Revelation 6:15-17
Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”
It has been five years since the world shut down as the horseman known as Covid-19 began its gallop around the world and people hid themselves in living rooms from the wrath of the virus. It may be the closest thing those alive today have to help us imagine the vision of the sixth seal that John saw here. We can see that the most powerful were powerless against the earthquakes and astronomical calamities around them. They had no answer for suffering.
This feeling of despair about the end can be the beginning of the end of despair for so many people. It can be the beginning of a new life in Christ, the author of the Good News and of the judgment to come. The suffering of the powerful in John’s vision and of people today can be explained. The question that most challenges God’s sovereignty is this. Why does a good God allow pain and suffering? Why do good people suffer? The short and somewhat callous sounding answer is that we all deserve to suffer but God rescues us. We cannot hide from his grace!
O Heavenly Father, the coming last days can fill us with fear but you comfort us with your promises. May we come out of hiding. In Jesus’ name. Amen.