Worship and Judgment

Revelation 15 is a very short chapter which serves as a prelude to the unveiling of the seven bowl judgments that are about to be unleashed on the earth. The judgments have been in a series of seven….seven seals, seven trumpets and now seven bowls. The judgments have increased in severity as they have proceeded. After the bowl judgments the Bible says that the wrath of God will be complete. Before the judgments are poured out, we read this: And I saw something like a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying:  “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, For Your judgments have been manifested.”

It is interesting to me to think about how worship and judgment are related? God is clearly revealed as a God of judgment as well as mercy and love. In fact, all of God’s attributes synthesize together…no one attribute is dominant over another; each fits perfectly together and each attribute complements the rest. The judgment of God should produce worship in our hearts. We can’t be “excited” about God’s judgment on those who have rejected Jesus. However, without judgment God makes no sense; at least as far as how He is revealed in the Bible…and that’s all we really know about the doctrine of God. I accept the fact that the judgment of God is worthy of worship. These who are pictured worshiping God in chapter 15 are not turned off by the judgment of God. They don’t start sentences with, “I can’t worship a God that would…” I encourage you to see the judgment of God as worthy of worship. We might not understand it and we certainly shouldn’t relish it, but judgment is a critical component of the revealed nature of the God of the Bible. You can’t eliminate it because it’s uncomfortable. And I don’t think God expects us to make excuses for Him or tolerate this aspect of His nature. Rather, God enjoys and accepts our worship for His judgment.

Share

Leave a Reply