21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am He who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Jesus indicates that there was a time given for repentance. It was a limited time. Everyone who has ever lived has a limited time and that time is for repentance. Jesus with eyes as blazing fire peers into our hearts and He knows our true intentions, probably before we do. He knows when it is that our hearts are hardened like the Egyptian Pharaoh and are no longer able or willing to be turned. It is then that our time of repentance runs out. Of all the frightful places and horrible events that have been conjured by the minds of man since his creation, there is no worse person to be than the one who’s lost the time for repentance. Indeed, at that moment, for that person – all is lost, for all eternity.
I find it striking that Jesus says that He will “cast her on a bed of suffering”. She is immoral (v22) and leads others into sexual immorality (v20). I have no words to describe this. It’s almost like Jesus is saying, “You want to be on a bed, well let me make your bed. You’re not going to like it though.” I feel extremely disrespectful in paraphrasing that, but it’s so … human. I mean, wow. The term suffering is also an ongoing event. It does not say, suffering and then death. It says suffering as if for eternity. But it’s not only her, all those who lie with her will also “suffer intensely”. Be reminded to be careful who you follow and who your friends are. We tell our children that continuously, but we need to be reminded of that as well.
Those who have followed her still have a time to repent. The language here is specific to who sin. They must “repent of her ways.” They must repent for doing what she does naturally, out of her heart, that they partook in. I believe this indicates that this was not in their depth of heart as they still have time to repent. These actions were not natural for them, but they, as dumb sheep, had been misled. There is always hope for us who still have time to repent. It is the Blessed Hope and we can only be continually grateful and thankful for dwelling in that time.
Jesus continues, “I will strike her children dead.” So, she will suffer, her followers will suffer and her children will be struck dead. In other words, all who carry her sins will be removed. This seed will not continue any more. It will be ground into dust by the One with feet of burnished bronze.
“Then all the churches will know.” If they have doubt about Who it is that searches a man’s hearts and has the power over life and death, they will have that doubt removed. Everyone who does not believe in Him and trust Him for their salvation from their sin will be rewarded justly according to their deeds.
I find it striking that Jesus says that He will “cast her on a bed of suffering”. She is immoral (v22) and leads others into sexual immorality (v20). I have no words to describe this. It’s almost like Jesus is saying, “You want to be on a bed, well let me make your bed. You’re not going to like it though.” I feel extremely disrespectful in paraphrasing that, but it’s so … human. I mean, wow. The term suffering is also an ongoing event. It does not say, suffering and then death. It says suffering as if for eternity. But it’s not only her, all those who lie with her will also “suffer intensely”. Be reminded to be careful who you follow and who your friends are. We tell our children that continuously, but we need to be reminded of that as well.
Those who have followed her still have a time to repent. The language here is specific to who sin. They must “repent of her ways.” They must repent for doing what she does naturally, out of her heart, that they partook in. I believe this indicates that this was not in their depth of heart as they still have time to repent. These actions were not natural for them, but they, as dumb sheep, had been misled. There is always hope for us who still have time to repent. It is the Blessed Hope and we can only be continually grateful and thankful for dwelling in that time.
Jesus continues, “I will strike her children dead.” So, she will suffer, her followers will suffer and her children will be struck dead. In other words, all who carry her sins will be removed. This seed will not continue any more. It will be ground into dust by the One with feet of burnished bronze.
“Then all the churches will know.” If they have doubt about Who it is that searches a man’s hearts and has the power over life and death, they will have that doubt removed. Everyone who does not believe in Him and trust Him for their salvation from their sin will be rewarded justly according to their deeds.
No comments:
Post a Comment