Glorious Grace Now, But Divine Payback is Coming
Anyone reading these words right now is doing so because of the amazing mercy and grace of God. Because of the first coming of Christ, the way is now open for every one of us sinners to be reconciled to God, through faith and repentance, because of what Christ did for us at Calvary.
But just as biblically certain is the truth that Jesus will be coming a second time, and then the period of grace comes to an end, and instead, a time of hard-core payback will take place. Those who continue to shake their fists at God and spit in his face will discover that grace does not last forever.
Payback is coming. Call it what you will: the wrath of God, divine vindication and retribution, and so on, but this is a time where the enemies of God are judged swiftly and harshly. One simply has to read the book of Revelation to see these truths expressed most forcefully and threateningly.
Having just finished the book, this is abundantly clear. (Gentle reminder: all believers need to read the Bible daily, and the whole thing at least once a year. Start on January 1 with Genesis 1 and on December 31 you will finish Revelation 22 – just three chapters a day needed!)
Revelation is about many things, but certainly some key themes are the wrath of God and his judgment upon the unrepentant. Much of the book is devoted to divine payback. God will not let rebellion, sin and unbelief continue forever. One day it will all come to a halt.
Now we can call upon the grace of God and be spared wrath to come. But as R. C. Sproul has rightly said, “God’s grace is not infinite. God is infinite, and God is gracious. We experience the grace of an infinite God, but grace is not infinite. God sets limits to his patience and forbearance. He warns us over and over again that someday the ax will fall and His judgment will be poured out.”
Of course both angry atheists and carnal Christians do not want to hear such truths. The latter may quote from Jesus sometimes – but usually only from the Gospels. They are averse to talking about the Jesus found in Revelation, with his robes dipped in blood.
Indeed, these folks avoid like the plague the description of the heavenly warrior as found in Rev. 19:11-16:
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: “king of kings and lord of lords”.
But Revelation is of course full of such language. No meek and mild Jesus here but a conquering king who will kick butt big time. Time and again we find detailed descriptions of divine retribution and the just judgment of God being poured out on his enemies.
And what is even more remarkable – something the wimps for Jesus will never countenance nor understand – is these amazing pictures of terrible judgment are often followed up by mighty praise and worship sessions in the heavenlies.
God is wondrously praised exactly because of his judgments, not in spite of them. The heavenly hosts worship and adore God because of his holiness, his righteousness, and his wrath. Today however most spineless believers want nothing to do with any of this.
Well, they will then be in for a real shock when they finally stand before the risen Christ. The examples in Revelation of divine payback and the celebration thereof are numerous. Here are some of them:
Rev. 11:15-19 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,
and he will reign for ever and ever.”
And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying:
“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,
the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power
and have begun to reign.
The nations were angry,
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name,
both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth.”
Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
Rev. 12:10-12 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have come the salvation and the power
and the kingdom of our God,
and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
who accuses them before our God day and night,
has been hurled down.
They triumphed over him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
Therefore rejoice, you heavens
and you who dwell in them!
But woe to the earth and the sea,
because the devil has gone down to you!
He is filled with fury,
because he knows that his time is short.”
Rev. 15:1-4 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God and sang the song of God’s servant Moses and of the Lamb:
“Great and marvelous are your deeds,
Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
King of the nations.
Who will not fear you, Lord,
and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed.”
Rev. 16:4-7 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:
“You are just in these judgments, O Holy One,
you who are and who were;
for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,
and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”
And I heard the altar respond:
“Yes, Lord God Almighty,
true and just are your judgments.”
Rev. 18:20 “Rejoice over her, you heavens!
Rejoice, you people of God!
Rejoice, apostles and prophets!
For God has judged her
with the judgment she imposed on you.”
Are you starting to get the picture? Divine wrath is poured out on the enemies of God, and thanksgiving, praise and adoration immediately and appropriately follow. There is absolutely nothing for the believer to be ashamed of here. Divine justice is a wonderful thing. God’s judgments are a glorious thing.
