Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

ACCOUNTABLE

March 8, 2011

 A key to understanding The Revelation of John is to remember apocalyptic literature is written to people who are suffering, persecuted, in the crucible and longing for a word of hope, a buoy, encouragement.

"They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it?"
                                                - Revelation 6:16,17 TNIV

Six of seven seals are opened here, each revealing a new and terrible horror: war, violence, inflation, bloodshed, persecution, etc. Terrible, and no doubt what some of the first listeners of this vision were experiencing even then. Yet the theme of apocalyptic also surfaces again and again: The Creator God, the Redeemer God of Rev 4 & 5 is in charge. This horror is answered, even accountable to God; it's limited, as awful as it is, but it has boundaries. God is in charge, not the horrors of the seals unleashed. And history moves toward fulfillment, accountability.

Word comes that the seals, the horses that unleash the terror, and all will come to task, suffering and terror will be held accountable. When the saints hear such words they can sigh in relief, "That's right, God is in charge!"

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson