They did not repent

I was in Revelations 16 this morning and it talked about seven bowls that were poured out that targeted those who bore the mark of the beast.

I'm going to assume that means those who don't love God. I base this on the fact that generally speaking the mark of the beast refers to Satan's own, and the fact that these bowls were a judgment. They were meant to turn people's heart to repentance and a desire to give the glory to God.
In verse 2 we read:

2So the first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth, and harmful and painful sores came upon the people who bore the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.

A judgment on those who worship the beast, who bear his mark.

The second angel killed everything in the sea by turning it into like blood. As did the third angel turning the river waters into blood.

What caught my attention was this verse

5And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say,

"Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was,
for you brought these judgments.
6For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink.
It is what they deserve!"

With this following response

7And I heard the altar saying,

"Yes, Lord God the Almighty,
true and just are your judgments!"

God is judging the peoples of the earth.

The angels knew it too! and they worshiped God through it.

But the peoples of the earth did not. Not for the fourth angel.

8The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.

Not for the fifth angel.

10The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish 11and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.

Not for any of the angels and judgments did the peoples of the earth turn to God. The sixth angel's bowl dried up the Euphrates and then the beast sent forth evil spirits.

And the seventh bowl brought forth earthquakes and thunderstorms such as the earth has never experienced before. The peoples of the earth cursed God.

I have to admit, that as a believer I find it fascinating and unbelievable that even in the end times God wants people to turn to him. He judges them as a method of causing them to repent. And we don't! Those who have turned to Satan, those who have not turned to God, remain stubborn in their desire to not be OF GOD.

Really shows who God is doesn't it.
I would have given up by now. But God remains forever the same, wanting this people to be HIS people. Bringing judgment for sure, but still with a call to repentance.

Blessed be the name of our Lord.

He who has an ear, let him hear .....

I will admit, Revelations is NOT the easiest book in the world for me to read. It really isn't.

When I think of this book all I think is two things... it's a book about the glory of God (courtesy of Dr. Shell at RBC) AND.... boy is this book hard to understand and does it really matter?

And yes... I know it really matters, but I just wonder if it matters for ME personally to try to figure it out when other folks have tried and sometimes failed. :) I guess what it really comes down to is that I don't trust myself to make heads or tails out of it in the long run.

So today's reading in Revelations was from chapter 2. The first two chapters of Revelations are spent talking about the seven different churches.

What I found interesting in reading these was the repeated line:

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Regardless of which church God was talking with, this line was repeated with some type of saying attached to it.

So I have to ask this....how many churches today really hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches? Seriously...do we listen or do we blithely go about our own business not really paying attention and just doing what we think is best?

Do we tolerate things that we aught not?
Do we seek after things that should not be sought?

I really wonder about this sometimes because we just seem to be rushing head-long into garbage, just stuff that GOD says no to, but we find a way to justify it.

I'm no better in my personal life...not better than some of these churches John writes about. I tolerate things I shouldn't because I don't want to make waves. I'm learning to stand my ground, but still I give way to the world's way of thinking because the battle just seems too much at times.... BUT this scripture reminds me that GOD himself is watching me. He is the one who will judge me, and the churches. He will note the good but he will also hold the bad out for me to see as well. How well will I listen to the Spirit? How well will the churches around me listen to the Spirit?