Thurs.’s Devo - God’s Wrath Poured Out on the Wicked

Read: Zechariah 8:1-23; Revelation 16:1-21; Psalm 144:1-15; Proverbs 30:29-31 God begins by proclaiming his love and his return to his people in Jerusalem. When he returns, Jerusalem will be known as his Faithful City. Mount Zion will be the mountain of the Lord and called his Holy Mountain. He describes what the city will be like. It will be a place where families enjoy life and fellowship. When Zechariah told this prophecy, the streets were not a safe place for their families and it looked impossible that it would ever be a safe place. *** God encouraged them to finish their task of laying the foundation of the Temple because when they begin, God will change everything. He will pour down his blessings upon them and God will punish their enemies. They must change their ways and start practicing justice and honesty in their courts. They must stop lying about one another and start telling the truth. *** They had asked about whether they should celebrate with fasting and mourning the destruction of the Temple, and now God answered that they should turn it into a time of joy and celebration. People everywhere will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord. They will recognize that God is with his people. *** In Revelation, John heard a voice from the Temple tell the seven angels to go and pour out their seven bowls of God’s wrath on the world. *** The first bowl was poured out on the people who had the mark of the beast and they had terrible sores. The second bowl was poured out on the seas and they became like blood and everything in the sea died. The third was poured out on the rivers and springs and they became blood. The fourth was poured out on the sun causing it to burn everyone with heat. They did not repent. *** The fifth was poured out on the throne of the beast and his kingdom was filled with darkness. The subjects cursed God and did not repent. The sixth was poured out on the Euphrates River so that it dried up and the kings from the east could now march their troops to conquer them. Three evil spirits left from the mouths of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet. They went out to gather the world to battle against the Lord at Armageddon. *** The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. A shout from the throne in heaven said, “It is finished.” Thunder crashed and lightning flashed and a great earthquake struck the earth. Babylon split into three sections and the cities of many nations fell. This is God’s judgment on sin. Islands disappeared and mountains were leveled and 75 pound hail stones fell from heaven. It crushed the people. This is God’s wrath poured out on evil. *** Lord, thank you that you are our tower of safety and we can take refuge in You. We are joyful because You are our Lord!