The Great Day Of God's Wrath # 9

 The Great Day Of God's Wrath # 9

Objection: But, beloved, it may be you will say, "If none of these are able to stand, who then will?"

Answer: All those who shall be found having on their wedding garments, and in the Spirit of the Lamb, will be able to stand in this day, and they are these: First, those who overcome, (Revelation 2:11; 3:21; 12:11; 21:7. Second, those who keep the commandments of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, (Revelation 12:17; 1:9. Third, those who stand with the Lamb, (Revelation 14:1; 17:14). Fourth, those who have their Father's name written on their foreheads, (Revelation 14:1). Fifth, those who sing a new song, (Revelation 14:3). Sixth, those who are redeemed from the earth, (Revelation 14:3). Seventh, those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes, (Revelation 14:4). Eighth, those who are not defiled with the pollutions of the whore of Babylon, and in their mouths is found no lies, (Revelation 14:5).

Now, beloved, these are those who will be able to stand in that great day of God's wrath, when others will not be able - but call "to the mountains and the rocks - fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!"

I shall now proceed, in the fourth place, to the use and PRACTICAL APPLICATION of the point.

Use 1. INFORMATION. If it is so, that the greatest part of men and women will not be able to stand in this great day of God's wrath - then this may inform us of three things:

1. As men have had their day - so God will have His day. Men have had their day of sinning - God will have His day of punishing. Men have had their day of treasuring up wrath - God will have His day of pouring out of His wrath. Men have had their day of defiling - God will have His day of refining. Men have had their day of fornication - God will have His day of indignation. "The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done - so it will be done to you. All your evil deeds will fall back on your on own heads!" (Obadiah 1:15).

2. Though God bears with sinners in the day of His patience - yet He will not bear with them in the day of His wrath! "Go through the city, and smite. Show no mercy; have no pity!" (Ezekiel 9:5). Oh, beloved! in the day of God's patience He bears with you, and waits to be gracious. Oh, how many hundred years has God borne with the whore of Babylon, notwithstanding of her great provocations and wickedness? But now in the day of His wrath, the Lord will not spare her, nor show pity on her - but pour out His wrath and indignation upon her to the utmost! "Therefore, these plagues will overtake her in a single day - death and mourning and famine. She will be completely consumed by fire, for the Lord God who judges her is mighty!" (Revelation 18:8).

Oh, see that terrible word, "The Lord will march forth like a mighty man; He will come out like a warrior, full of fury. He will shout His battle cry and crush all His enemies! For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held Myself back. But now, I will destroy and devour at once!" (Isaiah 42:13-14).

Do you see this, sinners, how God is resolved to proceed against you in the day of His wrath, though He bears with you in the day of His patience!

3. This day of God's wrath will be a very dreadful and terrible day to the wicked, as appears by what has already been said. Oh, sinners! It will be a day of astonishment, a day of terror, a day of distress, a day of contempt, a day of destruction, a day of wrath! Oh! it will be "a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds, and thick darkness," (Joel 2:2). "The great day of the Lord is near - near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness!" (Zephaniah 1:14, 15). Oh, who is able to express the terror of the Almighty, in the day of His wrath! Oh, that every soul that hears me this day, would lay it to heart, and consider with themselves, that they may be able to stand in this day of of God's wrath. So much for this use of information.

~William Dyer~

(continued with # 10)