20 Now the rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the works of their hands. They did not stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk.

21 Furthermore, they did not repent of their murder, sorcery, sexual immorality, and theft.

— Revelation 9:20-21

8 Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.

10 Go into the rocks and hide in the dust from the terror of the LORD and the splendor of His majesty.

— Isaiah 2:8, 10

I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols

— Isaiah 42:8

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

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, salvation and joy from Jesus Christ to you.

Starting from Revelation 8:6 till the end of chapter 9 John recorded what he saw about the content of the first six trumpets when God lashes out judgment after judgment with calamities on stiff-necked rebellious unbelievers. Again and again at the time of catastrophes, God still shows His mercy on those not killed and gives them opportunities to repent, believe and submit to Him. The purpose of God’s wrath is not that mortals suffer but that all would repent and turn to Him. Until the very end, God calls men, women and children to come to Him and receive salvation through His Son, leaving behind their arrogant, self-designed spirituality and defiance of His commands.

When all of God’s merciful acts are rejected, nothing is left but certain judgment because God still honors people’s desire to be separated from Him. Though the hardened people experience God’s revelation of Himself as His justice falls all around them, they still refuse to the help and invitation to salvation offered by God. Rebellion against God ruins spirituality, sexuality and human relationship. We feel sorry to see though God’s warnings of judgment constitute a merciful call to repent for the unbelievers, they continue to reject God but worship idols, follow Satan and keep enslaved by him. What awaits them then is only God’s judgment of wrath.