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1 I heard a loud voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God on the earth!" 2 The first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth, and it became a harmful and evil sore on the people who had the mark of the beast, and who worshiped his image.
Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God on the earth
In the previous study we looked at the instructions given to all of these angels that involved pouring out their bowls. But we didn't have time to really look into what it means to pour out. I want to unpack this much more and consider the implications of what this might mean and consider how this interacts with understanding the true essence of the contents of the bowls.
Then another angel, a third, followed them, crying with a loud voice, "Those who worship the beast and its image, and receive a mark on their foreheads or on their hands, they will also drink the wine of God's wrath, poured unmixed into the cup of his anger, and they will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. (Revelation 14:9-10 NRSV)
You shall make its dishes, its spoons, its ladles, and its bowls to pour out offerings with. Of pure gold shall you make them. (Exodus 25:29)
It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in Mount Sinai for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire to Yahweh. The drink offering of it shall be the fourth part of a hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shall you pour out a drink offering of strong drink to Yahweh. (Numbers 28:6-7)
Eli said to her, How long will you be drunken? put away your wine from you. Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh. (1 Samuel 1:14-15)
Go you, inquire of Yahweh for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found; for great is the wrath of Yahweh that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of Yahweh, to do according to all that is written in this book. Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore is my wrath poured out on this place, and it shall not be quenched. (2 Chronicles 34:21,25)
There are many more references to pouring out, and the experience of Job also provides insight.
For my sighing comes before I eat. My groanings are poured out like water. For the thing which I fear comes on me, That which I am afraid of comes to me. I am not at ease, neither am I quiet, neither have I rest; but trouble comes." (Job 3:24-26)
At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince who stands for the children of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who shall be found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1)
These are the words that Yahweh spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus says Yahweh: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask now, and see whether a man does travail with child: why do I see every man with his hands on his waist, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
It shall come to pass in that day, says Yahweh of Armies, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and will burst your bonds; and strangers shall no more make him their bondservant; but they shall serve Yahweh their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up to them.
Therefore don't you be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says Yahweh; neither be dismayed, Israel: for, behold, I will save you from afar, and your seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be quiet and at ease, and none shall make him afraid. For I am with you, says Yahweh, to save you: for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have scattered you, but I will not make a full end of you; but I will correct you in measure, and will in no way leave you unpunished.
For thus says Yahweh, Your hurt is incurable, and your wound grievous. There is none to plead your cause, that you may be bound up: you have no healing medicines. All your lovers have forgotten you; they don't seek you: for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins were increased. Why cry you for your hurt? your pain is incurable: for the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins were increased, I have done these things to you.
Therefore all those who devour you shall be devoured; and all your adversaries, everyone of them, shall go into captivity; and those who despoil you shall be a spoil, and all who prey on you will I give for a prey. For I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds, says Yahweh; because they have called you an outcast, saying, It is Zion, whom no man seeks after. Thus says Yahweh: Behold, I will turn again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have compassion on his dwelling places; and the city shall be built on its own hill, and the palace shall be inhabited after its own manner.
Out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of those who make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. Their children also shall be as before, and their congregation shall be established before me; and I will punish all who oppress them. Their prince shall be of themselves, and their ruler shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach to me: for who is he who has had boldness to approach to me? says Yahweh.
You shall be my people, and I will be your God. Behold, the storm of Yahweh, even his wrath, is gone forth, a sweeping storm: it shall burst on the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of Yahweh shall not return, until he has executed, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days you shall understand it. (Jeremiah 30:4-24)
Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven. He who vouches for me is on high. My friends scoff at me. My eyes pour out tears to God, that he would maintain the right of a man with God, of a son of man with his neighbor! (Job 16:19-21)
I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax; it is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me. A company of evil-doers have enclosed me. They pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all of my bones. They look and stare at me. They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.
