December 28th~The Wrath of God

Revelation 7:1-10:11

We watched with John as the Lamb of God broke the last of the seven seals, which introduced seven angels who were given seven trumpets (Is there something special about sevens?); and when these trumpets were sounded, all manner of death and destruction unfolded, from hail and fire to volcanoes and earthquakes, from falling stars to the bottomless pit, from long-haired locusts that sting like scorpions to 200 million troops riding into battle! At one point in there, I thought I was observing a scene from a “Lord of the Rings” book!

One thing is quite clear — bad things are happening. In fact, John wrote, “In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will long to die but death will flee away” (9:6). What is going on here? It appears that the wrath of God is being poured out on the earth for the multiple generations of wickedness and sin. “God will wait no longer! His mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as He announced to His servants the prophets” (10:6, 7).

Wait a minute. Isn’t God full of love and mercy and long-suffering? Why is He punishing these poor innocent people? Why is He destroying the earth? Aren’t these acts descriptive of a God of hate and madness? Where is the New Testament God of peace, joy, and kindness?

Daily Reflection

You may have heard similar questions when the critics of Christianity balk at scenes like these. How would you answer them?

While God is, indeed, characterized by the aforementioned traits, He is also characterized by traits that some people would rather overlook, such as righteousness, justice, and wrath. In the English language, we separate the words righteousness and justice, but in the languages of the Bible (Hebrew and Greek), these two words are one. They go hand in hand. God always does what is right and just; He never acts against His moral character.

Apply these qualities to a judge in a court of law. We should expect that a good judge will do what is right and just, meaning that he would be impartial and give what is due to those who break the law. A good judge would not allow law-breakers to go unpunished. Is God not a good Judge? Should He allow wicked men to go unpunished?

God hates all sin and, therefore, His nature requires Him to punish all sinners. Imagine if God did not punish sinful men. What would that say about Him? Either He takes pleasure in sin or sin does not offend Him. While many people would prefer that kind of god, that is no god at all. The God of the Bible is righteous, just, and expresses His wrath against those who disdain His law. He gives to sinners what is due them. He is a good Judge, and we should be thankful when He demonstrates His wrath.

When would you be right to demonstrate the same type of wrath in your life? At what point would your wrath become sinful?

BiAY.org | Day 362 — 3 Days to Go