The Phrase “Fill Up Their Sins” — A Question
Categories: Bible Questions and Answers Tags: Bible Lessons on SinA querist asks, “In 1 Thessalonians 2:10-16, Paul is talking about the disobedient Jews of that day and time, who were always stirring up the people in opposition to the apostles’ teaching of the gospel. In 1 Thessalonians 2:16, Paul says that those persecuting Jews are speaking against the Gentile brethren “to fill up the measure of their sins.” What does this phrase mean?”
The phrase, “to fill up the measure of their sins,” gives us the idea of the measure, or the degree, of God’s longsuffering and tolerance towards folks or nations who sin against Him.
We can plainly see this principle in Genesis 15:13-16, where the text talks about the fact that Abraham’s seed would eventually be recipients of the Promised Land, but not until the “iniquity” [sins] of the Amorite became “full” (note the terms “full and “fill” in Daniel 8:23 KJV; Matthew 23:32).
When God’s degree or measure of tolerance for sin is reached, judgment will then be forthcoming (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:16b). We can also see this principle being carried out in the figurative language of the Revelation writer, John, in Revelation 14:8-10 and Revelation 16:19.
In these two passages, “Babylon” (a figurative term depicting Rome, the Roman Empire, and all nations making alliance with the Roman Empire), is here depicted as a recipient of God’s divine judgment, (i.e., “the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation” and “to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath“) because of the measure or degree to which her sins against God became intolerable (Revelation 14:8-11).
When God’s cup of wrath becomes “filled up,” His judgmental wrath will be “poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation” (Revelation 14:10), no longer diluted with mercy or longsuffering which had been offered by the gospel (Revelation 14:6; Revelation 18:1-10; cf. Gal. 6:14-16; 1 Peter 2:9-10; 2 Peter 3:1-9).