There is a command to scatter the burning coals over the city. I kept waiting for that to happen, but the rest of the chapter is about the four living creatures who go straight forward.

Proverbs 4:25 (BSB) says, “Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.”

We live with our eyes fixed on Jesus, and our faces set like flint toward the New Jerusalem.

But what about the coals, the burning coals for the city. When did we see burning coals last? What comes to my mind is Isaiah’s lips being touched with a live coal. What happened? He was purified from his sin. His guilt was taken away.

So, what happens when coals are scattered over the city?

There was a purging of sin, many were killed for their sin. Then there was a removing of the guilt of the sin.

There will be judgment on the church and on nations. There will be casualties. But there will also be a cleansing. Sin will be removed and then iniquity will be removed. The iniquity of a sin is the guilt of the sin. Once the sin is gone, the iniquity can go. It doesn’t work the other way around. You can’t have the guilt removed and still be choosing sin.

God wants to purify you, His people, His city. But He can’t just deal with the iniquity. He’s got to deal with the sin. He has provided an atonement for the forgiveness of sins. But we have to get rid of the sin. He will help. Make the choice to hate it and ask for His help if you can’t get rid of it. It is fine to not be able to get rid of it yourself. We’re not meant to save ourselves. We have a Savior, and what is impossible for man is possible with God.