On a late afternoon when the clouds gather around the peaks and the lightning begins to play its games over the mountain meadows, the high country is no place to be, but it can be spectacular to watch from a safe distance. At such times the hills can be alive with the sound that isn’t music, but it has a magnificence of its own.”
–Louis L’Amour (Passin’ Through)
“Then the Lord will be seen over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord God will blow the trumpet, and go with whirlwinds from the south.”
–Zechariah 9:14(NKJV)
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I am in the process of organizing and cleaning up some of my Bible studies. In completely redoing Habakkuk one verse keeps coming back to my mind. Note, that prophecies in the Old Testament could have dual purpose: first, it was for the people of the time, and second, it could be eschatological in nature. Let’s ponder for a while Habakkuk 1:5.
“Look among the nations and watch–be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you.” (NKJV)
“Look among the nations! Watch! Be horrified! Be frightened speechless! For I am accomplishing a work in your days— You would not believe it even if you were told!” (NASB)
Be astounded, be frightened, be speechless–something is coming. Regarding the time it was a prophecy against Judah. God was raising up the Chaldeans to judge the evil of the inhabitants of Judah. But then, chapter 3 is also eschatological in nature. God gives a glimpse of the future to Habakkuk. How much of this Habakkuk understood, I don’t know, but he was told to be ready and to be astonished, and to realize that he would not understand it all.
Daniel was given a more specific and detailed glimpse into the future, and it made him sick. Daniel 8:27 states, “And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days…” (NKJV) In chapter 7, he was grieved because of the vision, and in chapter 10 he says that he has no strength left. The things that Daniel saw not only did something to him spiritually but they affected his mind, emotions, and physical body.
What is it that could be so astounding? What is it that would make a man, such as Daniel, sick upon seeing it? Here’s a little homework assignment–read Revelation. Don’t try to decipher all the things in the book, but look at what is going to take place. In the “Seals” there is destruction and death. The “Trumpets” strike at nature. We know that nature “groans and labors” (Romans 8:22), but after the time of the Tribulation, the curse will be removed. The 5th Trumpet speaks of “locusts” rising from the bottomless pit to torment man. Think for a moment of the sounds that will come forth during this horrendous time. There will be moaning and groaning, along with screaming and howling. Man will feel the pain and torment of his evil ways. The 6th Trumpet tells that the angels that were bound at the Euphrates will be released to kill one third of mankind. These are only the Seals and Trumpets, the Bowl Judgments are yet to come. Can you get an idea of what Habakkuk and Daniel might have seen? Can you understand a little bit better why God tells Habakkuk that he would be astounded and won’t believe what is being told him? Can you see why Daniel might have become sick for several days?
Now, get this! Man is so foolish, so stupid! Revelation states this after the 6th Trumpet, “But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” (9:20-21, NKJV) Not just stubborn or foolhardy, but stupid and blasphemous. Now is the time of salvation!
One more thing that might have astounded them. A couple of weeks ago, Annie and I were sitting in the living room, when POW!!!! There was a lightning bolt that hit thirty feet in front of the house. The flash and sound were at the same time and it got the attention of both of us as well as our two cats. POW! The flash was bright! Annie said she could smell it. Now, I turn to Revelation 4:5, “And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices…” It will not be a little lightning show that we see in the sky or the rumblings that follow. It will not be fireworks, but it is a CRASH! A brightness that we cannot understand, comprehend, or handle. The throne of God is glorious beyond all imagination. It is a horrifying sight in one manner of speaking; frightening because it is where the power and glory of Almighty God sits. It is the place of the majesty of God, the Judge of the universe.