The gospel bells are silent. The message of loving welcome is passed. A storm of wrath now falls upon a world that has rejected God’s offer of mercy and forgiveness.
“And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air … And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great … and the cities of the nations fell … And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven” (Rev 16:17-21, KJV).
Men and women have long accused God, their Creator, of negligence as to the evil and injustice in our world. Perhaps you have asked God, “Why don’t you just deal with all of this and make things right?” This last storm foretold here in Revelation is the answer to such a question, but perhaps not the one we want. We never think our “small” sins are really bad, but the Bible says they are (Rom 6:23). If we wish God would step in and wipe out the plague of sin in our world, we had better be prepared for Him to deal with our personal sins as well. This last storm will finally silence the rebellious hearts of men, and grind the glory and pride of earth into the dust. The world needs shelter from this coming storm, just as you and I need a hiding place from the consequences of our own sin.
The Bible records that outside the city of Jerusalem, AD 33, at a place of execution called Skull Hill, the Son of God gave Himself a ransom for all by bearing the penalty of our sins on the cross (1Tim 2:6; 1Peter 2:24). All who trust in Jesus Christ will find that hiding place, for He is “our deliverer from the coming wrath” (1Thes 1:10, Darby).
Many today are hiding from God, trying to find shelter in all the wrong places – in religion, in atheism, in wealth, in relationships. None of these will stand; none of these “shelters” will last the storm. I pray that you will never find yourself in the path of this last storm nor die without God’s salvation to face the eternal storm of judgment for your sins. The only hiding place, the only true shelter, is Christ. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17, KJV).
Take the time to read the full account in Revelation 16 of this last storm and the gospel accounts of a greater storm that fell upon the Lord Jesus, and you will notice similar language is used: the voice from heaven declaring “It is done,” and the Savior’s triumphant “It is finished,” the earthquakes, and the cup of God’s wrath. How wonderful to realize that on that cross He willingly endured the storm for me and for you. Friend, make Him your hiding place today!
“On Him almighty vengeance fell, enough to sink a world to hell. He bore it for a sinful race and thus became my hiding place” (J. Brewer).
