16 And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.

17 For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”

— Revelation 6:16-17

3 This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,

4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

— 1 Timothy 2:3-4

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.

— 2 Peter 3:9

For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd. ‘He will lead them to springs of living water,’ and ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

— Revelation 7:17

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and peace from the Lord Savior to you.

Around the world every day, Christians suffer and die, sometimes at the hands of Christ’s enemies. Do you wonder why God does not immediately judge those who dishonor Him and bring great harm to others? What about God’s promises to protect His people? Are we Thankful that God’s judgment has not yet come and that some, including those we love, may still repent? After Revelation 6, before the breaking of the seventh seal, John’s visions of earth’s future judgment pause so we can see the destiny of those who love and follow Jesus. The Lamb at the center of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Suspense heightens as the Lamb opens the first six seals in rapid succession, with only one seal left at this time. Towards the end of Revelation 6, kings and slaves cry to the mountains to fall on them as they try in vain to hide from God and the Lamb; yet they still will not repent to receive the Lamb of God. Therefore we see Revelation 6 close with their question: Who can stand before the One who sits on the throne and before the wrath of the Lamb? Revelation 7 answers that question. The people of God stand, not because of their own fortitude but because of God’s faithfulness. The Lamb secures the salvation of God’s people.