The Hammer of God

I saw the hammer of God. I saw the hammer in His mighty hand and outstretched arm¹. I heard the thundering voice of authority which said, “vengeance is Mine, I will repay².” I saw that hammer³ raised over the earth in righteous judgment, and said,

“I am undone—⁴”

I was in dread, in anticipation of the worm that never dies⁵ and unquenchable fire⁶. Of the laying aside of all hope for future favor. When a man remembers, before the Lord who Remembers⁷, that he has a record of wrongs, of sins, of transgressions that have kindled a fire that all the rivers in the world could not quench, of iniquities that the strongest bleach cannot wash away, the word panic cannot begin to describe the agitation that he experiences. He despairs, he fears, he trembles.

And it swung.

The outer darkness⁸ seemed to be closing in. It was as if I could already hear the gnashing of teeth⁹, the weeping that can only be described as the crushing of the winepress of the wrath of God¹⁰. The wailing where hope has been abandoned, where light has been abandoned, where sinners have been abandoned. The very mouth of Hell seemed to open wide beneath me, for the “soul that sins shall die.” ¹¹

And it swung. 

And it swung again.

I opened my eyes, and I saw the hammer of God:

It was hitting a nail,

Through a Hand,

Into a Cross.

“Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” (Matthew 9:2)

1. Exodus 6:6

2. Romans 12:19

3. Jeremiah 23:29

4. Isaiah 6:5

5. Mark 9:48

6. Matthew 3:12

7. Revelation 16:19

8. Matthew 8:12

9. Luke 13:28

10. Revelation 14:19

11. Ezekiel 18:20