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4 The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 I heard the angel of the waters saying, "You are righteous, who are and who were, you Holy One, because you have judged these things. 6 For they poured out the blood of the saints and the prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this." 7 I heard the altar saying, "Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments."
I heard the altar saying
There is a pattern that keeps showing up throughout Revelation that is repeated here involving affirmation by two witnesses. Yet relying on the testimony of two witnesses to establish a determination, that practice does not necessarily prove that what is affirmed is in harmony with God’s good will or is even true. It merely means it has been accepted and is established. Here is a sampling of passages similar to this.
When the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to him who sits on the throne, to him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying, (Revelation 4:9-10)
After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, dressed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands. They cried with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"
All the angels were standing around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures; and they fell on their faces before his throne, and worshiped God, saying, "Amen! Blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and might, be to our God forever and ever! Amen." (Revelation 7:9-12)
The term ‘Amen’ actually encapsulates this concept. It means I second, affirm, agree with or add my testimony to what is being communicated.
The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!"
The twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God's throne, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: "We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power, and reigned. (Revelation 11:15-17)
After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God: for true and righteous are his judgments. For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand."
A second said, "Hallelujah! Her smoke goes up forever and ever." The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying, "Amen! Hallelujah!" (Revelation 19:1-4)
This last passage parallels what we just read in chapter 7. The following passages outline this principle of requiring at least two or more witnesses before credibility is to be established.
One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sins: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall a matter be established. (Deuteronomy 19:15)
If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. But if he doesn't listen, take one or two more with you, that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. (Matthew 18:15-16)
Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me. It's also written in your law that the testimony of two people is valid. I am one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me." (John 8:16-18)
Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death; and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward, and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.'" (Matthew 26:59-61)
A man who disregards Moses' law dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. (Hebrews 10:28)
So what are we to make of this altar speaking? What could help us understand this better? Actually there are several places in Revelation referencing the altar with commentary attached.
When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the Lamb which they had. They cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?" (Revelation 6:9-10)
Another angel came and stood over the altar, having a golden censer. Much incense was given to him, that he should add it to the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar which was before the throne. The smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel's hand. The angel took the censer, and he filled it with the fire of the altar, and threw it on the earth. There followed thunders, sounds, lightnings, and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:3-5)
It is significant that much more incense is needed for the prayers of the saints on the altar. I believe it is safe to say that just because two witnesses agree on something that can established it that way, does not prove that what they are saying is completely true, only that it becomes established. If we test the messages associated with the altar with the True Witness in Revelation, they do not always align in spirit with the New Song disposition of the Lamb. This is why far more incense is needed.
The sixth angel sounded. I heard a voice from the horns of the golden altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had one trumpet, "Free the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates!" The four angels were freed who had been prepared for that hour and day and month and year, so that they might kill one third of mankind. (Revelation 9:13-15)
Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire, and he called with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Send forth your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for the earth's grapes are fully ripe!" (Revelation 14:18)
There is a compelling connection here. In this third outpouring the altar adds affirmation to what the angel of the waters declares about God’s motives and methods regarding the bloody outcome of this bowl. In the second harvest of chapter 14 the angel from the altar who has power over fire orders the launch of a harvest that also results in massive amounts of blood-letting.
When we studied those two harvest events in chapter 14 we offered two options as to their meaning, particularly regarding the second harvest. One option was that the second harvest was carried out by the enemy of souls as a counterfeit of the first harvest. The second proposition was that the second harvest is carried out by those harvested in the first harvest. Additionally that second harvest may well be expanded upon in this chapter we are studying here. Keep in mind that the harvesting angel and the one calling for the harvest were not one and the same.
What could be condensed out of these references involving the altar? It seems from the comments we have considered connected with the altar that it represents a more scales-oriented kind of justice involving punishment for injustices committed against God’s people. That is more in harmony with the sentiments of the Song of Moses. Now consider this instruction from Jesus that includes reference to the altar and also involves judgment which is what this whole chapter is about.
If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him in the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you have paid the last penny. (Matthew 5:23-26)
Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread. Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don't those who eat the sacrifices have communion with the altar? What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don't desire that you would have communion with demons. (1 Corinthians 10:17-20)
This passage infers an ability for communion with the altar, meaning that symbolically it is important to discern the nature of what an altar might be communicating and not assume it is true.