But don't be far off, Yahweh. You are my help: hurry to help me. Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog. Save me from the lion's mouth! Yes, from the horns of the wild oxen, you have answered me. I will declare your name to my brothers. In the midst of the assembly, I will praise you. You who fear Yahweh, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify him! Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, Neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to him, he heard. Of you comes my praise in the great assembly. I will pay my vows before those who fear him. The humble shall eat and be satisfied. They shall praise Yahweh who seek after him. Let your hearts live forever. (Psalms 22:14-26)
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually ask me, "Where is your God?" These things I remember, and pour out my soul within me, how I used to go with the crowd, and led them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, a multitude keeping a holy day. Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him for the saving help of his presence. (Psalms 42:2-5)
Now my soul is poured out within me. Days of affliction have taken hold on me. In the night season my bones are pierced in me, and the pains that gnaw me take no rest. By great force is my garment disfigured. It binds me about as the collar of my coat. He has cast me into the mire. I have become like dust and ashes. I cry to you, and you do not answer me. I stand up, and you gaze at me. You have turned to be cruel to me. With the might of your hand you persecute me. You lift me up to the wind, and drive me with it. You dissolve me in the storm. For I know that you will bring me to death, To the house appointed for all living. "However doesn't one stretch out a hand in his fall? Or in his calamity therefore cry for help? Didn't I weep for him who was in trouble? Wasn't my soul grieved for the needy? When I looked for good, then evil came; When I waited for light, there came darkness. My heart is troubled, and doesn't rest. Days of affliction have come on me. (Job 30:16-27)
Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind, "Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me. Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified? Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him? "Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty. Pour out the fury of your anger. Look at everyone who is proud, and bring him low. Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place. Then I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you. (Job 40:6-14)
I find this passage a challenge to typical views on the effectiveness of pouring out wrath to make positive changes. Here God challenges even our definition of judgment, directing us to rethink how we have assessed God as being altogether like us in order to justify our way of judging and wrath.
God here refers to judgment, to use of power to intimidate, and the presumption that putting on displays of anger and crushing people who act wickedly will somehow bring about resolution of problems. What God seems to be addressing here are the methods we imagine He must use to gain the upper hand over His enemies. God is challenging Job to prove that the methods we presume God should use to rescue us from abusers would actually work. God says that if indeed it could be proven that subjugation and humiliation of those who are proud and do wickedly would actually accomplish a good outcome, He would be willing to admit He is wrong.
When we compare this to what Job sometimes insisted he wanted God to do to side with him against those who were challenging his integrity, it makes more sense why God would say things such as this. But the lesson was not merely for Job but for everyone who struggles to believe God's ways actually are more effective than our ways.
The sobering message emerging for me out of these passages is intense, overwhelming and can even feel terrifying. Yet now I am beginning to see how it is necessary, for it is only through such intense emotional experiences that the residue of sin, selfishness, pride, unbelief and every other emotional distortion caused by sin in our hearts, may be completely eradicated. What we can see in these passages is that our dark perceptions of how God relates to us must be challenged, exposed, brought to the light and judged. This is the method God uses to break the yoke of bondage to liberate us entirely from the tenacious grip of sin and our dark ways of thinking that so permeate our psyche.
I am coming to see that the experience we are finding in these two chapters of Revelation is what Jesus felt and wrestled against during the last hours of His life before the crucifixion. It also correlates to the experience of Jacob who likewise wrestled against his double-minded feelings about God's disposition towards him that needed to be exterminated in his desperate embrace of the angel who had being trying to give him a hug of affirmation of God's love all night long. This is an experience similar to what all must have who will be involved in these pouring out activities by the Lamb's special agents.
Trust in him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before him. God is a refuge for us. Selah. (Psalms 62:8)
God, don't be far from me. My God, hurry to help me. Let my accusers be disappointed and consumed. Let them be covered with disgrace and scorn who want to harm me. But I will always hope, and will add to all of your praise. My mouth will tell about your righteousness, and of your salvation all day, though I don't know its full measure. I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Yahweh. I will, even of yours alone. (Psalms 71:12-16)
I see this as one of David's more lucid insights as he realizes that despite living under disappointing circumstances, the best remedy is for him to rehearse the New Song regardless of everything that is going on around him.
