We do not have the moral character to measure wrong perfectly or even well. But the God of the Bible does. He stands as an eternal, ever-present, and ever-truthful witness, as well as an ever-wise, ever-merciful, and ever-just Judge.

Judgments in Revelation

There are three series of judgments in the book of Revelation. First, seven seals are opened. Then seven trumpets are sounded by angels. Then seven bowls are poured out. At the conclusion of each series is a storm. After the seventh seal is opened, John writes, “there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake” (Rev. 8:5). After the seventh trumpet, he records, “And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a great hailstorm” (Rev. 11:19). The same thing is also said after the seventh bowl is poured out, only this time the earthquake is “severe” (Rev. 16:18). The seals come first, because the Lamb must open the seals of God’s decrees of judgment upon creation. The sounding trumpets then announce God’s decrees over creation. Finally, the seven bowls pour his judgment out upon creation. The climax of each is a storm.

The Nature of God’s Judgment

These chapters appear to record a progression of events, but it is not a simple progression. Many events seem to repeat, yet they also seem to intensify. So you cannot read the book of Revelation and assume that some event recorded in chapter 17 must occur later in time than some event in chapter 9. The book does not work that way. Instead, you should pay attention to this intensification from one series to the next. For instance, when the second trumpet sounds, one-third of the sea turns to blood, and one-third of the sea creatures die (Rev. 8:8–9). When the second bowl is poured out, however, all the sea turns to blood, and all the sea creatures die (Rev. 16:3). Also, when the sixth seal is opened, natural disasters occur (Rev. 6:12–17). When the seventh bowl is poured out, however, similar sounding natural disasters occur, yet they sound even more severe (Rev. 16:17–21). Again and again, the vision presents images that recall previous images, as if to underscore, or push a bit further, some kind of judgment previously mentioned. And like the opening of the seals in chapter 6, both of the subsequent series begin in the heavenly throne room (Rev. 8:1–6; Rev. 15:1–16:1). Ultimately, it is like watching the judgment of God on humanity in a spiral. John turns and turns the screws of tension, anticipation, and dreadful awe. God’s final judgment on his creation will be presented with a crescendoing, unerring procession.

As humans, we do have an instinctive sense of justice. When someone is able to evade responsibility for his actions, we say, “He could get away with murder.” Even if a few academics do not, most of us prefer stories where the bad guys get their comeuppance, and the good guys are rewarded. Criminals being brought to justice is an ever-popular political slogan.

Yet when people read about this swirling series of judgments, each culminating in a tremendous storm, they are troubled. And that makes sense. Our justice, as we experience it, is insufficient. The judgments handed down by judges do nothing for the victims. Our justice is uncertain. People go to jail and are made worse. Our justice is often a stopgap. We cannot catch those who are guilty, and when we do, they get out and repeat their crimes. And our justice can be mistaken. Innocent people are sentenced and suffer wrongly. In this world, there is no perfect justice. At the root of it all, though, our hesitancy about justice and the punishment of wrong must be related to an awareness of our own vulnerability to just accusation. Did not Jesus himself suggest that, at least sometimes, we are not competent to judge: “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone” (John 8:7). And if what Jesus says is true, all of us know, deep in our hearts, that none of us would cast any stones.

But the one who spoke these words was the one without sin. And as the one who is just, he is the one who will mete out justice. He is the Lamb who opens the scrolls.

Read More