God and the Nations

The Judgment of the Nations

Isaiah 14.22-23; Ezekiel 28.6-10; Revelation 20.7-10

In the last installment I affirmed that God is sovereign over the nations. Nations come into being and prosper by the decree of the heavenly King. And it logically follows that God also decrees the demise of these same nations. God can bless nations and cause their prosperity. God can also judge a nation and cause its humiliation or total destruction. When God looks at humanity He does not just focus on individuals, but also on groups of people, like nations. Groups of people take on certain characteristics and God scrutinizes these group characteristics just as He does individuals.

In this article I will consider what God said in judgment of two nations: Babylon and Tyre. Both of these prophetic texts contain language that Bible students have always associated with the Devil and his fall from heaven. These nations had taken on Satanic qualities that brought them down just like Satan’s rebellion caused his fall from heaven. The book of Revelation takes us all the way to the end of history when Satan’s final judgment will come and the end of his wicked influence over the nations of the world. Satan has deceived the nations and caused them to follow in his footsteps of rebellion against God and opposition to the people of God.

Many people live as if God does not exist. There are many more practical atheists than there are intellectual or philosophical atheists! Nations also tend to ignore God and think that He can’t see or intervene in the affairs of men. Only a fool lives as if there is no God. The nations of the world are foolish indeed and this is the first step in their downfall. God is very much involved in the world and in the governance of the nations, though men fail to see or acknowledge this fact.

In this article we need to think about WHY nations become corrupt and thus worthy of Divine judgement. All nations tend to degenerate over time, even those nations that might have had a good start. What are the forces involved in this degeneration? Then we need to examine how God responds to the wickedness and corruption of the nations. What does God do when nations rebel against His will?

The Corruption of a Nation

There are several ways a nation can become corrupt and vulnerable to Divine judgment. The Scripture texts chosen for this message give us some reasons for God’s displeasure with those historical nations.

Acquiring Possessions

The first reason for corruption has to do with acquiring possessions or wealth. The city-state of Tyre was located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea and had grown wealthy through its trade. Their wealth is mentioned as a part of the judgment of God because it caused them to be proud, greedy, and wicked. Every nation has to have resources in order to survive. And there may be a baseline of what is necessary for human life and survival. Everything above this line could be considered wealth, or what is in excess. The nations typically are not simply interested in survival but in prosperity. All nations seek wealth and to have some kind of economic advantage, perhaps at the expense of other nations. There is always competition for resources in the world. But making it in this world and getting those resources we need to survive is difficult. The Bible tells us that this is because God has put a curse on the earth, which does not submit to man and easily yield up its fruit. We may plant wheat and actually get thorns and thistles in return! The nations of the world are always seeking ways to mitigate this curse and reduce the frustration of life as much as possible. In other words, every nation is looking for ways to get more and more stuff! Unfortunately, the nations are subject to greed and the desire to hoard and protect their wealth. Greed does not share resources and so wealth is never equally distributed among the nations and this becomes a source of tension, jealousy, conflict, and oppression as the wealthy and powerful seek to subjugate the poor and the weak.

Nations want to have an excess of wealth because this is seen as a kind of safety, security, or stability in an uncertain world. The rich man who has a lot of extra stuff stored up in his barns thinks he can take life easy and that he has nothing to worry about in the future. Nations tend to trust in their wealth and rely on it to deliver them from crisis. Underneath the surface of every nation is a certain level of anxiety about the future. In order to keep this latent anxiety in check, the nations of the world are always trying to increase their wealth and secure their economic advantage. 

Unfortunately, wealth does not provide the security the nations believe it to be. It is one of the great illusions of life. Wealth is inherently unstable and can fly away like a bird on the wing. Economic advantages can change. And wealth can also be taken away, even while we take steps to protect it.

Some people think that great wealth is actually a sign of Divine favor. God made Abraham rich. And others would point out that wealth can be used for good purposes and to help people have better lives. A certain level of resources is needed to sustain life, but what happens when we find that we have more than what we need? When we have what we need and are free to pursue other interests, does this mean we will desire and pursue what is good and right? The freedom to pursue what we want is a great temptation to evil. People who have great wealth often fall into the most despicable lifestyles because they can have whatever they want. Having spare time from not having to work for a living can be a dangerous thing if that time is spent pursuing selfish or base desires. Many people who have the spare time will fill it by finding more ways to be wicked. Historians have documented that opulent nations quickly descended into moral depravity. There is a direct connection between increased wealth and increased wickedness in a society. Nations tend to use their wealth as a way of pursuing more and more pleasures. The whole point of life becomes the satisfaction of whatever desires come along at the moment, with little reflection on the true meaning or goal of life. Wealth often makes people lovers and pursuers of pleasure rather than lovers and pursuers of God.

An over-abundance of wealth and material possessions leads to a feeling of self-sufficiency, which is also called the “pride of life” (1 John 2.15-17). This is a form of idolatry where a person replaces dependence on God with a proud, self-reliance. Rather than thanking God for His good gifts, which He distributes graciously to humanity, the individuals thinks that he has provided everything for himself and takes no thought of God at all. This kind of sin is why God warned the Israelites about the wealth that awaited them when they entered the Promises Land: “Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth’” (Deuteronomy 8:17 ESV). This is why Paul warned Christians who had wealth “not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17 ESV). Christians are not to be like the pagan nations, who run after material wealth, but should instead seek the Kingdom of God above everything else in the world (Matt. 6.32-33).

Abusing Power

God will judge nations when they abuse their power. We understand that all power comes from God. If men have any power at all it really can be traced back to God who has simply lent some power to men. God is the source of everything and no man can claim independence from God. This means that every man and every nation is accountable to God and will have to answer for how they used what God has given them. All nations are God’s stewards upon the earth. Nothing really belongs to us but everything belongs to God and is merely on loan to the nations of the world. The problem with the nations of the world is that they tend to think they are self-made. That is, they think they have what they have because of their own work and ingenuity, failing to acknowledge the God who is the source of their strength.

Nebuchadnezzar was one of the great kings of Babylon who is mentioned by name in the Bible. This ruler perfectly articulated the attitude that every nation has about its power and success: “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty” (Daniel 4:30 ESV)? Nebuchadnezzar’s belief was that he had built Babylon by his own power! This is a delusion shared by many nations and leaders who take credit for what is really from God.

Since all power comes from God, there is no nation or ruler who is free to do whatever they want. We often hear people talk about the free-will of man, as if men can do just anything they choose to do. This is an illusion. But we can be thankful that wicked men who are hungry for power and wealth are not free to do what they want to do in the world! Unfortunately, the nations do not acknowledge their limitations or their appropriate boundaries. In an attempt to increase their power and their wealth, the nations are always reaching, grasping, and grabbing for more and more of what they want in the world, without any thought of God or the other nations. No nation ever seems to be content with what it has. Enough is never enough. God sets boundaries for the nations and determines the extent of their habitation in the earth (See Acts 17.26). But the nations are like the restless sea, always churning and raging, always seeking to enlarge itself and extend its reach. The nations constantly struggle with each other for more power.

The acquisition of power may contribute to its corruption. It has been famously observed that “absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Some nations have adopted the policy that their might makes them right and that the struggle of one nation against the other is subject to the natural law of “survival of the fittest.” Many nations have lived by the rule that power justifies their agenda. Ultimately, all power on earth comes from God in heaven who rules over all nations and who can take back the power that He gave to them. And so the balance of power among the nations of the world can shift almost overnight.

Ascending Pride

The danger of acquiring wealth and power is that it leads to pride. This is the primary sin of the nations. Many Christian thinkers would list pride as the deadliest of sins. If individual men are proud, then we would also expect this to be expressed in the nations. In fact, the feeling of pride that comes from men working together to accomplish common goals, many of which are opposed to the will of God, makes for an even greater temptation to pride.

Pride is actually increased when men are successful. When men are successful they begin to think that they are strong and wise and maybe even invincible. “Nothing can stop us now!” “We can do or be anything we set our minds to accomplish.” This is a great delusion. This feeling of invincibility may be the thing that actually leads to a great fall. Nations are often at their most vulnerable point, ironically, when they are at the zenith of their power and accomplishments.

Pride is expressed by nationalism. Nationalism is a misguided and over-inflated view of the nation, perhaps fueled by a distorted patriotism, that makes the nation and its goals the most important thing in the world. Every other nation is inferior to OUR nation. What the other nations want or need does not matter. Only OUR national agenda is important. Our way is the only way and everyone else should bow to our wishes. It is common for every group, even small groups like families or tribes, to believe that their way of life, or culture, is the best. This kind of thinking is pride and it is destructive to every group infected by it.

Each of the passages on which this message is based have some connection to Satan and his history of rebellion against God. Many Christian expositors have recognized that the two prophetic passages concerning Babylon and Tyre contain language that seems to go far beyond those two nations. It is as if God were talking to the Devil in these passages and not just the nations of Babylon and Tyre! The sin of pride was originally manifested in Satan and this is what caused his fall from heaven. Satan exalted himself in rebellion and opposition to God and incited some of the other heavenly beings to follow him. Having been bound to the earth, Satan has continued to incite rebellion and has successfully deceived the nations, according to the book of Revelation. Satan rules over a Kingdom of Darkness in this world. He rules over spiritual Principalities and Powers who exercise influence over the nations and their rulers. Satan is the god of this world, which means he rules and exercises power and even receives worship. The nations are really not free to do what they want, but are unwittingly serving Satan. Satan opposes God and he has infected the world and all the nations with his spirit of rebellion. His primary purpose is to attack the people of God in the world and he incites the nations to do the same.

The Divine Response

In the ancient world the people believed there were many gods. And each nation usually had its own gods or patron deity. Polytheism was really nothing more than either an exalted worship of nature and nationalism in disguise. The worship of a patron deity who favored and fought for a particular nation was a way of endorsing and advancing the national agenda. There are still people who think God has a favorite nation, and of course it is always THEIR OWN nation! But God does not underwrite the agenda of any particular nation. He has His own agenda and any nation who fights against it will find themselves opposing God. This was even true of the nation of Israel that God DID call His own nation! When they rebelled they were also judged. God does not play favorites!

