September 26: POURED OUT FULL STRENGTH

Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.” Revelation 14:9-10

Books could be written on these two verses. Let us ponder together the wine of the wrath of God and view it in light of His love. We can review Scripture, history, and our own individual experiences to find that God’s law is beneficial and that going against it opens the door to sin, misery, and tragedy. In addition to providing the way of forgiveness, He has promised that sin itself will be eradicated from His precious creation. We have endless records and reports of His judgements mingled with mercy. And, while some will learn from their mistakes and the consequences that follow, others are only hardened by them. The judgements falling upon our world this very day are still mingled with mercy. However, the restraining hand of the Lord is loosening against evil forces, and beyond a certain and soon-coming point in time, it will be too late to alter one’s own spiritual course.

One of the most ironic twists in the third angel’s message is revealed in verse 10 above. Those who drink the wine of her [Babylon’s] fornication [interaction with Satan] (see v.8) will also drink the wine of the wrath of God. But soon, it will be full strength. King David saw with spiritual eyes the judgements of God. And because of his willingness to bow before Him and confess his sins, he was able to see divine mercy that was mixed with those judgements for the repentant, noting that the unrepentant have a different result: “For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and He pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs.” (Psalm 75:8)

Remember the twins, Jacob and Esau? The prophet Obadiah roundly criticized the Edomites for refusing passage to Israel (Numbers 20:14-21) and later for failure to help Israel when invaders attacked. Such offenses occur yet today with whole nations and also individuals who refuse help to Abraham’s seed (see Genesis 12:3; compare to Galatians 3:29). The prophet wrote these words of God: “For as you drank on My holy mountain, So shall all the nations drink continually; Yes, they shall drink, and swallow, And they shall be as though they had never been.” (Obadiah 16)

Isaiah wrote of God’s promise to strengthen, help, and uphold His people, while those who strive against them have a future of shame, disgrace, and death. They shall be as nothing – you shall… not find them – Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing. (Isaiah 41:12) Forgiveness is still being offered among all people, but none of us knows for how long. The wrath of God speaks of His position toward sin. Because of God’s love, He desires to extricate sinners from their entanglement with sin and assure His redeemed of a future without confrontation of the horrible, ignominious nature of sin. Never again will sin exist (Revelation 21:4).

What do you conspire against the LORD? He will make an utter end of it. Affliction will not rise up a second time. Nahum 1:9