REVELATION 18:6-8
Read Revelation 18:6-8.
After reading this passage, I wonder if the thought ran through your mind, “Whatever happened to loving your enemy? What about Jesus’ command to turn the other cheek?” To hear the angel say, “pay her back double for what she has done” just doesn’t sound Christian, does it? Is the angel wrong to say these things?
I think the answer is no. I admit that it may seem that we are being held to a double standard here. While Jesus says we are to love our enemies, we must also remember that God says “vengeance is mine, I will repay.” (Rom. 12:19) Just do a word search for “vengeance” in the Bible, and you will see just how strongly God feels about it. Vengeance is always God’s prerogative even when it is administered through people. So where does loving our enemies apply? Well, we are called to love our enemies. That is our part. Loving our enemies is meant to prevent us from seeking revenge. When we are wronged, there is a part of us that wants to get revenge. We want things to be even. But Jesus tells us to love our enemies just as God loved us while we were yet His enemies. In doing so, we show the same forgiveness that we experienced in Christ. It would be hypocritical for us to be forgiven by God and not show forgiveness toward those who offended us.
But wait a minute. You just said it was okay for the angel to wish God’s vengeance on His enemies. Ah, there’s the distinction. These are God’s enemies, not ours. We may seek God’s vengeance on His enemies, but to wish God’s vengeance on our enemies, well that might be taking things too far. To call those who offended us enemies of God is probably an attempt at revenge. God’s vengeance against His enemies is permissible, but revenge on our enemies under the guise of vengeance is not.
So is it okay to wish God’s vengeance upon His enemies? I think yes provided we know who God’s enemies are. In this case, Satan, the Antichrist, the false religion of the beast are all clearly enemies of God. There is no question about it. When God’s name and glory are being threatened, then God’s vengeance is necessary. But be careful here, when our name and our glory are being threatened, that is no reason to seek vengeance from God. That is revenge, not righteous vengeance.
How do you react toward enemies of God? I must admit that I take a rather passive stance on the whole thing. I know that God is bigger than all of His enemies; He can take care of Himself. But I also suspect I may be more tolerant of evil than I ought. When God’s name and glory are maligned, I ought to be angered by it. I ought to seek for truth to prevail for His sake (not my own).
How do you react toward those who offend you? Do you seek retribution and revenge? Remember, our enemies may not be His enemies; therefore, we are to love them even when it is uncomfortable.
-Mike
