“On that day the LORD with his relentless, large, strong sword will bring judgment on Leviathan, the fleeing serpent – Leviathan, the twisting serpent. He will slay the monster that is in the sea” (Isaiah 27.1).

The end of Isaiah 26 speaks of the LORD punishing the inhabitants of the earth for their sins. This happens at the Great White Throne judgment after the Millennium. Satan incites the rebellion of mankind one final time. “For by fire and by His sword the LORD will judge all flesh; and the slain of the LORD shall be many” (Isaiah 66.16). Revelation tells us that a sharp two-edged sword comes out of the mouth of the Lord Jesus. The words of God are likened unto a sword. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God (Ephesians 6.17). Jesus calls for repentance from straying members of an otherwise faithful church in Revelation 2.16: “Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.” 

“[Jesus] was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called the Word of God… Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God …And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse” (Revelation 19.13, 15, 21).

The relentless sword of the LORD will bring judgment one day. The words of Jesus either save or slay, bless or condemn. As one hymn writer put it, “He speaks and the sound of His voice is so sweet the birds hush their singing.” However, He will speak on that awful and terrible day of judgment and it will strike terror in the heart of everyone gathered around His great white throne. 

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4.12-13). The words of God cut deep. They convict us of sin, judgment, and righteousness to come. Many do whatever they can to silence that conviction. But the Lord Jesus is relentless. He lays the soul bare. The wages of our sin is eternal death, but the gift of God is eternal life. Repent and respond to words of life before you are eternally wounded by a severe sword, great and strong, the relentless sword of the LORD.