““When the Lamb broke the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of all who had been martyred for the word of God and for being faithful in their testimony. They shouted to the Lord and said, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you judge the people who belong to this world and avenge our blood for what they have done to us?” Then a white robe was given to each of them. And they were told to rest a little longer until the full number of their brothers and sisters—their fellow servants of Jesus who were to be martyred—had joined them. I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places. Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person—all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?”
Revelation 6:9-17 thru 7:1-3 NLT
”Then I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so they did not blow on the earth or the sea, or even on any tree. And I saw another angel coming up from the east, carrying the seal of the living God. And he shouted to those four angels, who had been given power to harm land and sea, “Wait! Don’t harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants.””
As the remaining seals are waiting to be opened, we see God’s intention and attention is actually on his people. Whereas the four horsemen usher in a death and mayhem unlike has ever been seen, this is not merely a time of judgment but a time of final salvation. The dead believers may cry out for God’s vengeance but there are those who still may cry out for his mercy. His intent is to give it to them. This is, of course, in contrast, to those who foolishly cry out to blame God for his punishment, and continue the ways of Adam and his Eve who hid from God in Eden. But there is no hiding from God. Just as his wrath will flow freely through the sea and mountains, his grace will flow freely to every last potential believer. Even at the end, our god reigns. He doesn’t blame us for wanting justice for our kind who have suffered, do suffer and will suffer, but we must remember that it will come in his perfect timing. The joy of every potential new brother and sister in Christ is worth the wait. Let us expedite the process now, by calling everyone to him so that those days won’t be too long.
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