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UTTERMOST WRATH!
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28
1 Thessalonians 2:15-16

Revelation 16:5-7

 

“…the wrath is come upon them

to the uttermost.”

 

UTTERMOST WRATH!
 
Paul’s description of the persecutors ends with a chilling warning to all those who would seek to hinder the work of the Gospel. To such, “the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost” (1 Thess 2:16). This is referring to the divine judgment of the wrath of God that will come upon them to the highest degree. It is the perfect and complete judgment that God will mete out against sinners and those who would deliberately hinder the work of the Gospel. While it is a warning to them, it also comes as a comfort us. It is a reminder that above all, the all-knowing and all-powerful God is in control, and He will know how to care justly for His own.
 
The reasons for God’s wrath upon the persecutors are given in the verses prior. Their actions were displeasing to God and were contrary to all men. They deliberately went out of their way to prevent the spread of the Gospel. It is a terribly heinous thing to do – attempting to prevent others from coming to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. In so doing, they condemn not just their own souls but seek to damn the souls of others as well. But what they are really doing is adding more and more sin to the ledger of their account. On the day that the books are opened and God makes a reckoning of all the sins that they have chalked up, they will suddenly realise that they do in fact deserve the wrath that will come upon them.
 
For us, as we face the struggles and challenges of witnessing for the Lord, we must always remember that God is a fair and just God who is always in control. While there will be problems, we are exhorted to wait upon the Lord with the patience of hope. We should not worry about things that we cannot control, but instead leave them to our sovereign God. We simply focus on what we can control and do what we can to serve Him! Know that on the part of the opposers, they will have their reward. They will be judged for the sins that they have committed. Instead of being angry with them, we continue to witness to them with love and compassion, hoping that they too will repent and be saved!
 
THOUGHT: The Apostle Paul was once a persecutor too!

PRAYER: Father, “true and righteous are thy judgments” (Rev 16:7).

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