NOTE TO THE READER: The following document was originally prepared and presented by
Haydn K. Piper, for a Debate at the Beaverton, Oregon, SDA Church, in March of 1988.
* * * T H E W R A T H O F G O D * * *
CONTENTS
* WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND GOD'S WRATH? *
* BIBLICAL MEANING OF GOD'S WRATH *
* THE CHANGLESSNESS OF GOD *
* GOD'S USE OF POWER AND WRATH *
* GOD'S ANGER AND WRATH (W/MERCY) *
* GOD'S FINAL EXHIBITION OF WRATH *
* FINAL DESTRUCTION OF THE WICKED *
* BIBLICAL MEANING OF GOD'S WRATH *
* SERIOUS BUSINESS *
* CONCLUSION *
There are several explanations of God's Wrath, which for me, have never adequately answered my questions about some of God's activities; there have been too many "holes" in their reasoning and logic. Thus came the idea for a Forum on "The Wrath of God".
I had a hard time selecting an introductory text for my presentation because it is too easy to misunderstand a single text and so I had decided not to have one. I have changed my mind; so instead of one I have chosen two.
Mark 16:15 (NASB
(Also Matt. 28:19 and Col. 1:23)
And He said unto them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation".
Revelation 14:6-12 (NASB)
And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory, because the hour of HIS judgement has come; and worship HIM who has made the heaven and the earth and the sea and springs of water." And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality." And another angel, a third one, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger: and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name." Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
If our commission is to give the Gospel, how do we share the GOOD NEWS, which is what GOSPEL means, and reconcile it with the picture we are given in Revelation 14, of what ultimately the Gospel results in? How is THIS Good News?
As I have prepared for this presentation I have been made even more aware than before that you cannot just study one topic in the Bible. You cannot look at Wrath without that study involving: the Law, the Cross, God's love, Justice, Righteousness, man's Freedom and his Obedience.
I would like to caution us at this time on a couple of points. First, if there are a hundred verses that say one thing and one verse that seemingly says something different we cannot throw it out or ignore it, just because it doesn't seem to fit. Everything written on a subject has to be included in any "model" we wish to build, or formulation of beliefs on this or any other subject. Secondly, we are too quick to overlook the use of symbols. We can see the symbols in the parables and in the visions of Daniel and John. But we are inclined to forget that words are symbols too and have the same inherent problems of any symbol. Symbols always have a pointing function; they point to some larger issue, some greater truth than the symbol itself.
* * * WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WRATH? * * *
I was a little surprised, although I shouldn't have been, that in studying this topic I found there are TWO kinds of wrath: God's wrath and Satan's wrath. These are often contrasted in the same section of verse. The problem we have with this is that we don't see that there is a contrast and attribute to God the same kind of wrath that we do to Satan and man. That is why it is important to understand wrath. God's wrath is as opposite Satan's wrath as is Light and Darkness. Reflecting on this, it should have been obvious to me that they are opposite.
Our understanding of God's wrath determines how we relate to Him, and provides the basis or the Motive beneath (behind) our behavior. God is primarily interested in our integrity and our relationship we have with Him. Different beliefs about wrath also effect our understanding of why Jesus had to die. We treat people, "sinners", the way we think God would treat them in His wrath!
* BIBLICAL MEANING OF GOD'S WRATH *
The classic statement in the Bible, of God's wrath is found in Paul's letter to the Romans. As Paul starts his message in 1:16 he states that he is "not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation, for IN IT God's righteousness is revealed."
Immediately Paul say that the wrath of God is also revealed against ungodliness and unrighteousness. Remember in Job, Genesis, and later Revelation, Satan accused God of being untrustworthy, unrighteous, and unjust. What Paul is saying here is that the Gospel of God reveals His righteousness and His wrath; and God's wrath is part of the revelation of His righteousness. So, God's wrath is part of God's righteousness, it is not something apart from it. It is also part of the gospel. Now, in the following discussion the ONLY thing God is actually described as DOING to the sinner is in verses 24, 26, and 28. "Therefore God gave them over" to that which they had chosen to do. If you read all around those verses you'll find out why!
Now, can we test this idea? Do we not say that Christ died the "sinners" death? If so we must go to the Cross and watch what happens. Maybe come a little earlier and watch what happens in Gethsemeny. Did God kill Christ on the Cross? What did He do?
Let's look at Romans 4:25. There Paul describes Christ as "He who was delivered up because of our transgressions."
The Greek word here is "paradidomi" [par-ad-id-o-mee]. The exact same word used in Romans 1:24, 26, & 28. And then in Romans 8:31 & 32. Paul is talking about our victory in Christ; he says,
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?"
And again in Ephesians 5:1 & 2 -
"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also who loved you, and gave Himself up for us, as an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."
There are at least six other places where Paul explains, using the same word, what happened to Christ for us and what happens to the sinner for their sins. "Wrath," is God finally giving people up to have their own way. It is the recognition that there is nothing more that He can do for the finally impenitent. This is unlike God. Throughout history He has always dealt in love and mercy, even in punishment. He has not completely given anyone up, except His Son. This is "His strange act" in Revelation.
