The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the nations. (Psalm 110:5-6)

The battle described in Genesis 14 in which Abraham’s nephew, Lot, was taken captive is considered to be a prototype of what is to occur at the end of the age, just before the Messianic era. When Abraham heard the news, he took a relatively small band of men and, with God’s help, defeated those kings, their armies and retrieved his family and their goods. Likewise, in the end of days, God will utterly destroy all of His enemies — those nations who aligned themselves against His people and shed the blood of God’s chosen. Interestingly, one of the four kings named in Genesis is called “Tidal, king of Goyim” or “king of nations” (Genesis 14:1).

This is a facet of Messiah’s return that many people don’t talk about, perhaps because it is too unpleasant. Nevertheless, the Lamb who was slain is returning as a Lion and will exact His vengeance upon those who have oppressed His servants. The Bible records key precedents to this end time carnage: e.g. scores of Egyptian dead washed up onto the sea shore after God drowned them in the waters of the Red Sea. On another occasion, He sent angels to slay tens of thousands who had gathered against King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah. As David prophesies in the verses above, when King Messiah comes to take up His throne, He will remove all things that offend; nations will be judged and wicked men shall fall under His heel.

Considering the topic, what inspirational thought can we take away from this, and especially considering that you and I are to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us? Perhaps that is exactly the point; because God is just, there must be a day of vengeance. At the same time, we know that the Lord is not willing that any should perish, and therefore, it falls to us to pray that the wicked will humble themselves before the Almighty and not be accounted among those who perish. As it is written, “The Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them” (Luke 9:56). We are His witnesses and are given the mandate to testify of the resurrected Messiah and make disciples in His Name that they, along with you and I, may not be “appointed unto wrath, but to obtain salvation.” May we be diligent in our duty.

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill