The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Ver. 10. Of the wine of the wrath of God] Wine for wine. God delights to retaliate and proportion; as he that said, Fumos vendidit, fumo pereat, He sold smoke, and by smoke let him perish. Imposturam faciunt et patientur, as the emperor said of them that sold glass for pearls: They deceived others, themselves shall be deceived much more.
Without mixture] viz. Of mercy, with which God usually moderateth the cup of believers' afflictions. SeeJames 2:13. They only sip off the top of God's cup, Illud tantum quod suavius est et limpidius: That which is so sweet and so clear. Reprobates drink the dregs. They shall have an evil, an only evil without mixture of mercy, Ezekiel 7:5. Judgment without mercy, darkness without light. Philosophers say that in this world non dantur purae tenebrae, there is no mere darkness; but reprobates, that here preferred darkness before light, shall be cast into utter darkness without the least glimpse of light. Non surget hic afflictio. God will make an utter end; "Affliction shall not rise up the second time," Nahum 1:9. The wicked shall be totally and finally consumed at once.
In the presence of the holy angels] Who shall be not spectators only, but executioners also, as once at Sodom.
In the presence of the Lamb] Notwithstanding their Agnus Dei, Lamb of God and other superstitious trumperies.