Tremble

Tremble: Revelation is filled with fierce images: four horseman that bring conquest, bloodshed, famine, and death. Locusts that have an unearthly origin and an evil intention to torture. We tremble... and rightly we should. Oh, judgment is God's alien work! (Isaiah 28:21)

But see the perfect angels and living creatures and elders giving worship. 

See the rainbow around the throne. 

See the One upon the throne. The blinding beauty of our God! 

To the degree we "understand" God's glory, sense his worthiness, and have our heart and mind and soul bow before the awesomeness of God--to this degree we will "understand" his judgments. If we see his judgments as too harsh, we fail to "grasp" his glory. Mere earthly beauty catches our breath! We react if a masterpiece of art is desecrated. Oh, the beauty of our God! Oh, his glory! Mere earthly loves move us to defend. Oh, the Love of our God!

If we see his judgments as too harsh, we miss his purpose. The seals warn, affecting only 1/4th of the earth. The trumpets warn, even with escalating judgment. For the bowls will pour out full wrath. But chapters 7-11 on the trumpets are full of the cry for repentance. Repent! Listen! And see, the church is sent as a witness to speak throughout the ages as prophets and warning. Oh, see the movement of a God who will even wreak havoc on his beautiful creation to show people the impending judgments. Who says to those who seek their own, "see what a taste of your own is." To those who seek the destruction of darkness, "see what darkness really is." Our God is patient, and is warning: for ultimate judgment will come. For our God is just love. 

If we see his judgments as too harsh, we fail to see how he himself has born upon the cross all the judgment--and made full pardon possible. The wrath, the terrible wrath that makes those cry out for mountains to fall on them: he already bore. All those judgments, all those judgments, he absorbed on the cross. What judgment is left is poured out on those who refuse to run to peace. Who have sought their own cover without the cross.   

Tremble at God's glory, his pouring out judgment on his Son on the cross, and his patience. Tremble at the glory of a God who would show his utmost glory in sacrificial death. 

"In a loud voice they were saying: 'Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!'" Revelation 5:12