Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

— Revelation 8:5

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

— John 3:16

God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

— 2 Corinthians 5:21

And when He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment

— John 16:8

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will…

21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

— Romans 8:21a, 22

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and peace from Jesus Christ to you.

God’s Word reveals His holiness and justice just as strongly as His grace. With undeniable mercy to sinners, God sent His Son to die and pay the penalty for humanity’s rebellion. God showers people with love and kindness, but the day of His final judgment nevertheless will come. He will not allow human beings to continue to multiply sin’s degradation indefinitely. God will vindicate His people and relieve their suffering. God’s intervention in judgment is both just and merciful to His people and to His creation which has been made subject to futility, slavery of sin and corruption. While God judges, the world learn righteousness and divine freedom and God’s enemies are defeated and bound.

While we, God’s people, are learning to know God’s attributes—love, light, holiness, righteousness–, God’s glorious plan, unchanged purposes, and mighty acts through reading His Word, we are convicted concerning sin, righteousness and judgment. Here in Revelation 8, after a half-hour silence, the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar and hurled it to the earth. Fire from the censer falls to the earth, shattering heaven’s silence with peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake. Thus, as saints’ prayers rise to God, a fierce storm brews in response to bring in God’s judgment. Saints’ prayers indeed play an important role in God’s carrying out His plan.