<<A contemplation by David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.>> I cry with my voice to Yahweh. With my voice, I ask Yahweh for mercy. I pour out my complaint before him. I tell him my troubles. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my path. In the way in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me. Look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares for my soul. I cried to you, Yahweh. I said, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need. deliver me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than me. Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will be good to me. (Psalms 142:1-7)
This next passage can be confusing, but when read in the light of a better appreciation of how God defines judgment, it resonates with the truth of His graciousness and kindness and how He only uses His power to serve and give life, leaving everyone free to relate to Him as they choose.
The way of the just is uprightness. You who are upright make the path of the righteous level. Yes, in the way of your judgments, Yahweh, have we waited for you. Your name and your renown are the desire of our soul. With my soul have I desired you in the night. Yes, with my spirit within me will I seek you earnestly; for when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
Let favor be shown to the wicked, yet he will not learn righteousness. In the land of uprightness he will deal wrongfully, and will not see Yahweh's majesty. Yahweh, your hand is lifted up, yet they don't see; but they will see your zeal for the people, and be disappointed. Yes, fire will consume your adversaries.
Yahweh, you will ordain peace for us, for you have also worked all our works for us. Yahweh our God, other lords besides you have had dominion over us, but by you only will we make mention of your name.
The dead shall not live. The deceased shall not rise. Therefore have you visited and destroyed them, and caused all memory of them to perish. You have increased the nation, O Yahweh. You have increased the nation! You are glorified! You have enlarged all the borders of the land.
Yahweh, in trouble they have visited you. They poured out a prayer when your chastening was on them. Like as a woman with child, who draws near the time of her delivery, is in pain and cries out in her pangs; so we have been before you, Yahweh. We have been with child. We have been in pain. We gave birth, it seems, only to wind. We have not worked any deliverance in the earth; neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen.
Your dead shall live. My dead bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth will cast forth the dead.
Come, my people, enter into your chambers, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past. For, behold, Yahweh comes forth out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth also will disclose her blood, and will no longer cover her slain. (Isaiah 26:7-21)
This is a classic example of a chapter break located in the wrong place. This thought needs to be extended to a more logical transition point to include the next few verses.
In that day, Yahweh with his hard and great and strong sword will punish leviathan, the fleeing serpent, and leviathan the twisted serpent; and he will kill the dragon that is in the sea. In that day, sing to her, "A pleasant vineyard! I, Yahweh, am its keeper. I will water it every moment. Lest anyone damage it, I will keep it night and day. Wrath is not in me, but if I should find briers and thorns, I would do battle! I would march on them and I would burn them together. Or else let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me. Let him make peace with me." (Isaiah 27:1-5)
What I find here is a description of the separation process that may well be brought to completion during the time of the outpouring of the contents of the bowls carried by these angels in Revelation 15-16. What I see here are descriptions of both classes of people and how they relate to and perceive God's passionate activity of love on the earth.
We are designed to live as reflectors of the light of God's glory. God's judgments are described by Jesus as light coming, and those who receive and do not resist the light are transformed into His likeness, allowing Him to freely live in them and accomplish His works through them.
Those who refuse the light, who hate the light, who reject His mercy, despise kindness and truth are left with characters formed in the likeness of God's enemy that leaves them in darkness. Their perceptions of truth are distorted so that even when they pray in reaction to His judgments, their prayers do not accomplish the purpose of His will because they reject a love of the truth to cling to error in their heart. Even though they may see the truth about God's righteousness, they fail to embrace it with their heart and thus imagine God to be more like Satan represents Him to be.
What about God pouring out His Spirit on people? Does that always accomplish positive results?
How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge? Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention; but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof; I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you; when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you. (Proverbs 1:22-27)
But the multitude of your foes will be like fine dust, and the multitude of the ruthless ones like chaff that blows away. Yes, it will be in an instant, suddenly. She will be visited by Yahweh of Armies with thunder, with earthquake, with great noise, with whirlwind and storm, and with the flame of a devouring fire.
The multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all who fight against her and her stronghold, and who distress her, will be like a dream, a vision of the night. It will be like when a hungry man dreams, and behold, he eats; but he awakes, and his hunger isn't satisfied; or like when a thirsty man dreams, and behold, he drinks; but he awakes, and behold, he is faint, and he is still thirsty. The multitude of all the nations that fight against Mount Zion will be like that.
Pause and wonder! Blind yourselves and be blind! They are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. For Yahweh has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, the prophets; and he has covered your heads, the seers.
All vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is educated, saying, "Read this, please;" and he says, "I can't, for it is sealed:" and the book is delivered to one who is not educated, saying, "Read this, please;" and he says, "I can't read."
The Lord said, "Because this people draws near with their mouth and with their lips to honor me, but they have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which has been taught; therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men will perish, and the understanding of their prudent men will be hidden."
Woe to those who deeply hide their counsel from Yahweh, and whose works are in the dark, and who say, "Who sees us?" and "Who knows us?" You turn things upside down! Should the potter be thought to be like clay; that the thing made should say about him who made it, "He didn't make me;" or the thing formed say of him who formed it, "He has no understanding?" (Isaiah 29:5-16)
The Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why don't your disciples walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unwashed hands?" He answered them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "For you set aside the commandment of God, and hold tightly to the tradition of men--the washing of pitchers and cups, and you do many other such things." He said to them, "Full well do you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. (Mark 7:5-9)
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.
The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:7-14 NKJV)
Notice the parallels in this passage.
The coming of [Christ] in contrast to
The coming of the lawless one...
Satan works with unrighteous deception
because they did not receive the love of the truth
[God] sends a strong delusion
they did not believe the truth
While God wants to restrain the mysterious power of rebellion at work in our world, yet He can be taken out of the way, allowing the lawless one to be revealed and given an advantage. Taking God out of the way happens through the will of people who choose to align with Satan's agenda in their lives and in broader society. This gives Satan authority that should have been given to God. When God is taken out of the way, Satan asserts his authority to openly take more control over the earth, for this is the principle of how true authority actually operates.
Note also that sanctification requires two elements: the Spirit of God and belief in the truth.
Surely he has borne our sickness, and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; everyone has turned to his own way; and Yahweh has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, yet when he was afflicted he didn't open his mouth; as a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and as a sheep that before its shearers is mute, so he didn't open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who among them considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living for the disobedience of my people to whom the stroke was due? They made his grave with the wicked, and with a rich man in his death; although he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Yet it pleased Yahweh to bruise him; he has put him to grief: when you shall make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of Yahweh shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by the knowledge of himself shall my righteous servant justify many; and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was numbered with the transgressors: yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:4-12)
What must not be overlooked in this famous passage are the motives of God revealed by this Lamb. Though we imagined that it was God doing all this evil against His Son, it was really the Lamb's choosing to identify with our sins and iniquities that caused all His pain, suffering and death. God assisted and strengthened Him to carry out this plan, yet God was not the direct cause of His suffering. Rather it was His willing identification with us to absorb all the effects that our sins cause in us that was the root cause of His suffering. Yet He did this so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
By the knowledge of Himself many may be justified; that is that we can be set right with God, recalibrated through His stunning revelation of God's graciousness and kindness that alone leads us to repentance. This is all encapsulated in the metaphor of His pouring out His soul to death. This is key to gaining a proper perspective of what really transpired at the cross.
Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
Why are you red in your clothing, and your garments like him who treads in the wine vat?
I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yes, I trod them in my anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled on my garments, and I have stained all my clothing. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore my own arm brought salvation to me; and my wrath, it upheld me. I trod down the peoples in my anger, and made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth. [brought down their strength to the earth." (NKJV)]
I will make mention of the loving kindnesses of Yahweh, and the praises of Yahweh, according to all that Yahweh has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he has bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. For he said, Surely, they are my people, children who will not deal falsely: so he was their Savior. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bore them, and carried them all the days of old. (Isaiah 63:1-9)
The word translated here as marching literally means to tip over for the purpose of spilling or pouring out. It also means to conquer, to lie down, to travel, to wander. The way this Hero overcomes His enemies and conquers evil is radically different from how His enemies fight. We have discovered this repeatedly in our study of this book. Jesus came to tip over our sordid views of God's disposition towards sinners and to reset our perceptions of reality so that we might be recovered back into the original relationship of intimate trust and love for which we were created.