As you begin to understand the significance of free-will, that if an individual gets to the place where they refuse to have any relationship with the Holy Spirit, (remember the phrase, "if they sin against the Holy Spirit?") if they say, "I will not have You", God is grieved, but there comes a point, in recognition of free choice, that God must say; "Let him alone; he that is, let him be."
God's wrath is not some kind of anger in a human fashion, that God has to superimpose some kind of suffering. If God has to add something to sin to make it worse, then sin isn't so bad.
* THE CHANGELESSNESS OF GOD *
Malachi 3:6(NASB)
"For I, the Lord, do not change ..."
Hebrews 13:8 (NASB)
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever."
* CHARACTER OF GOD *
There is no lack of verses in the Bible to tell us what God is like; however what we often overlook is that most of the definitive information is gained from a demonstration of what God is like and not from claims that God makes. He does make statements as to His own righteousness, but then He demonstrates it at the same time. I think that is very, very important and the most dramatic and important demonstration was in the life and teachings and death of Christ.
Titus 1:2 (NASB)
"God, who cannot lie."
Psalms 18:30 (NASB)
"As for God, His way is perfect."
Psalms 145:17 (NASB)
"The Lord is righteous in all His ways."
Psalms 103:8 (NASB)
"The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy."
John 10:30 (NASB)
"I and My Father are One."
1 John 4:8 (NASB)
"God is love."
In my opinion, when God gives a rule or a command, it is not because God wants some arbitrary form of behavior, it is because mankind has forgotten that this is a part of God's character and we needed to be reminded. Likewise, in 1 Corinthians 13, the stipulations about how LOVE behaves, apply also to God; they are a reflection of God. One of the attributes of Love here is that "Love never insist on having its' own way."
God does not abridge our freedom, even in the destruction at the end of time, by insisting on having His own way!
* GOD'S USE OF POWER AND WRATH *
Revelation 3:19 & 20 (NASB)
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten."
Proverbs 3:12 (NASB)
"For whom the Lord loves He reproves."
Jeremiah 25:31(NASB)
"The Lord hath a controversy with the nations;
He will give them that are wicked to the sword."
Zechariah 14:12 & 13 (NASB)
"And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite
all the people that have fought against Jerusalem; ... And
it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from
the Lord shall be upon them; and they shall lay hold every
one on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up
against the hand of his neighbor."
Here we see that the sword is actually in the hand of the "neighbor". Remember the stories of Gideon and Johnathan?
Hosea 4:6 (NASB)
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, Because
thou hast rejected knowledge, I will reject thee:
... seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God."
Hosea 4:17 (NASB)
"Ephriam is joined to idols: let him alone."
Hosea 6:4 (NASB)
"O Ephriam, what shall I do unto thee?
O Judah, what shall I do unto thee?
For your goodness is as a morning cloud,
And as the early dew it goeth away."
Proverbs 11:5 (NASB)
"The wicked shall fall by his own wickedness."
When God gives a rule or a command, it is not because God wants some arbitrary form of behavior, There are at least 43 verses which declare that the wicked shall be destroyed; But only a few of those tell HOW! Some of those "Fire shall come down from Heaven and utterly consume them;" But that does not say HOW; it says WHAT happens. It doesn't say that it is something that God adds, some thing that is not of a "natural occurrence". If we do not understand God's Wrath and that the natural consequences of sin, then we do not understand how it is a "natural consequence"!
Anything that is not in harmony with God will be consumed, not because God does something extra-ordinary, but because God removes the veil hiding His glory and that which is "stubble"; that which is impure, is consumed.
2 Thesselonians 2:8-12 (NASB)
"They shall be destroyed by the brightness of His coming."
Revelation 14:9, 10 (NASB)
"If any man worship the beast and his image, and
receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of
God, which is poured out without mixture into the
cup of His indignation."
Until the seven last plagues, God always holds back from allowing the full consequences of sin (rebellion) taking place. Or in other words; allowing "sin" to be in control. Prior to this time is where/when God's wrath is mixed with mercy.
* * *
How did Jesus say He felt about even the impenitent?
Matthew 23:37 (NASB)
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the
prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto
thee? How often would I have gathered thy
children together, even as a hen gathereth her
chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Behold, your house is left unto you deslolate!."
This is an echo from Hosea where God asks the question; "How can I give thee up?"
Ezekiel 33:11 (NASB)
"As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure
in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn
from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your
evil ways; for why will ye die?"
Luke 9:54, 56 (NASB)
"Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down
from heaven and consume them, even as Elias did?
But He turned and rebuked them, [and said, "You do
not know what spirit you are of; for the Son of man
is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.]"
Hosea 3:9, 14:1 (NASB)
"O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself: ..."
"For thou hast fallen by thine iniquity."
Topics covered in the conclusion of this presentation.
* GOD'S ANGER AND WRATH (W/MERCY) *
* GOD'S FINAL EXHIBITION OF WRATH *
* FINAL DESTRUCTION OF THE WICKED *
* BIBLICAL MEANING OF GOD'S WRATH *
* SERIOUS BUSINESS *