QT 9 Aug 13, God is just, not just loving

Rev 16:3-7 (ESV) The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea.

4 The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say,

"Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,

for you brought these judgments.

6 For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,

and you have given them blood to drink.

It is what they deserve!"

7 And I heard the altar saying,

"Yes, Lord God the Almighty,

 true and just are your judgments!"

NOTE: The second and third of the last seven judgments are turning water into blood. Clearly, they allude back to one of the early plagues in Egypt, but they were also signs that the Magicians could easily perform. And yet, there is a very serious reason for the choice. One, water is necessary for life. Two, the world has shed the blood of believers throughout its history because it believed the world would be better without their influence. In the tribulation, this atheistic argument will reach its pinnacle as the world tries to build a Utopian society by eliminating the influence of Christianity and of Christians. The result is that the world will drink the blood of its deeds. And unlike vampires, there is no nourishment or life sustainment from blood. In fact, in only a few days, many people will dies of thirst. It is possible that there are other sources of water or that people will figure out how to distill blood into something drinkable, but many will die drinking the blood of those that they killed. They probably laughed as they saw believers die -- I wonder what they will think as the stench of a blood-filled ocean and rivers fills the air.

I think our problem is that we don't believe in a God of justice, only a God of love. And we don't realize how far our actions have fallen from God's standard. But it is not just unbelievers, it is believers who must also remember the same truth. We may be saved, but we serve a God of justice.