Because this is a messianic prophecy, we can see how this predicts that the Son of man would so identify with humanity that in spite of all the lies that have infected us, His introduction of the light of love and truth would challenge all the darkness that the lies have caused. He disarms the strength of our false identities by putting them to death in His body on the cross. This is quite different from what is implied by translating this as pouring out their lifeblood. Rather, it was the pouring out His own blood by which He restored our true identity and implant it back into us, giving us a second chance to embrace it and to turn away from our past delusions about our worth and God's disposition towards us.
Or don't you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God. Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
One more thing that must not be overlooked in this passage is the key that has unlocked much of what we have been learning in Revelation. That is a focused reliance on engaging the New Song as the primary weapon by which overcomers overcome the darkness of misapprehensions about God's loving character. This is the secret weapon of this Lamb, and it is the same secret of success for all who learn to overcome in the same way as He overcame the world.
They overcame him because of the Lamb's blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn't love their life, even to death. (Revelation 12:11)
The New Song is the testimony of Jesus, the spirit of prophecy, for it foretells the final victory of God in His trial on the great judgment day in which He will be exonerated fully and found true though every other man be found otherwise.
For what if some were without faith? Will their lack of faith nullify the faithfulness of God? May it never be! Yes, let God be found true, but every man a liar. As it is written, "That you might be justified in your words, and might prevail when you come into judgment." (Romans 3:3-4)
But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they didn't walk in my statutes, and they rejected my ordinances, which if a man keep, he shall live in them; and my Sabbaths they greatly profaned. Then I said I would pour out my wrath on them in the wilderness, to consume them. (Ezekiel 20:13)
Its not coincidental that this pouring out of wrath is linked to the Sabbath issue. We see similar connections in the three angel's message we examined in chapter 14. The Sabbath is a sign of complete trust, dependence and resting in God's love, truthfulness and that there is no reason to think we must change God's mind towards us. It is those who cling to the notion that God must be appeased, that something has to be done to adjust God's disposition towards sinners or that His justice demands some sort of payment in order to be satiated, that brings on the tragic state of affairs described as a pouring out of God's wrath. When we adhere to God's definition of His wrath alone, this begins to make more sense. Otherwise it leads us to become double-minded and susceptible to every sort of deception and distortion of truth.
Moses indeed was faithful in all his house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were afterward to be spoken, but Christ is faithful as a Son over his house; whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the glorying of our hope firm to the end. Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you will hear his voice, don't harden your hearts, as in the provocation, like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested me by proving me, and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, 'They always err in their heart, but they didn't know my ways;' as I swore in my wrath, 'They will not enter into my rest.'"
Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God; but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called "today;" lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:5-13)
Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn't profit them, because it wasn't mixed with faith by those who heard. For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, "God rested on the seventh day from all his works;" and in this place again, "They will not enter into my rest."
Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter therein, and they to whom the good news was before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience, he again defines a certain day, today, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), "Today if you will hear his voice, don't harden your hearts." For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day.
There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his. Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:1-13)
Therefore tell the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Do you pollute yourselves after the manner of your fathers? and play you the prostitute after their abominations? and when you offer your gifts, when you make your sons to pass through the fire, do you pollute yourselves with all your idols to this day? and shall I be inquired of by you, house of Israel? As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, I will not be inquired of by you; and that which comes into your mind shall not be at all, in that you say, We will be as the nations, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone.
