“Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it” (13:9). This is the word of judgment for Babylon. It is to our own shame and the demise of others that the Church has so often neglected to teach well about the wrath of God against sinners! Sinners, mind you, not just some generic, abstract idea called “sin.” God’s wrath, cruel and fierce, is poured out upon sinners!
Look at the Bible’s description of how God’s wrath is manifested throughout chapter 13; feeble hands, melting hearts, pangs and agony, faces aflame, darkness, thrust through, infants killed, houses plundered, wives ravished, no mercy! Why such devastation? Because Babylon has so grieved and offended a holy God! Sin is an infinitely gross crime against the merciful, loving God of creation. The punishment does fit the crime!
We must understand that the wrath of God is fearful, real, final, and not solely directed to Babylon. Yes, the wrath of God will be poured out upon everyone who has sinned against God! “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity” (13:11). The righteousness, justice, and holiness of God will not allow Him to overlook, excuse, or ignore our vile transgressions! His holy, fierce wrath is coming upon all the wicked.
The only means of escape is in the shelter and refuge of Christ the Lord. In Christ, God’s wrath against our sin has already been poured out. When we flee to Christ and from our sin, we can rest assured that Christ has borne our punishment and satisfied God’s justice. The purpose for preaching the wrath of God is that sinners may repent and embrace the Savior. No wrath, no need for a Savior!
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