The Cup of God's Wrath

Revelation 20:11‑15  •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 8
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A YOUNG christian friend of the writer, who was an earnest evangelist, was in the country preaching concerning the solemn events which are at hand, namely, the coming o£ the Lord Jesus Christ for His people, when the dead in Christ shall first arise, and then we (believers) which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Cor. 15:51-5851Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:51‑58); 1 Thess. 4:13-1813But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13‑18); John 14:1-31Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1‑3)), and go with Him into the Father’s house, so that we shall be ever with the Lord; after which God will pour out the cup of His wrath upon the ungodly. Immediately he had spoken the above words, there came out of an adjacent public-house a man with a glass of beer in his hand, and who called out, “I am going to drink the cup of God’s wrath.” God’s judgment was swift and sure, for directly he had uttered the words he fell dead at the feet of the speaker, ushered into the presence of that God whom he had mocked.
Truly, my dear reader, you will admit that this was very solemn teaching for those around. It plainly shows that God is not to be mocked; remember that all men are responsible to God. Nothing can take away man’s responsibility. Have you thought upon the subject, and that all must give an account of the deeds done in the body, whether good or bad? If a believer, you will have to be manifested before the judgment seat of Christ (in your glorified body), so that your own works—your service—may be tested (2 Cor. 5:1010For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10); 1 Cor. 3:12-1512Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12‑15)), whether they are gold, silver, precious stones, or wood, hay, and stubble, for the fire must try every man’s work.
The believer cannot be judged, for God’s word m so emphatic on that point. “He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me,.... shall not come into judgment, but m passed from death unto life.” But if you die unconverted in your sins, you have willfully refused the Object of God’s love, namely, the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself a ransom for all: and what is your doom? Hear what God says: And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead (now raised up), small and great, stand before God, and the books were opened, and another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works..... And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:11-1511And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11‑15)), prepared, not for you, but for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:4141Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41).)
Now will you, with that awful future before you, refuse God’s offer of salvation? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Take God at His word, do not delay, do it now, for “Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation.”
And you, dear fellow believer, my brother in Christ, are you working out your salvation with fear and trembling? are you walking worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called? are your loins girded and lamps burning—waiting and watching for the Lord Jesus, who says, “Behold I come quickly” (Rev. 22:7, 12, 207Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. (Revelation 22:7)
12And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Revelation 22:12)
20He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20).) May our response be, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” Amen. J. B.