Discussing The Hard Parts of Scripture

Growing up in public school, I was often the only Christian in my classes. Yes, I did grow up in the South around the “buckle of the Bible belt,” but Gen Z has grown up with different values than previous generations. Most of my classmates were familiar with some Scriptures and basic tenets of the Christian faith; however actively seeking God—and following Him–was a different story.

Due to this environment, my faith was often tested. Classmates and even teachers would challenge my faith with questions, especially when studying history or world religions. As one of the few Christians at my school, I was often asked to help explain the harder portions of Scripture. Mainly, the portions of Scripture most contested were the ones that, at face value, could make God seem harsh, cruel, or unjust.

Chapter nine of the book of Revelation can be read this way. It’s full of locusts, angels, plagues, even a king named “The destroyer;” yet when read closely in context, it reveals God’s mercy. The chapter opens with the fifth trumpet being blown, causing locusts to descend on earth and cause torturous pain to their victims. The sixth trumpet releases four angels assigned to kill one third of the earth’s population (Revelation 9:15).

Pretty heavy stuff. But look closely; after the fifth trumpet is sounded, those with God’s seal on their foreheads were spared from the locusts (Revelation 9:4). And even in the judgment of the one-third of the population, God still limits what the angels can do. I think all this turmoil, trouble, and tumult is ultimately to bring people to repentence before the final judgment of Christ. Rather than swoop and destroy everybody and everything, Jesus is still extending Himself to try to save the last of humanity who will accept Him.

But notice the response of humanity even amidst the chaos:

 But the people who did not die in these plagues still refused to repent of their evil deeds and turn to God. They continued to worship demons and idols made of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—idols that can neither see nor hear nor walk! And they did not repent of their murders or their witchcraft or their sexual immorality or their thefts. (Revelation 9:20-21 NLT)

Before the fifth trumpet is blown, I believe people will still be able to repent and be saved. But we see above that people will still choose evil instead of repenting from wickedness. As awful as these times will be, there is still a withholding of the fullness of God’s just judgment of sin. And as awful as these times will be, they still do not amount to the fullness of God’s coming wrath because of sin. There is now, and will still be, time to repent.

The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. (2 Peter 3:9)

Check in with yourself today. What are you still withholding from God? What do you still need to repent of? What hidden things are still in your heart? Ask God to reveal these things, create within you a clean heart, and fully repent of those things while His mercy still endures.

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.