The Judge of Nations
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.” — Revelation 19:11
Throughout history, empires, regimes and dictators have come and gone. They have ascended to status on the shoulders of songs of hailment and been felled with less grace and dignity than afforded to rogues and exiles. Many a time it has been at the hand of a ruler more powerful or brutal than they were. As a result, we tend to have the slant that the world is a place for the unjust and despotic; that justice does not rule and fairness remains downtrodden. Let us not forget, however, the words God spoke when He drove Nebuchadnezzar from his kingdom, “the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will”, nor forget the words of Jesus to Pilate, “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.” The grip of the Sovereign’s hand has never been loosened from His sceptre. What our minds perceive in the day of distress does not necessarily carry the weight of full understanding, or sound judgement. If we say that justice does not rule, are we not placing a libellous accusation at the feet of our beloved King? Are we not being unjust in our ruling of what we perceive to be right and fair? Are we not missing the big picture?
Yes, indeed, injustice is practised in the hearts and lives of men and woman, but one day the books will be opened, and every deed done by man and thought entertained from his heart, will be placed before the Judge of all the earth to carry out His sentence of pure justice made in absolute righteousness. Man will always remain accountable for all he has done and does. No conspiracy of kings, or of rulers of commerce, contemplated behind closed doors will remain in the closet. No cruelty crafted against civilisation will be swept under the carpet. We need to bear in mind that throughout history, the Lord has maintained His justice. Egypt fell through their obstinate oppression of the Israelites. The Israelites were brought into subjugation by the hand of the Babylonians, for God had pronounced their judgement should they disobey Him. The Babylonians met their demise at the hand of the Medes and Persians, for they did not humble themselves before the Sovereignty of God. Then it was the turn of the Greeks by the hand of Alexander the Great; them too eventually falling foul with the rise of Rome. In recent times, we’ve seen Germany’s Hitler crushed, Italy’s Mussolini strung up, Romania’s Ceausescu shot down, and Libya’s Gadaffi driven out and destroyed, and there are many others.
A nation, a power, or a people has risen up when the iniquity has reached its fullness in God’s sight. Organisations and clandestine groups may be manipulating circumstances, and man may be behind its strategy, but God remains in sovereign control. Even when Israel drove out the nations to take possession of the promised land, it was not until the wickedness of those nations had reached its fullness and God’s judgement upon them justified. Each time there has been a person, a people, or a nation that God could use in meeting out His judgement. The only problem is that man still continues to manipulate, control and rule, and iniquity remains. There will come a time, however, when this will not happen any longer, nor will it be possible. There will come a time when the clouds of oppression will hang at their heaviest, a dictatorship will be at its strongest, its rule will be at its widest, its evil and injustice will be at its harshest, and its destructiveness will be at its highest – where no person, or people, or nation could be used to overthrow it. It will be in the last days when the anti-Christ rules the earth. However, when God has said that the evil has reached its fullness and there will be no more delay, there will be one ready to meet out His sentence – the One who is called Faithful and True. On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords. He will meet out judgement with the Word of His mouth and slay the evil that seeks to defile, defame, defy and dethrone the righteous justice of our God.
O believer, let your heart rejoice that your God is all powerful; let your heart sing that in the end no evil will overcome good. Yet, if you should see injustice prevail in man, take it to the LORD in prayer; and if you should see evil abounding in people, take it to the LORD in prayer. And while you await your Lord to fulfil all His purposes in accordance with His wisdom, do Him no injustice through bemoaning. Dear saint, entreat the Lord through your prayers and supplications, and allow the Redeemer to continue His sanctifying work in you and to keep you through His strength, goodness and grace. Let us press onward in our duties and take courage in the words of the psalmist, David, “The LORD is known by His justice”, and “verily He is a God that judgeth in the earth.” Let us rest in Him therefore, for will not the Judge of all the earth do right?
Judson McCawl