No Raving God: Daily Thoughts from Revelation (Revelation 19:1-5)

Religious people who preach the judgment of God are often depicted as the prophets on the street who, with a maniacal sneer, raise their fists and their voices and crazily rant against the perceived evils of the world. They are shown to delight in the death and destruction of poor, innocent human beings. But do you have to be maniacal to want justice? Are there truly innocent human beings? Is the judgment of God crazy or is it worthy of praise?

After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,

“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

Once more they cried out,

“Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”

And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” And from the throne came a voice saying,

“Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.” (Revelation 19:1-5 ESV)

Once again there is praise given to God for the judgment He has brought against Babylon.  God is excited about delivering justice and so are those closest to Him in the heavenly realm.  We, too, should give Him praise as His servants, small and great.

When we watch movies or tv shows in which an evil person does great damage only to be defeated or even killed in the end, we rejoice that justice has been done.  This sense of what is right and wrong comes from God.  We have a sense of justice because we are made in His image and have the capacity to discern good and evil.  But sometimes we still want to be the determiners of what is good and evil instead of submitting to the Law Giver’s determination.  In reality, in our hearts, we know He is right, but we rebel.

That is why there is a judgment after all.  We rebel.  And our rebellion results not only in violation of our relationship with God but, inevitably, with other humans.  There must be a judgment. Judgment is not the devaluing of life but the supreme valuing of it, and the supreme valuing of goodness and righteousness.