1) How long is God willing to wait for people to turn to Him? Will there be a time when it’s too late to turn to God?
2) How long is eternity? How can we even begin to understand the significance of choosing to follow Christ while we have the opportunity?
3) How different is what God has for us compared to the plans of the evil one?
As the stage is being set for the culmination of God’s judgment, a final opportunity is given for people to repent (14:6-7). It is truly amazing to consider the slow pace God moves at when bringing about His wrath. He truly loves His creation and longs to see them choose to follow Him. However, the end is about to come and His judgment will be completed.
While man chooses to live as he pleases, even rejecting God, his life will end at the hand of the Creator. However, this won’t be the end. No matter how terrible the Tribulation will be, it will still only be temporary in comparison to the torment that those following the beast will experience forever (14:9-11).
In complete contrast to the wicked who have no rest (14:11), those who die in the Lord will experience complete rest (14:13). This contrast is consistent with what Jesus said in John 10:10: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
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