Day 241

Heaven can be a noisy place! I wonder if some people will be comfortable there, since they are not comfortable with a noisy worship service here! God does not mind loud worship. The inhabitants of heaven join the representatives of earth in a waves of praise. We are used to loud, enthusiastic shouting and cheers when we are at sporting events. We do the “wave” and have a blast. We chant and stomp our feet. But then some of us are afraid of anything above a whisper when we come to church. We hardly open our mouths or join our voices to the worship being offered. We stand like statues carved out of stone.

Perhaps we don’t recognize what God has done and will do on our behalf. Maybe our knowledge of God is all head and no heart. I pray that you knowledge drops twelve inches.

Each group in heaven rejoices for something a little different. The first group focuses on Satan’s defeat. The second are almost speechless before God’s throne. The third rejoices in the fulfillment of all God’s promises and the consummation of all things.

They are in different places as they praise. First inhabiting heaven at large, then the throne room in particular, and then the great multitude chimes in from an unspecified location. This third group celebrates the completion of God’s plan of salvation with images of a wedding. They are gathered and pure for their wedding day. They are clothed in the good deeds that have flowed out of their faith relationship with God. They are ready.

Jesus arrives as the conquering king, only He is fully just in what He does. There is no arbitrary action here. He carries out just punishment. God’s final judgment is about to happen. The imagery might shock you a bit. An angels call the birds of the air to feast on the flesh of the defeated enemies of God. Not the prettiest of sights! But in the ancient world defeated enemies did not deserve a burial. They were getting their just punishment. Defeat comes swiftly.

Some might say that this isn’t fair. Shouldn’t they get one more chance to repent?

A professor told me a story that goes something like this. A man in a rowboat started rowing toward a waterfall. The boat was held in place by a man at the shore holding a rope attached to the stern of the boat. The man on shore kept shouting of the danger if the man didn’t stop rowing and let himself be pulled to safety. The man in the boat only became more and more belligerent in his refusal to stop rowing. “I know what I am doing; leave me alone.” After repeated attempts and repeated refusals, the man on shore finally let go of the rope. The man rowed right over the waterfall to his death.

God has given these folks repeated opportunity to repent, as we have read in the previous chapters. Each time they have refused to repent. Now God lets go of the rope that could have saved them. They perish. God gives plenty of opportunity for us to change. One day He will let us get the consequences of our rebellion.