(There is a special message at the end of this article for those who might happen to read this and do not have Jesus in their life and are looking for peace and a way to better understand the present-day insanity and confusion.)
As most Christian believers will likely agree, we can read the Word of God and not “get certain verses.” Then, when the Holy Spirit, who knows every thought and every heart, determines that we are ready, He opens our eyes and hearts to understand them with a clarity not previously experienced. I believe this is fairly common for the diligent Bible reader, as it has come up in conversations with sisters and brothers numerous times.
That’s what happened to me this morning (05/29) as I was reading Jeremiah for the umpteenth time. It happened in Jeremiah 25 when I was reading (again, for the umpteenth time) chapters 15-33. Awesome when that happens!
Let me be clear: I am not a pastor or otherwise educated (in human terms) in the field of ministry. And I am certainly not claiming to be a Bible expert, as I am not. However, the real teacher of God’s Word is God Himself (the Holy Spirit in particular), and because of that, anyone at all who has received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, is prayerful, has the desire, and is able to be made aware of whatever the Spirit determines to make clear to them. It is a universal blessing from God to His children.
Having said that, there are many prophetic passages that have been widely studied and are commonly known both in the circles of the watchmen (prophecy watchers) and people who are diligent readers of God’s Word. There are too many to name, but suffice it to say that these prophecies receive the majority of attention when the circumstances unfolding in the world prompt sober speculation, study, and/or conversation.
Then there are some of these prophetic passages that seem to wait patiently for the time when they begin to become more obvious. For me at least, Jeremiah 25:15-33 emerged that way this morning, and it was what we sometimes call a “God moment.”
It is sometimes a very sobering moment to have, but it is His Word, and no matter what that prophecy entails, understanding of it is still a blessing.
I am going to Bold Type some of the words of this prophecy in order to convey why it became obvious to me that these verses start off as execution of a judgment that starts with Jerusalem and Judah but then is expanded to include (with no ambiguity), a judgment against the entire world, all the nations, all the unbelieving people, and all the leaders who have blatantly disregarded God’s warnings and ignored Him throughout history. They are clearly defined in the Bible, and it has been published and available in all the world for centuries. God has never executed His judgment without first executing Mercy and Grace by providing multiple warnings.
The Cup of God’s Wrath (Jeremiah 25:15-33)
“For thus the LORD, the God of Israel, says to me, ‘Take this cup of the wine of wrath from My hand and cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it.* They will drink and stagger and go mad because of the sword that I will send among them.’
Then I took the cup from the LORD’S hand and made all the nations to whom the LORD sent me drink it: Jerusalem and the cities of Judah and its kings and its princes, to make them a ruin, a horror, a hissing and a curse, as it is this day; Pharaoh king of Egypt, his servants, his princes and all his people; and all the foreign people, all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the land of the Philistines (even Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron and the remnant of Ashdod);
Edom, Moab and the sons of Ammon; and all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon and the kings of the coastlands which are beyond the sea; and Dedan, Tema, Buz and all who cut the corners of their hair; and all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the foreign people who dwell in the desert; and all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam and all the kings of Media; and all the kings of the north, near and far, one with another; and all the kingdoms of the earth which are upon the face of the ground, and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.’
[Note: Sheshach is another name for Babylon. In this case, could it imply the final judgment against Babylon? (see Revelation 14:8)]
“You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Drink, be drunk, vomit, fall and rise no more because of the sword which I will send among you. And it will be, if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, then you will say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts: “You shall surely drink! For behold, I am beginning to work calamity in this city which is called by My name, and shall you be completely free from punishment? You will not be free from punishment; for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth,” declares the LORD of hosts.’
“Therefore you shall prophesy against them all these words, and you shall say to them,
‘The LORD will roar from on high
And utter His voice from His holy habitation;
He will roar mightily against His fold.
He will shout like those who tread the grapes,
Against all the inhabitants of the earth
A clamor has come to the end of the earth,
Because the LORD has a controversy with the nations.
He is entering into judgment with all flesh;
As for the wicked, He has given them to the sword,’ declares the LORD.”
