Dear Church,
evil will not win
Pastor Kile Baker May 5th, 2024

What makes something evil?

Revelation 15:1, 5-7 Then I saw another great and awe-inspiring sign in heaven: seven angels with the seven last plagues; for with them God’s wrath will be completed.

After this I looked, and the heavenly temple—the tabernacle of testimony—was opened. Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues, dressed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes wrapped around their chests. One of the four living creatures gave the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.

What is the “wrath of God”? It is not an irrational passion, or an emotional flare-up. It is “God’s strong and settled opposition to all that is evil.” It arises out of God’s nature. God loves what is good and right and has a hatred for what is wrong and evil.

Revelation 16 - Bowls of Wrath

The bowls of wrath poured out on Earth are like the plagues God brought upon Egypt.

God’s judgment is:

Horrible - It should lead to repentance and regret.
Necessary - To punish evil and injustice.
Justified - The punishment fits the crime.

Revelation 17 - the Beast & the Prostitute

The Beast: Any kingdom opposed to God
The Prostitute: Enticing Christians away from God’s Kingdom.

The Beast and the Prostitute in Revelation are universal symbols.

The Beast controls though Fear - passive, avoid pain at any cost for me.
The Prostitute controls though Lust - active, get pleasure at any cost for me.

Revelation 18 & 19 - Ending and Beginning
After this I saw another angel with great authority coming down from heaven, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. He called out in a mighty voice: It has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen!
After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven, saying,
Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God, because his judgments are true and righteous, because he has judged the notorious prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality; and he has avenged the blood of his servants that was on her hands.
A second time they said, Hallelujah! Her smoke ascends forever and ever! Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who is seated on the throne, saying, Amen! Hallelujah!
Where evil ends, hope begins.

Next Steps:

Be patient with God.
Be active in your faith.
Resist what is evil.

Next Week: Dear Church, this is the end.