputable proof is revealed, yet many stubbornly refuse to repent and be saved.
Searching for evidence with an open mind is good. Tim Keller called this “active doubt.” “Passive doubt” uses the lack of perfect clarity as an excuse. Passive doubters want God to, in effect, make them believe. They put the problem of their doubt on God. It’s his fault.
God does not and will not “make” people believe. God sends prophets, preachers, scriptures, his Spirit, and even miracles. The Bible itself is a miracle you can read and touch. God is sensitive to doubters and holds out his hands to appeal to them, but salvation comes by faith, not by proof. (Isaiah 65.1-2; Romans 10.10-21)
At the end of history, there will be no doubt in any human heart about God’s existence or righteousness. But at that point, faith will be impossible. The time for faith is now.
Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading
Jesus taught us, saying: Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened by debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will come upon you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come down on all those living on the face of the earth. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to hold your ground before the Son of man. — Luke 21.34-26
– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Summer
by Phyllis Tickle
Read more: Revelation of Love
Christ’s apocalyptic second Advent is about releasing God’s love and about releasing us to be received by God’s love.
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