As I live, says the Lord Yahweh, surely with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out, will I be king over you: and I will bring you out from the peoples, and will gather you out of the countries in which you are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with wrath poured out; and I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there will I enter into judgment with you face to face. Like as I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I enter into judgment with you, says the Lord Yahweh. I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; and I will purge out from among you the rebels, and those who disobey against me; I will bring them forth out of the land where they sojourn, but they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and you shall know that I am Yahweh. (Ezekiel 20:30-38)
Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says, "Today if you will hear his voice, don't harden your hearts, as in the provocation, like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested me by proving me, and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was displeased with that generation, and said, 'They always err in their heart, but they didn't know my ways;' as I swore in my wrath, 'They will not enter into my rest.'" Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living God; but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called "today;" lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:7-13)
Therefore I poured out my wrath on them for the blood which they had poured out on the land, and because they had defiled it with their idols; (Ezekiel 36:18)
Yes, all Israel have transgressed your law, even turning aside, that they should not obey your voice: therefore has the curse been poured out on us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God; for we have sinned against him. (Daniel 9:11)
He shall make a firm covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate; and even to the full end, and that determined, shall wrath be poured out on the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)
These passages raise serious questions relating to the metaphor of pouring out. God says that with wrath poured out I will be king over you. How we perceive this is directly affected by what we imagine about how God's disposition towards us, particularly those who continue to choose rebellion against His design principles and who withdraw their authority from Him.
In Ezekiel 20 God says He will bring these people into the wilderness of the peoples and bring them into judgment. We must keep in mind God's definition of judgment in order to appreciate what God is trying to say here.
This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. (John 3:19)
This light that results in judgment is the light of truth about God's disposition, motives and desires for a relationship of trust and love with His children as revealed through His only authentic Son. Hebrews 1 lifts the veil to reveal that there is a competing angel who claims to represent God (the actual meaning of son), but that Jesus Christ is the only valid authenticated, verified Son who anyone should listen to and trust. We live in a world where the prince of darkness saturates the atmosphere with distorted assertions about what God is like and His disposition, and we are inundated with constant lies designed to keep us in fear and allergic to true love. Who we choose to believe regarding God determines how we interpret His actions, words and attitudes towards us. In turn our beliefs about His methods and why God does things, directly influences our teachings, our doctrines, our opinions and our perceptions of reality. It is impossible to separate the two, for by design we cannot help but reflect our perceptions of God in how we relate to others.
This cuts to the very heart of how the war in heaven was fought that led to the ousting of the dragon with all the angels who allowed his spirit of rebellion to develop hate in them against love. We struggle to imagine that Michael and His angels fought differently from how Satan fought, but that is because we have been so deeply affected by this spirit of selfishness that our perceptions have been darkened to view love is weak and that vulnerability invites exploitation. Yet those who remain in rebellion hate the light of love, they hate the ways of love and they react violently and angrily whenever love is shown them because it makes them feel weak, and weakness is the last thing they want to embrace. Their definition of power is the opposite of weakness, so as a result anyone treating them with kindness, love and humility makes them feel threatened because their logic can only conclude it is a trap to exploit them, for they live only for self-survival, not for others.
This was what caused Jacob to fight against receiving a hug of intimacy from God all night long, despite the fact that it was just what his heart had longed to experience his entire life. This was how Michael and His angels fought the war in heaven. Those who hate the light of truth from God's heart of love, refuse a love of the truth and go into outer darkness rather than to remain where they feel threatened by exposure in the light of God's willing vulnerability and willing weakness.
The words of Jesus to Paul when he too wrestled with this same issue, begging to be liberated from a 'thorn in the flesh' that made him feel weak, applies equally to all of us. Thus we can perceive that what these 7 angels pour out in this chapter is not various means of punishment on the part of God, but rather it is an outpouring of the very essence of who God is. Yet it is so reprehensible to those in stubborn rebellion who hate this light, that they react violently and bitterly in resistance to it because such exhibitions of love exposes the emptiness of every identity apart from Christ.
He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
This describes the essence of how these agents of the Lamb fight against the kingdom of darkness. They glory in their weakness which they realize is the true power of God, and this global display of the true heart of God causes violent reactions falsely attributed to be coming from God.