Yes, Lord God, the Almighty
What is the nuance of emphasis here in the language used to describe God? Lord – Almighty. This fits into the direction of focus from both of these witnesses resonating more with the Song of Moses than the New Song with the Lamb. That does not mean witnesses are all correct or completely wrong, but more likely incomplete or coming short of God’s ideal for us.
The Song of Moses as we studied sometime back, puts emphasis on what God does and how He uses power to save His people more than focusing exclusive attention on the goodness, love and light of God absent all darkness. Again, this is a matter of perception and priority and can indicate where we might be in our journey toward a more advanced appreciation of God’s true nature as revealed by the violently slaughtered Lamb.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)
Here again we find a connection between the description in chapter one with the commentary going on in this 3rd outpouring. We saw previously that the angel of the waters may have only used the first two descriptors of God, while the True Witness describes Himself using all three. I believe this could be more than merely coincidental. It may be an alert for us to pay close attention to the nuanced differences as we seek to be faithful to following only the Lamb and to outgrow previous mixed beliefs about God’s ways and motives.
The four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around about and within. They have no rest day and night, saying, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come!" (Revelation 4:8)
The twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God's throne, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: "We give you thanks, Lord God, the Almighty, the one who is and who was; because you have taken your great power, and reigned. The nations were angry, and your wrath came, as did the time for the dead to be judged, and to give your bondservants the prophets, their reward, as well as to the saints, and those who fear your name, to the small and the great; and to destroy those who destroy the earth." (Revelation 11:16-18)
They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations. (Revelation 15:3)
I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, something like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go forth to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty. (Revelation 16:13-14)
I heard something like the voice of a great multitude, and like the voice of many waters, and like the voice of mighty thunders, saying, "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns! (Revelation 19:6)
I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, are its temple. (Revelation 21:22)
For, "He put all things in subjection under his feet." But when he says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him. When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:27-28)
true and righteous
They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations. (Revelation 15:3)
As we studied this verse recently, we saw how the first phrase focused on works while the second phrase was about God’s ways.
The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever. Yahweh's ordinances are true, and righteous altogether. (Psalms 19:9)
After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God: for true and righteous are his judgments. For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand." (Revelation 19:1-2)
What are ordinances? What are judgments? They are decisions made concerning a person or situation where doubt about their integrity has been raised by an accuser. This should alert us to the very core of the war being waged against God Himself whose reputation has been attacked from the very outset of the rebellion launched by Lucifer. It is God’s character that has been brought most under suspicion. It is God’s trustworthiness that is in question. It is God’s honesty, God’s communications, God’s integrity that has suffered the greatest damage of anyone’s throughout all history. So if anyone knows what it means to be judged incorrectly, unfairly, unjustly or dishonestly, it would be God Himself.
We must reframe everything we read and think and the way we process information in light of the revelation of the One who is called the Word of God, the very communication of truth and justice sent by God to exonerate His integrity, His ways, His dealings, disposition and motives. Every evaluation we make about what God supposedly does to others is itself a judgment we make for or against the testimony of the True Witness about Him.
your judgments
Contemplate the sentiments expressed in each of these passages linking truth and judgment.
The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice: a God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is he. (Deuteronomy 32:4)
You came down also on Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right ordinances [judgments] and true laws, good statutes and commandments, (Nehemiah 9:13)
The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever. Yahweh's ordinances are true, and righteous altogether. (Psalms 19:9)
All of your words are truth. Every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever. (Psalms 119:160)
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Loving kindness and truth go before your face. (Psalms 89:14)
A throne will be established in loving kindness. One will sit on it in truth, in the tent of David, judging, seeking justice, and swift to do righteousness. (Isaiah 16:5)
"Behold, my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights-- I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout, nor raise his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street. He won't break a bruised reed. He won't quench a dimly burning wick. He will faithfully bring justice. He will not fail nor be discouraged, until he has set justice in the earth, and the islands will wait for his law." (Isaiah 42:1-4)
For I, Yahweh, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. (Isaiah 61:8)
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase. (Daniel 4:37)
"Thus has Yahweh of Armies spoken, saying, 'Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother. Don't oppress the widow, nor the fatherless, the foreigner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.' (Zechariah 7:9-10)
These are the things that you shall do: speak every man the truth with his neighbor. Execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates, (Zechariah 8:16)
You judge according to the flesh. I judge no one. Even if I do judge, my judgment is true, for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me. (John 8:15-16)
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 2:2-5)
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 3:4)
Under the law of Moses, a judgment could be established merely on corroborating testimony of two witnesses. But for a judgment to be accurate, fair, reliable and trustworthy it must be in alignment with actual truth, and truth is one of the major points of contention in this war. When Pilate exclaimed “What is truth?” during the crass (mis)trial of God’s Son, it was obvious that what was being carried out was nothing other than a setup by people in power who were intensely jealous of Jesus and desperate to obliterate the Truth who was exposing their fraud and hypocrisy. These men manipulated the law of Moses by producing two witnesses to establish what they wanted to do, yet in reality the very embodiment of truth was the one being judged by them; God Himself was the one being judged, and they insisted that He was lying.