Thus says the LORD of hosts,
“Behold, evil is going forth
From nation to nation,
And a great storm is being stirred up
From the remotest parts of the earth.
“Those slain by the LORD on that day will be from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be lamented, gathered or buried; they will be like dung on the face of the ground” (Jeremiah 25:15-33).
This geographical list expands outward from Jerusalem in an ever-widening footprint until it includes all the “inhabitants of the earth.”
*Clarification of: “cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it” We know that Jeremiah was not physically sent to every kindred, tribe and nation, but he was, and still is today, sent everywhere through God’s Word. That includes every single command, precept, standard, and law contained in His Word as well.
God’s standards of conduct apply to every person without exception: Whether Jew or Gentile, we are all equal in God’s sight if we have received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
As well, no unbelieving person is exempt from His judgment as His Glory has been clearly revealed to all people: There are, as His Word makes clear, no excuses.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. Without speech or language, without a sound to be heard, their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world” (Psalm 19:1-4). Emphasis added.
“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness. For what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that men are without excuse” (Romans 1:18-20). Emphasis added.
Here I would also point out that no one is excluded from His Grace, Mercy, and Salvation either – if they repent of their sin and receive His Son’s substitutionary death on their behalf on the cross at Calvary. Please see the Special Message at the end of this article for clarity.
Now to the crux of this article.
Much in the way of prophecy is contained in the Book of Jeremiah, and I believe much remains, but I believe the Holy Spirit brought Chapter 25:15-33 into my heart and spirit this morning because the long-prophesied time for God’s judgment on the whole world for the rejection of His One and Only Savior is nearing its fulfillment.
I hope you might read this passage with a willingness to heed the warning contained within and with the understanding that every single prophecy in the word of God up to the present moment has been fulfilled in exact detail, so there is no legitimate reason to think that the balance of them will not be as well.
When they do, Jesus promised, it will occur suddenly and with finality.
“Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and His arm establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him” (Isaiah 40:10).
You do not have to perish along with this world of sin and rebellion. It should be obvious to all: Things are deteriorating rapidly despite what human “leaders” falsely proclaim.
God always keeps His Promises, both for judgment and also the Gospel, proclaimed in His Word, the Bible: The offer of forgiveness of sin and eternal life in Jesus Christ.
If you are willing to respond, you must do so in your living years.
The special message I promised you:
For anyone who may read this article and has not trusted in Jesus Christ and therefore has no hope or peace in your life.
You can have hope. You can have the peace that Jesus has promised to all who have made Him their Lord and Savior. The peace that passes understanding.
It requires that you come before God on His terms and that you do so in your living years.
And, what are His terms according to His Word?
- Genuine repentance (turning to God instead of continuing to reject or ignore Him).
- Confession of sins (that you are a sinner and acknowledge that to God).
- That you understand that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23).
- To acknowledge to God that you are unable to pay that debt.
- Belief that Jesus Christ paid your death sentence for you on the cross and rose from the grave three days later, conquering death, just as He promised.
- To believe that Jesus is the Way, the only Way, that God has established by which humans may be saved from the consequences of their sin and rebellion.
God has made it absolutely clear that there is no one who comes before Him, under His terms, that will be refused.
- No one: no race, no color, no country of origin, regardless of any previous belief system: no one.
- No matter what your past sins have been, God can and WILL forgive you because He says He will.
- Salvation is available to everyone without any exceptions.
If you put all your trust for salvation in Jesus, and Him only, you can follow that prayer up by simply saying, “Thank you, Father God, for hearing my prayer and saving me,” because we can trust Him to keep His Word. He always has. He always will.
“Truly, Truly, I say to you that he who hears My words and believes the One who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned. He has crossed from death to life” (John 5:24).
There are no answers and there is no hope in the world by governments, organizations, politics or politicians. There are only lies and deception. But you can have the Truth and the peace you seek.
The answers are in the Word of God. The Bible. If you ask God, with all your heart, He will hear you.
“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).
Pro Salvator Vigilans
To contact me: canoeman96@gmail.com