Divine Scrutiny

When God looks at a nation He is always just and fair in His assessment. But men are rarely honest or truthful about themselves. People tend to justify themselves and their actions and to believe that they are in the right. Each nation always has a reason or a rationalization for its agenda while condemning the other nations. Every nation is inherently self-righteous.

God is able to consider the true thoughts, desires, intentions, motivations and actions of the nations. The nations are seldom honest with themselves and it is even rarer to see a nation that is honest with another nation. What people say and what they are actually thinking may be two different things. But God knows the hearts of men. We must remember that God gives credit for INTENTIONALITY and not just for the deed that is actually done. In other words, God will judge men based on what they WANT to do or what they WOULD do if they could and not just what they can accomplish.

Sometimes God seems to be focusing on a particular leader, such as the King of Babylon or of Tyre. Rulers of nations often seem to receive special attention from God because these rulers represent the nations and they also tend to lead them astray. It was the kings of Israel that introduced more and more idolatry and neglected the Law of Moses, which caused Israel’s downfall. Perhaps it is hard for us to identify with the despotic rulers of the ancient world, but all leaders have influence and must make decisions. The leaders of a nation can either encourage righteousness or wickedness. The agenda of a leader can turn a whole nation in a particular direction. The desire to go to war can usually be traced directly to the ambitions of a leader. Even with the advent of democratically elected leaders, a very small group of people can have an inordinate amount of influence on the world. Leaders often embody the character of a nation. A leader who is ambitious and wants to extend his influence, power, or wealth is often reflecting the ambitions of his nation. No leader enjoys universal support. But those who are in power must have a willing coalition of supporters in order to succeed. In other words, for every power-hungry, immoral leader there are thousands or even millions of people behind him, supporting his agenda and enabling him to stay in power. Of course, leaders can make serious errors and even cause the demise or destruction of their nation. Leaders often manage to cause their own destruction through their pride, greed, and failure to listen to good advice. Many people have had to watch helplessly while a foolish leader or group of leaders led their nation into ruin.

While God does scrutinize the nations and judge them for their sins, we should not think that God is harsh or looking for any reason to destroy people. While God sees their faults, He has always been kind and gracious to the nations, even while they continue to ignore God. But the fact is that God is kind to sinful people who do not deserve His consideration and He blesses even the wicked with good things. This explains why some of the most wicked nations are often successful and prosperous, gaining both wealth and power, even though it is obvious they do not deserve it. We deserve nothing from God yet He gives good gifts to us. However, this fact is also taken into consideration by God when it comes time for judgment. God holds people responsible for what He has given. A nation that has been richly blessed may be judged more strictly when they sin.

The wrath of God fills up slowly, like a vessel gradually being filled, and then it overflows. There does come a point when there is no point of return and the wrath of God is coming down. Eventually the time of judgement for the whole world and for all the nations will come and no one will be able to escape it. The great mistake that people make is assuming that the judgement of God will never come. Some believe that God will be infinitely patient or that He is too kind and loving to send judgment. Others are quite confident in their own righteousness and believe that God would never judge them. When people refuse to repent of their wickedness they are taking a huge risk and exposing themselves to Divine wrath.

Divine Opposition

We might think of God’s wrath as something like the burning fire that came down on Sodom and Gomorrah. While God can do this kind of thing, there are some other ways that He judges the nations.

God can frustrate the plans and aspirations of the nations. God can simply make it impossible for a nation to carry out its plans. Ultimately, the nations must serve the purpose of God, even in their wickedness. Everything will glorify God. The world is not for the nations but for God. God is working out His purpose in the earth and this purpose will overcome the plans of the nations.

God can allow enemies to harass or even destroy nations. God illustrates this principle with His own nation of Israel. Because they disobeyed God and broke His covenant, God allowed the Assyrians and then the Babylonians to conquer Israel. God manages the other nations in the same way, giving their enemies victory over them. God removed Babylon in this way, by giving their kingdom to the Medes and Persians. God uses men to judge other men, even though both the men being judged and the men being used to bring the judgement may not recognize God.

God may not allow a nation to be completely destroyed, but simply harassed by enemies until the power and reach of that nation is reduced and that nation is humbled. The safety or success of a nation does not depend on the size of its army or its wealth. A nation rises to power and then falls by the decree of God.

God can also judge nations by judging their leaders. He can frustrate the plans of leaders or remove them entirely. God has access to the hearts and minds of world leaders and can influence them to make certain decisions. Some of these decisions may actually be a kind of judgment, like Pharaoh ordering his army into the Red Sea crossing. God can simply remove the leader like He did with King Herod in the book of Acts. Alexander the Great was the pupil of Aristotle and put together one of the greatest empires in history while still in his twenties, yet he died because of a drinking binge at age 32 and his great empire was divided up among his servants. We must remember that leaders are mortal men, no matter how powerful they might be presently, and are therefore subject to all the weaknesses and frailties of human nature, including death. This is why we are never to fear mortal men but should always fear God, the true ruler of the nations.