Thinking Thursday

[Rev 6:9-17 ESV] 9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. 

Christian martyrdom in the 20th century is estimated to be greater than the previous 19 centuries combined.  Now that we are in the 21st century and the advent of cultures that consider us infidels, we have seen their determination that their way of life rule.  Not that our culture is much better.  Our culture disdains much about living for God, preferring instead to live for self.

10 They cried out with a loud voice, "O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" 

Those slain for the Word of God, long for God to dispense justice.  But as in all things, God's timing is best.

11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been. 

But there will be more martyrs.

12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, 

John witnesses great and unusual natural events.

13 and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. 

14 The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. 

It sounds like God will be removing the old to make room for the new heavens and new earth.  Goodbye Rocky Mountains, Hawaii and Australia.

15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves 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 him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 

17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

This is going to be some terribly frightening stuff to witness and we might mistake it for God's wrath, but the angels announce God's wrath later in Revelation.  The seals are not God's wrath in my opinion, instead they are preparing for the final judgment.