Near the end of his vision in the book of Revelation, John sees seven angels who are carrying seven bowls of plagues that will out the persecutors of the Christians. Just as the ten plagues of Egypt ended up liberating the Israelites from their Egyptian captors, the seven plagues of the Apocalypse in the book of Revelation will liberate the Christians from their Roman oppressors.
The Book of Revelation was written in the genre of apocalyptic literature that was well-known in the ancient world. Sometimes it is used in our modern world to defend the anger and the revenge that is wanted by the reader. Sometimes it is used to proof-text events that are happening in the world today. However, the message of this genre of literature is much more subtle and profound than the images we see on its surface. In today’s passage, we hear of God’s care for the people of faith, for those who follow his will in their lives. This type of literature has the aim of promoting us striving toward a life of holiness and turning to God in our time of need. It assures us that God is ready to help us when we call on him for help.
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