We are to rejoice with God that one day all evil will come to an end, all injustice and sin will be properly dealt with, and all ungodliness and unrighteousness will be judged. That is good news. I have addressed this topic often, as in this piece: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2014/09/05/jesus-justice-and-vindication/
Now is the day of salvation. Now is the time for repentance and turning to God. We will not always have this opportunity. We must avail ourselves of it now. The day of mercy and grace will not last much longer. Let me again quote from Sproul (this time in his discussion of Romans 1:18-32) as I close this article:
Three times in this section we read about human beings being given up by God. They are given up to their vile passions, the lust of the flesh, and their reprobate minds. When God judges people according to the standard of his righteousness, he is declaring that he will not strive with mankind forever. We hear all the time about God’s infinite grace and mercy. I cringe when I hear it. God’s mercy is infinite insofar as it is mercy bestowed upon us by a Being who is infinite, but when the term infinite is used to describe his mercy rather than his person, I have problems with it because the Bible makes very clear that there is a limit to God’s mercy. There is a limit to his grace, and he is determined not to pour out his mercy on impenitent people forever. There is a time, as the Old Testament repeatedly reports, particularly in the book of the prophet Jeremiah, that God stops being gracious with people, and he gives them over to their sin.
The worst thing that can happen to sinners is to be allowed to go on sinning without any divine restraints. At the end of the New Testament, in the book of Revelation when the description of the last judgment is set forth, God says, ‘He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still’ (Rev. 22:11). God gives people over to what they want. He abandons them to their sinful impulses and removes his restraints, saying in essence, ‘If you want to sin, go ahead and sin.’ This is what theologians call ‘judicial abandonment.’ God, in dispensing his just judgment, abandons the impenitent sinner forever.
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Jesus said in Luke 12:5
“I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.”But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”
And in Matthew 10:27
“What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.”Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Ezekiel 33 :7-9 gives us a sober warning
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.”
David Skinner UK
G’day Bill,
I’m sure you are aware, though some readers may not, that arguably the greatest piece of music ever written is based solely on the book of Revelation. The ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from Handel’s ‘Messiah’ has three passages from the Revelation, 19v6, 11v15, and 19v16. I wonder how many who flocked to hear it over Christmas understood that the grace of the Gospel comes with payback for those who refuse the rightful claims of King Jesus …
Andrew Campbell
Just read Revelation too. It must be self prompting.
The Year of our LORD, 2016, has just started here in NZ. I pray that more than ever before that each of us will, and our children who are or yet to be born, will understand in their hearts that God loves them, and that because of this we need to repent and live lives of holiness as evidence of our personal faith in Jesus Christ, our LORD and Saviour. Titus 2:11 – 15 says:
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.”
I believe in the exegesis of Scripture, in this instance I have nothing to expand in these rich, incomparable, magnificent words from God. So, I encourage us all to meditate and read Paul’s words to Titus. Fill your mind with them; think on them; place them in your heart, speak them out. If necessary, give your life for them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF5-MpVNfwc
Almighty God, I worship you.
Matthew Webster.
Thanks, Bill. A timely reminder to today’s church.
Regarding the wrath and judgement of God … we so often quote John 3:16 as to God’s love and forgiveness to those who believe in Jesus, without also emphasizing the terrifying consequence of unbelief. “Perish” means hell, the lake of fire, the second death, non-ending agony and anguish, etc. Some preachers refer to this simply as “eternal separation from God”. Bring back the vocabulary that will cause folk want to “escape from the wrath to come” (Matthew 3:7 and 1 Thessalonians 1:10 – passages that some, wrongly I believe, simply apply to a post-rapture tribulation). In some circles “hell” is an offensive word – and some now teach there is no hell. The question we should be asking, and answering, is “why did God the Father send his only begotten Son to bear the punishment that we deserve”. Isaiah 53 needs to be preached more in our day.