True justice and judgment requires a more accurate definition of truth than simply corroborating testimony of two witnesses to be a reliable standard by which to know what is truth. This is essential in order to arrive at right judgments. A purported reason for the Law is to act as an objective criteria by which to assess what is true or false, right or wrong. Yet law itself has too often been manipulated in such as way as to incriminate and arouse doubt about God’s motives. This has been the case since the inception of the insurrection by Satan.
In chapter 15 we were introduced to the ones who now in chapter 16 are pouring out their bowls filled with prayers, praises and intercessions over an unrepentant world,. There they were practicing for this by rehearsing both the Song of Moses and the New Song of the Lamb. In that rendition we find no mention of what we read here and in other similar passages such as chapter 19:1-4 that infer that righteousness is defined by what God does and particularly because He judges offenders. I sense this may be at the very heart of what is being brought to light in this study, the truth of what it actually means to be righteous and true.
I find this next passage relevant to this discussion. God’s reputation and truthfulness has faced slander from the very outset of Satan’s revolt against His government. God’s integrity, fairness, reputation and truthfulness are the core issues of dispute. I see this next passage as possibly a pushback by God, inviting opponents to come forward with any evidence to convict Him, or alternatively to be silent and affirm the truth.
Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled. Who among them can declare this, and show us former things? Let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, "That is true." (Isaiah 43:9)
In this passage the word for judgment is translated as justified, but it is the same word in Hebrew. In light of the other verses we have examined that contain these two words, I find this compelling and enlightening as to how God wants us to understand the real issues at stake here. This is yet another passage that helps to clarify that it is really God who is being judged, not the other way around. Yet in judging the very Origin of truth, life and love, our judgment of God reveals the character we have developed based on what we have chosen to believe is true about Him. And the law of reflection means that whatever we believe to be true about God will be reflected in our own lives.
Thoughts to contemplate:
How much credibility should we give to the accuracy of these two witnesses, the angel of the waters and the altar? On what basis?
Is factual accuracy the highest criteria by which to define truth? How might this be influenced by our own emotional bias?
Who is judging who when it comes right down to it? We have long assumed that God is the final judge, and that His judgment mean He makes the final decisions as to who is saved or lost and also involves executing punishments against unrepentant sinners or organizations. But is this supported by the testimony of His Son who is the full revelation of God sent to save rather than condemn?
Am I willing and consenting for the Son, the One whose name is the Truth, to liberate my thinking and transform my spirit to be reflectors of our Father’s heart in ways that will put me at odds with religion and all the world around me?
In what ways might I be still clinging to the sentiments of the Song of Moses, secretly relishing the idea of my enemies receiving their ‘just due?’
Am I willing to confess the dissonance between my long-held opinions and feelings about God, about judgment and about truth to allow the Lamb to be my sole source of truth and to give Him daily access to have highest priority in my heart?
I can choose every day to judge God based solely on how the hero Lamb of Revelation portrays Him to be, and to allow the passion of God’s love to have access to consume all dissonance, all doubt, all unbelief that remains hidden deep inside me, regardless of what it may cost me.
I can choose to rely solely on the Lamb to define both external truth about God as well as the truth about my identity. I can renounce every other source I have relied on to define my value and rest in the solid truth that God is love, and nothing can undermine or alter that reality. This is what it means to be saved by God’s graciousness through faith, for faith is simply believing the truth as it is in Jesus, and in believing the truth, I am set free by the truth – free to love because I am willing to first be loved by the Author and Finisher of faith.
