How does Revelation 16:5 reveal God's justice in His judgments? Setting the Scene: The Third Bowl • Revelation 16:4 turns earth’s rivers and springs to blood, mirroring Egypt’s plague (Exodus 7:17-21). • Immediately, verse 5 records heaven’s response. Text “And I heard the angel of the waters say: ‘Righteous are You, O Holy One, who is and who was, because You have judged these things.’” (Revelation 16:5) Why an Angel “of the Waters”? • This angel oversees waterways; even his own domain is struck. • His praise underscores that the judgment is fair, not arbitrary. Key Phrase Breakdown • “Righteous are You” – Greek dikaios: just, faultless, morally perfect (cf. Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 19:9). • “O Holy One” – God’s separateness demands He confront sin (Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:16). • “Who is and who was” – Eternal constancy; He has always judged rightly (Psalm 90:2). At this climactic point, “is to come” is omitted because His coming is actively unfolding. • “Because You have judged these things” – The angel’s praise rests on God’s acts, not abstract qualities. Justice is demonstrated, not merely declared. Justice That Fits the Crime • Verse 6 explains: “For they have poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink; they deserve it.” • Retributive symmetry echoes Genesis 9:6; Galatians 6:7; Revelation 18:24. • God repays “each according to his deeds” (Romans 2:5-6). Echoes Across Scripture • Revelation 15:3 – “Great and marvelous are Your works… righteous and true are Your ways.” • Revelation 19:2 – “His judgments are true and just; He has avenged the blood of His servants.” • Psalm 96:13 – “He will judge the earth in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.” • These passages present judgment as a cause for worship. God’s Character on Display • Justice flows from holiness; wrath is the necessary response to unrepentant evil (Nahum 1:2-3). • Eternity guarantees no injustice escapes His notice (Ecclesiastes 12:14). • Judgments are never excessive; they exactly fit “these things.” Takeaways for Believers • Judging sin aligns with God’s righteous nature; therefore His wrath is right to celebrate, not question. • Final judgments vindicate saints and validate faith; endurance is not in vain (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7). • Worship in Revelation models confidence: God will always act justly—in time, in eternity, in every detail. |
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