I love superhero movies – and there’s a good chance you already know that. But I recognize that these movies aren’t for everyone. These days you usually have to know a lot of backstory to thoroughly enjoy a superhero movie. You’ll probably get lost if you go to see the latest Marvel movie and haven’t seen the dozens that have come before it. Understanding all the references requires a knowledge of what came before.
That’s how the Book of Revelation works too. Many of the images in the book weird us out, but that’s only because we’re unfamiliar with the Old Testament reference to which it points. On Sunday we talked about how “the cup” we find in Psalm 75 is a common Old Testament picture for God’s judgment. As punishment for sin, God compels his enemies to drink the cup of his wrath, drinking it down to the last drop.
That Old Testament cup comes back in the New Testament, specifically in Revelation 14:9-11:
9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God’s wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
The cup returns in John’s vision as God brings final justice on the world and this time the meaning is clear. Do you notice how quickly God dispenses with the metaphor? He goes from prescribing his cup in verse 10 to much clearer pictures of judgment. What’s the point of a passage like this? Am I trying to upset you? No, my hope is that this is some comfort to you. As verse 12 goes on to say:
Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
God’s judgment is a call to persevere. Sometimes it’s hard to follow Jesus, especially when we look out on the world and see the wicked flourish. Do you know what I’m talking about? It’s that feeling when the liar comes out ahead and the cheater gets the prize. In moments like that, faithfulness feels like a handicap. But the cup reminds us that the wicked don’t flourish and that what we see is only for a time. The one who worships the world won’t stand on the pedestal in the end. They’ll fall down into the pit instead.
Brothers and sisters, keep your eyes on the prize. Don’t believe the lies our enemy tells us, that some other road can lead us to blessing. God is faithful to keep his promises. He will right every wrong. He will fix every broken thing. Let’s stay the course together as we wait for God to make all things new.