The Time of the Gentiles

Judgment on Gentile Nations

Book of Jeremiah 25

Without a doubt, as the Bride of Christ we should be anxiously watching and waiting for the return of the Lord.

We must also understand that "All" nations are accountable to God!

They are not watching nor waiting for the return of Christ because they will His wrath!

Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

There is a great difference between the voice of love and the voice of death!

Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, but He is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

There is no place to hide from the wrath of God!

There is no security outside the will of God!

Every person and every nation have a choice to drink of the cup of submission to the will of the Lord or the cup of His wrath!

The cup of God's wrath is the consequences of sin!

Jesus Christ is in the future of every human being that has ever lived whether good or bad, we will all face Him!

Year after year Jeremiah preached these things to Judah and many of his words had reached into other nations and many hated Jeremiah for the words he was preaching.

The Judgment of God is not a pleasant thing to think about!

Why is this so true? They will be held accountable for the way they have treated God's People. "Vengeance is mine saith the Lord".

This includes the Church but also the nation of Israel.

Listen as Jeremiah preached to Judah:

*****Jer 25:11  And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

True history agrees with the Word of God.

Babylon is the first of four kingdoms that Daniel said by the Holy Spirit that would conquer the known world of that day to form a great empire.

Daniel and Ezekiel were both taken captive in the time of Jeremiah who God had chosen to remain in Judah at this time.

Nebuchadnezzar had captured Judah in 605 BC. His army had also defeated the powers of Egypt and the powers of Assyria.

Some believe that this period of time began the fulfillment of Luke 21:24.

Luk 21:24  And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

The time of the Gentiles is not yet complete and will not be complete until the Church has been removed and the Lord sits on the throne of David.

We should understand that God knows the ending at the same time of the beginning and He has a Master plan in place. We can see God work in the generation that we live in and Jeremiah would see God work in his own generation.

In that 70 years most all those non-believers would die off and those that were born would live in a land of idol worshippers and learn the truth of God.

The thing we also see is that the nation of Babylon as powerful as they were would only last for 70 years.

*****Jer 25:12  And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

We know that God uses some human as a servant to fulfill His will and Nebuchadnezzar was used of God at this time.

The greatest lesson we can learn of these times is that we need to pay attention to what God says! We must certainly never reject the Word of God.

When these things went according to the plan of God, He then brought "Judgment" upon Babylon because of its cruelty not only to God's people but also to all the people in that Empire.

Isa 13:19  And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

Isa 13:20  It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.

God keeps His eyes on each and every generation!

Jeremiah prophesied against all nations and that includes the nations of today.

*****Jer 25:13  And I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.

We must understand that the people of Judah hated the words that Jeremiah spoke, and many sought to kill him.

We also see that Jeremiah spoke of the seventy years of Babylon's existence and many of them would take it out on the Jews as we read in the Book of Esther along with the other prophets of that day.

God would next use Persia, then Greece and then Rome as said by Daniel.

Dan 9:1  In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;

Dan 9:2  In the first year of his reign I Daniel understood by books the number of the years, whereof the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.

And Daniel would then relate all these things to the Birth of Christ!

Dan 9:25  Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.

God does never forget His people no matter where they are.

*****Jer 25:14  For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the works of their own hands.

God warns us that we must not close our ears to the "Gospel". We must never refuse to hear the Word of God!

Joh 5:39  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Joh 5:40  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

Joh 5:41  I receive not honour from men.

Joh 5:42  But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.

We would think if we got to see a portion of the wrath of God before it actually came, it would change the way we think but those in the time of Jeremiah only got madder at God

*****Jer 25:15  For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

Jer 25:16  And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.

Jeremiah was allowed to see the wrath of God in a vision so when he preached of the wrath of God, he could teach the complete story.

It was not just Judah who would see the wrath of God it was every nation of that day as one empire was taken down another one would begin all seeking world domination.

This was the message of Jeremiah to all people of that day including Judah. Only Judah was told that their captivity would only last 70 years.

Babylon was to be the agent for God's "judgment" not only for Judah but also for all the nations of that day!

Psa 75:7  But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Psa 75:8  For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

This is the lesson we learned down at the Potter's House.

*****Jer 25:17  Then took I the cup at the LORD'S hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the LORD had sent me:

Again we see Jeremiah did not question the Lord even after he had seen this terrible vision. Jeremiah was "faithful" to make sure God's message was shared with every nation that they would be devoured by Babylon, but Babylon would only rule them for 70 years.

