What we don't know is - will the fresh waters be just tainted with blood - or will it become completely blood. If the latter, blood can only be consumed in tiny amounts, otherwise it would be toxic. Just one of the issues is that blood is very high in iron, and the body struggles to excrete excess iron; thus there is a risk of an iron overdose which can cause liver damage, fluid buildup in the lungs, dehydration, low blood pressure, and nervous disorders...
(Revelation 15:4-7) Then the third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of waters; and they became blood. 5 And I heard the angel of the waters saying, “Righteous are You, who are and who were, O Holy One, because You judged these things; 6 for they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. They deserve it.” 7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, O Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.”
Today's takeaway: talk about righteous judgment, as well as poetic justice! They deserve it! They will have shed the blood of the martyrs, and at some point they must drink it.
Meanwhile, the shed blood of Jesus covers sin and saves us from His wrath - when we ask for this free gift of salvation. As we are all born sinners, we are all responsible for His death. And yet, He was willing to die for all of us, even for those people who choose to deny, scoff, mock and challenge Him.
No where in the Bible are we told to drink blood. In fact, the Israelites were told not to even drink the blood of animals...
(Leviticus 17:12-14) “Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, ‘No person among you may eat blood, nor may any alien who sojourns among you eat blood.’ 13 So when any man from the sons of Israel, or from the aliens who sojourn among them, in hunting catches a beast or a bird which may be eaten, he shall pour out its blood and cover it with earth. 14 For as for the life of all flesh, its blood is identified with its life. Therefore I said to the sons of Israel, ‘You are not to eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood; whoever eats it shall be cut off.’..."
Therefore it should stand to reason that when Jesus tells us to take communion, we should know that we are not really eating His actual flesh or drinking His actual blood. The elements do not "magically" change. The bread and wine (or juice) is a symbol within a ceremony. And because it is more of a symbol, then it should not even matter if it is wine or juice - or bread or a gluten free cracker. The point is to practice this ceremony often in order to remember and be thankful for what He has accomplished on the cross for us...
(1 Corinthians 11:23-26) For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Although we should do this everyday, communion is also a time to reflect on our lives and see if there is any sin in our way that we need to confess, or if there is any situation we need to reconcile. It's like a spiritual health checkup and a time to take our pulse...
(1 Corinthians 11:27-32) Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28 But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. 30 For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.
(Colossians 3:12-17) So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
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