“…it became a loathsome and malignant sore upon the men who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.” (Revelation 16:1-2, NASB)

God knows how to distinguish between the righteous and the wicked. Although at times it seems as though we experience the same hardship, suffering, and tribulations in life, God distinguishes between those who belong to Him and those who do not. We may all go through the same storms of life, but God knows how to rescue His godly ones. Look what it says in today’s passage:

“And I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, ‘Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth.’ And the first angel went and poured out his bowl into the earth; and it became a loathsome and malignant sore upon the men who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.”

God commanded the seven angels with the plagues to pour out their bowls full of God’s wrath. When the first angel poured out the golden bowl full of God’s wrath, “it became a loathsome and malignant sore upon the men who had the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image.” Notice that the plague caused by the first bowl judgment came upon only those who received the mark of the beast. It did not come upon those who held to the testimony of Jesus.

So, here is a great question: Does a virus know how to distinguish between a Christian and a non-Christian? Does a sickness know how to differentiate between those who serve God and those who do not? Apparently it does! They know how to make distinctions because God commands them to do so. If God can command the wind and the waves to be still, He can certainly command the plagues. If God can cause the sun to stand still, He can certainly cause His people to be immune to certain viruses. In the Tribulation Period, many will choose to receive the mark of the beast in order to avoid persecution or become an outcast to the new world order created by Satan. They will temporarily escape the wrath of the beast, but do not realize that they will be reaping the wrath of the Lamb.

The words “loathsome” and “malignant” in Greek are “kakon” and “poneron.” When used together, they imply that these sores will be “ugly, painful, festering, inflamed, ulcerous, oozing, and evil in nature.” Have you ever had a painful sore on your face or body? Now imagine that multiplied by 1,000 times! However, this horrible plague will only come upon those who received the mark of the beast! In the day of evil, the Lord “knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment” (2 Pet.2:9). God knows how to distinguish between the righteous and the wicked.

This will not be God’s first time. Remember when God brought the plagues in Egypt, but only upon the Egyptians and not upon the Israelites. God told Pharaoh, “But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of insects will be there, in order that you may know that I, the LORD, am in the midst of the land. And I will put a division between My people and your people” (Ex.8:22-23). The Lord did the same with diseases on Egyptian livestock, light and darkness in the land, and even the last plague, which only killed all the firstborn in Egypt. God did this so that the Egyptians would “understand how the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel” (Ex.11:7).

Can God do this in the world today? I believe He does. God does this so that we will “again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him” (Mal.3:18). Psalm 91:7-8 records the promise God made to His people. It says, “A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes, and see the recompense of the wicked” (Ps.91:7-8). Here is a great encouragement for us today as we go through various tribulations in life. Here is great encouragement for those who will live through the Great Tribulation. God certainly knows how to distinguish between the righteous and the wicked.

• How do you think this virus that causes loathsome and malignant sores made a distinction between those who received the mark and those who did not?
• Do you believe that God makes a distinction between Christians and antichrists today, and how does that encourage you?