#DailyDevotion The Saddest Verse In Revelation, “Nor Did They Repent.”

December 22nd
Read Rev 9:13—10:11
Rev 9:13-15 Then the sixth angel blew his trumpet, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar before God, (14) saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” (15) So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour, the day, the month, and the year, were released to kill a third of mankind… Rev 9:20-21 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, (21) nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

Remember nothing in Revelation should be interpreted literally unless there is a good reason to do so. I think perhaps there may be a reason here but I wouldn’t go to the mattresses over it. Very simply the very limiting statement “hour, day, month, year” seems to call for a literal meaning. However this passage could just be another passage building up a parallel passage in Rev. 19:17ff. where not a third but all mankind who aren’t saved are destroyed by Christ. Nevertheless, I see this as a world war whose end is to set up the penultimate anti-christ, man of lawlessness, beasts rule of the world. Something has to set the people off to shed away their national identities and religious identities to accept this person/system.

On a lighter note we see there are angels that are in charge of all these worldly maneuverings. There are angels in charge of different countries. Good angels, bad angels, but we’re not in charge as much as we like to think. We see this in Daniel 10:12ff seem to teach.

The saddest thing in this whole passage are these verses: Rev 9:20-21 The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, (21) nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.

No matter how bad things get. No matter what atrocities occur in our lives, there are some, no rather most people will not repent of their sins. They will not acknowledge their faults, their wrongs etc. Nor will people do anything to correct their bad behavior. But most of all they will not turn to Christ Jesus and believe their sins are atoned for by Him. They will continue in lives of unbelief. But you! Don’t be that guy! Repent and believe the good news! Jesus had died for you so you can repent and turn to God as Father and Jesus as Savior!

Lord Jesus Christ, grant us and all our families, friends and enemies the gift of repentance. Amen.