How Will the World End? - Revelation 16:17-21

We read the words, “. . .  a loud voice from the throne, saying, “It is done!”” (Revelation 16:17b, NIV).  To the Christian, there is an immediate recall from a hill outside Calvary where the Savior of the world cried, “. . . “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30, NIV). The latter provided redemption, the former condemnation.  "The final fall of Babylon is the crushing blow for those who bear the mark of the beast. All that delights them now collapses. It is utterly ruined. This bowl is emptied upon the air." [1]

"A great earthquake of unprecedented severity will shatter the great city, the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and the murder of his martyrs (11:7–10). It is Babylon the great, which rules the “kings of the earth” (17:18). Human civilization will disintegrate when the Lord comes with lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder (11:19). This is the earthquake foreseen in the sixth seal (6:12–17), which darkens sun and moon, shakes stars from their places, rolls up the sky like a scroll, and displaces the mountains and every island (cf. 6:14 with 16:20)." [2]

Some wonder what Peter wrote when he said in 2 Peter 3:10 (NIV), But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare; but now we know.  This is a direct corelation with Revelation 16.  This is the end of the earth -- the first earth.  What will occur is an earthquake of a proportion that will destroy the earth.  Of all the horrible tragedies that we have witnessed, this will be of tantamount horror. "The prophet Haggai is the only Old Testament writer to write about an earthquake at the end of the world (Hag. 2:6, 7, 21)." [3]

If this isn't bad enough, John writes, “From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds, fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.” (Revelation 16:21, NIV).  Even under the terrible hand of Almighty God people blaspheme God because of the sinful sinfulness of their heart.

Father, there is an aspect to "it is finished" that brings so much joy; but there's another aspect that brings unspeakable horror. To call the destruction of this earth cataclysmic seems such an understatement;but we know that the new heavens and new earth will be indescribably wonderful.  Oh the wickedness of man to curse You even in the midst of judgement!  God help us for our sinfulness. Father, the days will be far from Your elect, but they are given to us to know that we might spend our time with evangelical fervour.  “Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others . . ..” (2 Corinthians 5:11a, NIV).

 

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1.  Hendriksen, William (1998-06-01). More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (p. 164). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
2. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (2486). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
3. Easley, K. H. (1998). Vol. 12: Revelation. Holman New Testament Commentary (291). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.