“…He washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes.”
— Genesis 49:11
“And he was clothed with a vesture dripped in blood…he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” — Revelation 19:13,15
As I have shown previously on the first half of Genesis 49:11, God has declared the end from the beginning. Liberal Christianity and anti-nomian “fundamentalists” alike tend to believe that there is a radical separation between the Old and New Testaments, and that God’s essential character and nature are somehow different between the two. But here we see that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.[1]
Just like Zechariah expounded the first half of Genesis 49:11 for us, Isaiah also gave us a deeper understanding of the second half. All the prophets refer back to the books of Moses and illuminate the darker sayings for us over the course of redemptive history. Therefore we should be skeptical of anyone claiming to have a "new revelation" from God, because even the tried and true prophets of the Lord did not always bring "new" revelation so much as they repeat, expand and expound the eternal and unchanging Word of God for us because unlike God we are dull of hearing and often forgetful of the everlasting covenant.
I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blook shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.[2]
It is interesting that there are relatively few depictions of this Jesus in Catholic art compared to the number of times Jesus is depicted as a helpless infant, or a dying man on the cross. But the scripture says that all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen,[3] not just those that tickle our fancy. Behold: The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.[4]
The Westminster Shorter Catechism has contained within it one of the most profound statements in the English language:
Q. What is the chief end of man?
A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.
Of course, the second half of that statement can only ever properly apply to the elect of God. All of mankind exists to glorify God, but only the elect will enjoy that fact forever. The ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous[5].
Today is the day to repent and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. You must kiss the Son, lest he be angry.[6] We are not promised another day. We can bend the knee now and be safe from the wrath to come, or we can be tread down in the winepress of His fury on the Last Day.
Behold your God!
Scriptures:
[1] Hebrews 13:8
[2] Isaiah 63:3
[3] 2nd Corinthians 1:20
[4] Proverbs 16:4
[5] Ps 1:4-5
[6] Ps 2:12
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