The Great Wine Press of God’s Wrath Part 1 | Revelation 14:14-20 | Richard Caldwell

Scripture

• Revelation 14:14–20

About this sermon

In chapter 15 we looked at heaven’s response to the final acts of God’s wrath upon the earth before Jesus returns from heaven. And we examined our own heart’s response to the knowledge of that wrath. In chapter 14:14-20 WE SEE A DEPICTION OF THAT WRATH that should elicit from lost humanity GREAT FEAR. And just as the church embraces truth by rejoicing in the TRIUMPH of Jesus Christ, the church embraces truth by WARNING lost humanity of the wrath that is coming. The final wrath of God upon the earth is depicted in this text in two stages. There will be judgments poured out upon mankind BEFORE the Lord Jesus comes from heaven. And there will be judgment executed upon mankind BY THE LORD JESUS as He comes from heaven. Clearly, as we saw in chapter 15, those bowl judgments are presented as the FINAL judgments. ESV Revelation 15:1 Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. ESV Revelation 15:7 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, 8 and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. But the 6th Bowl of wrath makes the way possible for the nations to be gathered for a great slaughter. ESV Revelation 16:12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. 13 And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 ("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!") 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon. That battle, on the great day of God, will result in a judgment executed by Christ directly. ESV Revelation 19:11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh. Now, make no mistake about it, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS THE JUDGE in ALL these judgments. And the world will recognize it. The wrath of God — which is the wrath of the Lamb — is being poured upon the earth with EVERY judgment during the tribulation period. THAT IS CHRIST’S WRATH ALSO. ESV Revelation 6:15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" This is why Christ’s judgment can be depicted as Him swinging a sharp instrument for cutting down grain at harvest time, even before He treads out the winepress of the wrath of God in a more DIRECT fashion. Christ is swinging his instrument for judgment, IN EVERY JUDGMENT.

Topics

• Bible Study
• Prophecy & End Times