In this love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love Him, because he first loved us. If a man says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn't love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother. (1 John 4:17-21)
We already read previously, the lawless one will be revealed. To what law does this refer? It is this commandment we have from Him – that we should love those around us. John tells us that those controlled by the lawless one hate the light, while those who cherish the Spirit of love reflect God's love received as they pour it out on others. These special ops forces of the Lamb have become powerful and efficient conduits of God's passionate love for sinners, showering the planet with light and love. I believe this is how we are to understand what transpires in this chapter that results such disastrous plagues over the world. Yet this is not because it this God's determined will to punish, but because love resisted turns into a curse in the lives of those who hate it. As John declares, fear is what has punishment, not God who is love. Thus we need to see that the real danger we must ever guard against is allowing the spirit of fear to remain in us.
We have an excellent example of a blessing from God being transformed into a curse with the how people related to the manna sent from heaven.
This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded: "Gather of it everyone according to his eating; an omer a head, according to the number of your persons, shall you take it, every man for those who are in his tent." The children of Israel did so, and gathered some more, some less. When they measured it with an omer, he who gathered much had nothing over, and he who gathered little had no lack. They gathered every man according to his eating. Moses said to them, "Let no one leave of it until the morning." Notwithstanding they didn't listen to Moses, but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and became foul: and Moses was angry with them. They gathered it morning by morning, everyone according to his eating. When the sun grew hot, it melted. (Exodus 16:16-21)
We have seen that just because we pray to God does not mean we are allowing the truth as revealed in His Son Jesus Christ to restore us to reflecting His glory. The kind of judgment that takes place in the wilderness of the peoples (interesting how this can seem like an oxymoron) is the same kind that happened to the Israelites after God brought them out of slavery from Egypt. In that judgment, most of the people refused to rest in God's love and care for them, choosing instead to view God with suspicion at best, refusing to trust His heart towards them despite astounding evidence on every hand.
This judgment that took place in the wilderness in ancient times is symbolic of what culminates in the time of the 7th angel. It is a time of polarization, of the harvesting of souls, final decisions being made on the part of every human being in existence. And because judgment is a determination made by people themselves rather than God making decisions for them, what determines the outcome of this judgment is what we choose to do with the evidence provided us of God's compassionate love and care for us, and how we choose to relate to what He says about Himself as well as what we allow Him to do in and through us.
What is central to understanding this judgment is the principle of cause and effect as opposed to imposed punishments and rewards. While the language of the Old Testament in particular is saturated with ideas of imposed punishment, Jesus lifts the veil to reveal that something very different was going on. As we apply the principles revealed by Jesus to the record of God's dealings with people in ancient times, we can have a greater appreciation and trust in the One who alone is true despite every man being a liar. This principle of cause and effect can be traced through every story of God's interaction with people and nations, though it may be expressed in various ways that sometimes can seem confusing. This principle is very potent, and the sooner we come to respect it the easier it is to be reconciled with God's design that governs all creation. This is highlighted in the passage we saw in Ezekiel, Therefore I poured out my wrath on them for the blood which they had poured out on the land.
It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my Spirit. (Joel 2:28-29)
"Let the nations arouse themselves, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat; for there will I sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle; for the harvest is ripe. Come, tread, for the winepress is full, the vats overflow, for their wickedness is great."
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of Yahweh is near, in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. Yahweh will roar from Zion, and thunder from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth will shake; but Yahweh will be a refuge to his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel. (Joel 3:12-16)
'It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days, I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy. (Acts 2:17-18)
What happens when the Spirit of God is poured on all flesh? Is the poured out Spirit proof that one is more deserving or specially honored by God? Or is it possible that the Spirit outpouring might be like the wrath outpouring, and rather than God picking and choosing who gets what, it may be the condition of our characters that determines how it is perceived and experienced? When Jesus dialoged with His Father while the Greeks who were looking for Him observed, some people heard a voice from heaven while others said it had thundered. What made the difference? I believe it is the condition of our own spirit, our heart, our disposition that determines what we can or cannot discern.
