英國浪漫主義畫家約翰．馬丁（John Martin, 1789-1854年）以描繪文明毀滅的末日景象而聞名。在他所描繪的這些奇景中，人類被巨大的浩劫所吞噬，對即將到來的厄運完全無能為力。他的其中一幅畫作《尼尼微的陷落》，描繪了人們在滾滾烏雲的籠罩下，試圖逃離那即將到來要將他們徹底毀滅的災難。

在馬丁創作這幅畫的兩千多年前，先知那鴻就預言了尼尼微會受到審判。先知用大山震動、小山消融和大地搖晃的景象（那鴻書1章5節），象徵上帝對那些貪圖私利而施行欺壓的人大發烈怒。然而，上帝在對付罪的時候，並非沒有恩典。那鴻提醒百姓上帝大有能力，也指出上帝「不輕易發怒」（3節）並且「認得那些投靠祂的人」（7節）。

關於審判的信息讀起來固然沉重，但一個縱容罪惡的世界卻更可怕。感恩的是，先知的話並沒有就此打住，他繼續提醒我們，上帝渴望的是一個美好又公義的世界：「看哪，那傳報佳音、宣告和平之人的腳，已經站在山上」（15節，新譯本）。這佳音就是耶穌，祂承受罪的後果，讓我們能夠與上帝和好（羅馬書5章1、6節）。

English Romantic painter John Martin (1789–1854) is known for his apocalyptic landscapes depicting the destruction of civilizations. In these fantastic scenes, humans are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the destruction and powerless against the approaching doom. One painting, The Fall of Nineveh, depicts people fleeing the coming destruction of mounting waves under dark rolling clouds. 

More than two thousand years before Martin’s painting, the prophet Nahum prophesied against Nineveh foretelling its judgment. The prophet used images of mountains quaking, hills melting, and the earth trembling (Nahum 1:5) to symbolize God’s wrath on those who’d oppressed others for their own gain. However, God’s response to sin is not without grace. While Nahum reminds his listeners of God’s power, he notes that He is “slow to anger” (v. 3) and “cares for those who trust in him” (v. 7).

Descriptions of judgment are hard to read, but a world where evil isn’t confronted would be a terrible one. Thankfully the prophet doesn’t end on that note. He reminds us that God desires a good and just world: “Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace!” (v. 15). That good news is Jesus, who suffered the consequences of sin so we can have peace with God (Romans 5:1, 6).