These nations would get this opportunity to see the truth of God and to make a choice to believe or not believe.

Those who were wicked would be like staggering drunks trying to defend themselves.

God would prove to the world that it was He who held all the power.

Judah would learn that Jehovah was not exclusive to the Jews.

We already know the Lord is no respecter of persons and it is easy to see that He is no respecter of nations, so He would begin with Judah.

Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Rev 14:11  And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

When we do not worship the Lord then by default, we worship Satan!

None of us have the means to defend ourselves against the Sword of the Lord!

*****Jer 25:26  And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

Jer 25:27  Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.

The world would not understand how Babylon an impenetrable fortress could be overrun.

The truth of the "Judgment" of God is that it will be a complete and irreversible and unstoppable!

The truth of the "Judgment" of is that God will begin with His own people!

Just as sure as in this day of Jeremiah were God began with Judah, it will be the same for the Church.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

God will always "Judge" His people first, so that that this world will see that it cannot go unpunished!

To drink of the "cup" of God is to submit to the will of God. To reject this cup is to have this cup poured out first on your head then the rest of your body. It is the same for the human being as it will be for all the nations that reject the Lord Jesus Christ!

All the wicked of this earth will be helpless as a drunk trying to defend itself.

In fact this was a prophesy of Babylon who felt so confident of her power that when the enemy came they would have a drunken party.

This is the way Cyrus found them when he occupied Babylon.

*****Jer 25:28  And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.

Jer 25:29  For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the LORD of hosts.

We should clearly understand that if God is willing to destroy His own people and the city where He had placed His name to rid this world of evil and its sin, then He certainly would have no problem in destroying all this world.

Remember God has already said there will be a New World and a New Jerusalem.

Rev 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Rev 21:2  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev 21:5  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

We must understand that God never threatens anyone, God just simply tells us what is going to happen.

God does these things not as a Prophet would do it but as the true God, our Creator would do it!

This entire world will certainly drink the Cup of the wrath of God because this world refuses to repent of its wicked ways!

There is no one who rebels against the Father or His Son or His Holy Spirit who will go unpunished for rejecting the truth of the "Gospel"!

*****Jer 25:30  Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.

We would be foolish to believe that these things were just written for the days of Jeremiah!

Even when the Lord "roars from Heaven", He is seeking repentance for this will be the last opportunity before He sends the sword of His wrath which is eternal death.

Joe 2:11  And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

Joe 2:12  Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

Joe 2:13  And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Joe 3:16  The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

These were not idle words spoken by Jeremiah, these were the words of truth!

Rev 14:18  And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

Rev 14:19  And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

Rev 14:20  And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

In the days of Jeremiah the grapes were trodden down by men who when they saw all the fruit of the vine had been gathered would shout the victory.

This shout of victory would turn into the battle-cry of the Lord! The Lord would roar as He had now to perform the things He had said He would do.

The Lord is never happy when He must deliver His wrath to those who have rebelled!

*****Jer 25:31  A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

Notice that the wrath of God is only for the "wicked".

We should see this as a prelude to the White Throne Judgment.

1) There would be the Judge but there would be no jury.

2) There would be an indictment but there would be no defense.

3) There would be a sentence but there would be no appeal.

Where as to those who love the Lord, He will be our Defense!

God will have given all people plenty of opportunity to change their evil ways, admit their guilt and to repent.

For those who refuse it will be too late.

There will be no more rumors of war this world will be in all-out war with itself!

*****Jer 25:32  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

What did Jesus say?

Luk 21:10  Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:

Luk 21:11  And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

Luk 21:25  And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Luk 21:26  Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

We must not be confused by false Preachers and teachers!

We are witnesses now as evil is going forth from nation to nation enforced by the governments of this world.

That great whirlwind is already beginning to turn and when it reaches its full rotation, you will be glad you were a Christian and missed out on the wrath of God.

*****Jer 25:33  And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.

For the Jews, to not have a proper burial was a disgrace! This was treating a human being as common rubbish, but this is exactly the way the bodies those who are wicked will be treated in the day of the Lord.

There would be no one to mourn them.

There would be no one to bury them.

There is no place in Heaven for those who hate the Lord!

There is not one piece of dust in all of Heaven.

When Judah was overrun by Babylon it was just a prelude to the final judgment where we know things will at least be 7 times in multiples worse.

Mat 16:27  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Mat 16:28  Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

Take Lord at His Word and just believe what He says!

Amen

Let's Pray!