Growing Clouds of Judgment: Overview

This is a summary of our discussion of Revelation 6-16, an overview of the structure.

The big picture

By looking at the whole, we see the big picture, about which there is agreement. This approach helps us keep the details, about which there is disagreement and mystery, in proper perspective. The big message is: despite persecution and suffering, God secures the ultimate well being of God’s own people and God will win.

The judgments are increasingly severe

In ch. 6-16 are three series of judgments:

• the seven wax seals (6.1–8.1)
• the seven trumpets ((8.2–11.19)
• the seven wine bowls (16.1-21)

The last wax seal introduces the first trumpet; the seventh trumpet sets the stage for the wine bowls.

The judgments differ.

• They increase in severity.
• The wax seals and trumpets have a structure: first four, then interruption or change.
• The wine bowl (severe hangover) judgments, however, occur without pause or delay. (Rev. 10.6)

Humanity responds with increasing hardness of heart

 God’s wrath is allowing humanity to experience the logical consequences of our sin. God’s mercy redeems us from our sin; God’s wrath allows sin to run its full course, which ends in death (James 1.15). In Revelation the wrath of God becomes increasingly severe. Its purpose is to turn people from sin and death to salvation and life.

In the Exodus plagues (which serve as a pattern for the plagues of Revelation) Pharaoh’s heart is hardened, by himself and by God. In Revelation humanity’s hearts are hardened. If we think of a clay pot being fired in a kiln, it is hardened. God uses judgment to confirm or harden us in our choices; God forces us to choose and confirms us in our choice. That’s the process that is occurring in Revelation.

At the end of the sixth wax seal, humanity seeks to evade by hiding from God:

15 Then the kings of the earth and the magnates and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb; 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

Rev 6:15-17 (NRSV)

But at the end of the sixth trumpet they didn’t hide; they refused to repent. They were hardened.

      20 The rest of humankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands or give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk. 21 And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their fornication or their thefts.

Rev 9:20-21 (NRSV)

 After the wine bowl judgments, people cursed God; they refused to repent and give God glory (16.9, 11, 21),

I hope this overview helps make clear that the judgments have a purpose, are not simply divine temper tantrums.

Several persons have commented that as they study Revelation, they aren’t afraid of the book. Instead, they find hope. This is what apocalyptic literature was designed to do: to give hope to persecuted believers while hiding the message from outsiders, who were often the persecutors.

Peace Y’all!