every slave and free man hid: When God’s judgment comes, people who are not redeemed will be terrified. They will try to hide in a safe place, but they will not succeed (Isaiah 2:19–21; Ezekiel 38:20; Hosea 10:8; Luke 23:30). The prophets often warned that this great day would bring wrath and judgment (Isaiah 13:6–11; Joel 1:15; Amos 5:18; Zephaniah 1:14–15).
The key question about God’s judgment is, who can survive? (Malachi 3:2). God’s children will be happy to see him (Revelation 5:13–14; 14:3–5) because they understand God’s answer to the martyrs’ call for justice (6:9–11), and they have nothing to fear from God’s judgment (Acts 10:34–36; Romans 5:1–2). Those who have harmed God’s people will tremble in fear as they face the wrath of the Lamb.