It may well be that these angels pouring out the contents of their bowls, are freely pouring out what they have freely received – the infilling presence and power of the Holy Spirit. That power magnifies the passionate essence of God's relentless love, kindness, compassion and gentleness. Yet as this Spirit of love and power is received by God's faithful children, it is rejected by those who have completely hardened their hearts against a love of the truth it is no longer possible for them to be brought to repentance. The reaction is torment caused by resistance to love and truth, and they experience this intense passion as wrath and anger when in reality it is passionate love.
Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God; (Romans 2:1-5)
He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave to them, saying, "All of you drink it, for this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:27-28)
Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: and hope doesn't disappoint us, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)
Yes, and if I am poured out on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice, and rejoice with you all. (Philippians 2:17)
But even if I am being poured out as a libation over the sacrifice and the offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you-- and in the same way you also must be glad and rejoice with me. (Philippians 2:17-18 NRSV)
But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared, not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior; that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)
Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish; to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)
Summary
Let's review the various things we have observed about what pouring out can mean in Scripture.
There is the metaphor of God's wrath being poured out. This requires and clear appreciation of what wrath means as it pertains to God. In chapter 14 it is seen as being undiluted or unmixed. Significantly, in God's intense discussion with Job in chapter 40, He challenges Job about paradigms relating to pouring out wrath. I believe God is here challenging all of us in regards to our opinion and perceptions relating to this issue, leading to a strong inference that God wants us to realize that true change cannot be effected by means of putting people in their place using wrath to intimidate or manipulate their behavior.
In Ezekiel 20 it says God will be king over them with wrath poured out, bringing them into the wilderness for face to face judgment with Him just as what He did with ancient Israel in the wilderness. In Hebrews we get more clarity as to what that actually means, for God's kind of judgment is not like what most imagine it to be. True judgment involves people's reaction to being exposed by the light of truth, producing the unavoidable effects that their choices have had on their characters. Keep in mind that wrath refers to intense passion not exclusive to anger. God's wrath is His intense passion, yet because God is love, exposure to such intensity always arouses intense reactions differing greatly depending on how our character interprets the motives we imagine are behind His intensity.
The sanctuary services of ancient Israel included drink offerings called libation offerings. These involved various kinds of containers designed to hold liquids. At least one mention of this includes pouring out strong drink, something that may be very relevant to what we are studying here.
Individuals are described as pouring out their souls. Job said his groanings were poured out like water, his eyes poured out tears and he was poured out like water. David instructs those who trust in God to pour out their heart before Him. The Psalms are filled with David showing what it looks like for us to pour out prayers, praises, complaints and feelings to God. This is more important for us to learn than many may believe. Pouring out prayers seems to be part of how we process and relate to God's work in our hearts as He seeks to transform us back into His image. But it does not prove we are cooperating, only that we are reacting.
When it comes to God pouring out His Spirit on people, there are interesting insights we can observe from these passages.
Just because God pours out His Spirit on people does not necessarily mean they are repentant or that they will even respond positively as we learn in Proverbs 1.
Just because people pour out their prayers to God when they feel chastened by Him does not mean they are actually receiving the chastening for positive transformation.
When Isaiah says that God pours out on people a spirit of deep sleep and has closed their eyes, we need to keep in mind the perspective of Biblical writers that often could not see the spirit of Satan at work behind the scenes, competing against the Spirit of truth and light.
Finally, keep in mind is that what these agents are doing in each pouring out described in this chapter, aligns with how Jesus treated people when He revealed the Father on this earth.
Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice. (Psalms 141:2)
I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men: for kings and all who are in high places; that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who desires all people to be saved and come to full knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4)
Contemplate:
How convinced am I about the positive nature of God in relation to pouring out His wrath?
What affect does the pouring out of the symbolic blood of Jesus have on my psyche?
What relation do I see between God respecting people's choices and releasing them, and what the Lamb of Revelation epitomizes?
Does the passion of God's love affect me so deeply I feel compelled to be poured out completely in order that others may come to an intimate, transformative knowledge of God's passionate love for them?
