This is a continuation of the Two Cups Study.

The Cup of Wrath is for Satan

Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. (Revelation 16:19 NKJV)

            As Satan grows in power the Cup of God’s Wrath will be drunk by more and more.  This Cup is really not meant for us, but for the one who caused so much pain through his fall, Satan.       All who drink of the Cup of God’s Wrath are those who follow Satan in his war against God.  Jesus made it plain; if we are not with God we are against Him.  If we are against God we are for Satan and so must drink of God’s Wrath.  

            We think God has forgotten our sin.  Punishment is delayed to make room for grace, but we assume it means God is forgetful.  God remembers!  The cries of those who were hurt are ever before His ears so He can’t forget!  That is why God calls us to get everything right with those we have wronged before coming to Him.  God may not be able to hear our prayer because of the cries of others about our sin!

"he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. (Revelation 14:10 NKJV)

            Satan is a liar!  Many believe his lie that he will defeat God.  But God makes it very clear that Satan is already defeated.  My favorite hymn is Victory in Jesus.  The victory has already been won by the God who “sought us, and bought us”!

            Evil will always lose in the end because it is evil.  Satan lost to Jesus because he sought to destroy Jesus not realizing that he actually accomplished God’s desire and plan!  Evil is by its very nature destructive and self-destructive. 

            The danger is that in its failure it will pull many down with it.  Those who seek evil as a means and an end will also self-destruct.  They will pull destruction on their own heads as they seek to destroy others.

The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. (Revelation 20:10 NKJV)

            I have always wondered if the Devil hasn’t deceived himself.  If he hasn’t told the lie about defeating God so much that he has come to believe it himself?  Will it be a great surprise to him when he falls into the lake of fire?  When he drinks from the Cup of God’s Wrath? 

            What a terrible picture of suffering we see!  Every moment of forever will be spent in torment from the judgment of God.  But will even that make up for the screams of those who also believed the lie and are dammed because they did?  Or will that be part of the burning fire, the screams and cries of those in torment?

            Some wonder if hell will be worse for those who are worse.  When you talk about that amount of suffering I am not sure you can quantify it.  One thing I am sure about hell, I pray I won’t have to find out how bad it is!