One Sunday morning Jesus appeared in all the churches. He showed up simultaneously on a million big screens. Some churches were in the middle of a song when his face popped up and the music went quiet, like someone had unplugged all the cords at the sound booth. Bands and singers across America stopped singing, looked up, and realized they had been pre-empted by none other than the Man Himself, Jesus Christ.
In other churches, pastors had already started preaching, walking back and forth across the stage, some reading Bible passages, others getting started on the obligatory funny story, when suddenly a bearded man with dark, Semitic features showed up on the Jumbotron. The little microphones taped to the preachers’ chins were no match for the voice of the Son of God, he whose voice could silence Niagara Falls, Revelation 1:15. Preachers and musicians across America ran from their stages and sat with their families, terrified. What was happening?
“Fear not,” Jesus said. He smiled. “I am the first and the last. I am he that lives, though I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. I hold the keys of death and hell (Revelation 1:17-18). I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the One who was, who is, and who is to come (Revelation 1:8). Peace be with you. As the Father loves me, so I love you (John 15:9).”
After calming people with his words of peace and love, Jesus announced the reason for his visit. Judgment was coming.
“I am going to judge North Korea. The nation has become an asylum, led by a string of evil dictators. This cannot continue. I am going to judge Vietnam, a nation that continues to persecute believers. I will bring judgment on China, where my pastors are thrown into jail for preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, many of whom are never heard from again. I will bring judgment to Sudan, a nation that has spent the better part of three decades fighting a war against its own Christian citizens….”
As Jesus spoke, congregations around America began to clap spontaneously. It was a normal reaction to great points from a great speaker. And this was Jesus, after all. The greatest speaker. Soon, people were cheering. Jesus was going to judge China. And Russia. And Somalia. And Sudan. And Burma. And Iran. And Nigeria, Eritrea, India, and Pakistan. In fact, Jesus spoke at length, covering a long list of well-known persecutors.
All the countries where missionaries and preachers were thrown in jail would be judged. All the nations where those who converted to Christ were then charged with the trumped-up crime of “apostasy” would be judged.
Jesus was going to round up all the bad guys, and America’s churches were here for it. It felt like a State of the Union address: every time the Son of Man took a long pause, there was applause. Soon everyone was standing. This was our Man, our Messiah! He showed up in church to fight for us and our people! Spontaneously there were standing ovations all across the nation.
He went on: He would be judging all the nations dwelling in darkness: Indonesia, Malaysia, Yemen, Libya, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Cuba, Nicaragua[1]. Then the Lord said something no one could have predicted:
“And woe to you, United States. You are a people who know better. Yours is a land founded on scripture and freedom and grace and truth. Yours is a land with Bibles in every home.”
The clapping stopped. People sat down.
“Woe to you, United States. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Pakistan and India, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Pakistan and India on the day of judgment than for you (Matthew 11:21-22).”
No one was smiling anymore. People around me were staring at the floor. Silent. Lost in thought, words of judgment washing over them in waves.
“And you, the people of the Bible Belt, you evangelicals cheering the destruction of nations you detest, will you be lifted up to the heavens? No. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Imperial Japan, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Emperor Hirohito on the day of judgment than for you (Matthew 11:23-24).”
“Woe to you, American Christians. For though you do not persecute believers, you neutralize them with money and distractions. You make yourselves so rich and so busy that you have neither the time nor the interest to serve me.”
“Woe to you, American Christians. Because you say ‘I am rich and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked … As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous, therefore, and repent” Revelation 3:17-19.
I woke up then, and before I raised my head, I realized I was asleep at my desk, my arms folded across the Bible I had been reading. I was in Amos chapters one and two, where the prophet pronounces judgment on God’s enemies. The people of Judah and Israel must have enjoyed hearing that:
“I will send fire into the house of Hazael, devouring the palaces of Ben-Hadad … I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, devouring its palaces … I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, devouring its palaces … I will send a fire upon Teman, devouring its palaces … I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, devouring its palaces … I will send a fire upon Moab, devouring its palaces” Amos 1:4 – 2:2.
But then God pronounced judgment on his own people.
“I will send a fire upon Judah and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem” Amos 2:5.
I understood my dream then, and I shuddered. Because I have a bad habit of rejoicing when my enemies lose. I cheer when bad people get what they deserve. I am pleased when a murderer is locked up for life. My favorite thing on the news is to watch the slow-burn of celebrity scandals: another rich playboy going down in flames. Another arrogant politician who set his career on fire with his addictions. Yes, I rejoice when my enemies suffer. I know I do.
And Jesus will judge them. But he will judge me too–and he holds me to a much higher standard! The lives and works of believers will be examined at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Being saved and born-again does not leave you free of all judgment. God will examine your life and reward you accordingly. See 2 Corinthians 5:10 and Romans 14:10.
Do not rejoice over the destruction of your enemies, Proverbs 24:17-18.
Do not rejoice when progressives suffer. Do not rejoice when members of another political party suffer. Do not rejoice when scandal destroys your political or cultural enemy. Instead, remember, “There but for the grace of God, go I.” Only God’s grace has spared you the same fate.
And God will judge his church. He will judge his people. Why do we think we are better that someone else?
“It is time for judgment to begin with the house of God” 1 Peter 4:17.
AΩ
[1] The nations named here as persecutors come from the 2024 World Watch List published by Open Doors, a list I believe to be based in part on the Annual Report on International Religious Freedom mandated by the International Religious Freedom Act. https://erlc.com/resource/the-top-countries-facing-christian-persecution/
Household Words: 