Listen to today’s devo!

For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can withstand it? (Rev. 6:17)

Standing takes practice. Toddlers cruise from couch to table to chair to practice standing. Children might need to practice standing up for themselves. Rehabilitation specialists support clients until strength is regained and balance returns. Christian hymns exhort the singer to stand, and Christian worship services invite standing as an expression of worship for God.

John’s captivating vision of the seal-breaking Christ comes to its penultimate moment, the breaking of the sixth seal and the anticipation of God’s wrath. A. W. Tozer described God’s wrath as his “utter intolerance of whatever degrades and destroys.” Power abused, justice excused, and responsibility misused—all of which have bound up the scroll—will be stopped. And as their end draws near, everyone asks, “Who can withstand it?” Who can withstand the wrath of the Lamb?

John’s vision answered that question gloriously: A great multitude is standing before God’s throne! (see Rev. 7:9). John’s vision is to give us perspective, and so the question, “Who can withstand it?” is not simply about pondering, but about posturing. A day is coming when all will stand before God. To slightly paraphrase C. S. Lewis, it is no good choosing to stand on that day when it will be impossible to sit. Those standing righteously in the heavenly judgment will be those who have practiced standing through earthly turmoil by God’s grace and in his power.

Seek God’s power to stand in a tumultuous world.

Aaron Perry is married to Heather, and they have four children. He teaches at Wesley Seminary in Marion and is active in his local church's children’s ministry.

© 2022 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.