As the Lamb opened the sixth seal, John saw the drama which was described in the scroll. The scale of the vision seems to have stretched his ability to write what he saw. A massive earthquake coincided with dense darkness as the earth's atmosphere was laden with particles and the moon appeared red (Joel 2:31, Acts 2:20). Cosmic events disturbed his understanding of the settled pattern of stars and planets: they spun out of orbit like asteroids bound for planet earth (Mark 13:24-26).

Not just one or two but a cascade of heavenly bodies so that the blueness of the sky disappeared as blackness took over (Isaiah 34:4). As that happened, mountains disappeared (Nahum 1:5), islands moved with the flow of water and great fear was upon the greatest and most powerful people on earth. They did not know what to do. The mighty were mighty no more. The catastrophic happenings left no room for human intervention. The best they could do was to hide, and yet wherever they hid it was not safe. Mountains were on the move, caves were opening and closing; and the once-great people almost wished that they could be eliminated, lest they had to face God's wrath.

It is obvious in the vision that the entire cosmos is in turmoil. The disordered and fallen creation is like a woman in labour (Romans 8:22). Those who prided themselves on their power and authority are like frightened rats because they all know that the Lamb of God is coming in great wrath against everything and everyone who fails His standard of perfection (Colossians 3:5-6). The key question is, "Who can withstand the wrath of the Father and the Son?" (Malachi 3:2)

And yet the paradox is that those who are trusting in Christ will be rescued from the coming wrath. Even though the Lamb will bring judgement when He comes again, He also brings salvation to those who hide themselves in Him (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10): indeed, He is the only Rock that can protect anyone (Luke 6:48). Although the cosmic events surrounding the Lord's return are indeed awesome in the extreme, the wrath of God is much more to be feared. That is why the church - that is every believer who is trusting in the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:17-21) – has a huge responsibility and privilege to declare the gospel and urge people to come to Christ while there is time … that whoever believes in Jesus shall not perish but shall have eternal life (John 3:16). Are you confident that you are already hiding in Christ and trusting Him? If not please watch www.crosscheck.org.uk, and invite your friends to do the same.