Wrath
Wrath
By Dennis Huebshman
In order to give an answer to all who would say our God is a Loving, Kind, Grandfatherly figure that wouldn’t SEND anyone to Hell, please read this message.
First, Yes, God is a loving Creator as told in John 3:16 which just about everyone, believer and atheist alike, can recite. Problem is, people don’t look further, and they skip John 3:18 altogether. To refresh your memory, it says, “The one who believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.” It is left to each and every individual to believe or not. (all emphasis in this message is mine.)
As for “grandfatherly figure”, Our Creator is anything but as He is the same today as yesterday and will be forever. “For God did not spare the angels who sinned but threw them into hell (holding place) and locked them in chains in utter darkness to be kept until the judgment”. (2 Peter 2:4) Then going to 2 Peter 3:9 – the Lord is not slow concerning His promise as some regard slowness but is being patient toward you because He does not with for ANY to perish, but for all to come to repentance. Again, this is everyone’s individual choice. To conclude this thought, God will accept ALL believers (Joel 2:32; Acts 2:21 and Romans 10:13) but will allow someone to be separated from Him forever. Important point – If they so choose.
I realize there are people today who do not believe the Bible is the true inerrant word of God, and that is their right. However, going to 2 Peter 1: 20-21, Above all you do well if you recognize this; no prophecy of scripture EVER comes about by the prophet’s own imagination; for no prophecy (true Prophecy) was ever born of human impulse, rather men carried along by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
Going to 2 Peter 3: 3-4: Above all, understand this, in the last days blatant scoffers will come being propelled by their own evil urges and saying, “Where is His promised return?” For ever since our ancestors died, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation. Does this sound like today? If you say NO, you aren’t listening.
Today, we are seeing all the signs of our Savior’s return for His Church, yet many people (including Christians) choose to ignore them. It’s as if they don’t believe God’s word applies to them.
Going back through the Bible, the word “WRATH” appears numerous times. I’ve chosen some examples we should look at.
Exodus 15:7: (Moses’ song telling of the defeat of Pharaoh’s army) You sent forth your WRATH and consumed them like stubble. (This shows the extent of the power of God when angered).
Deuteronomy 29:28; 30: 2-3: (Moses telling his people of the times to come all the way to the end of time)
So, the Lord has uprooted them from their land in anger, WRATH and great rage, and has deported them to another land as it is clear today.
And when you return to the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, then the Lord your God will restore you from captivity and have compassion on you and will gather you again from all the peoples where the Lord your God has scattered you. (fulfilled May 14, 1948)
Proverbs 11:4: Wealth does not prophet in the day of WRATH, but righteousness delivers from mortal danger.
Proverbs 11:23: What the righteous desire leads only to good, but what the wicked hope for leads to WRATH.
Jeremiah 7:29: So, mourn you people of this nation. Cut off your hair and throw it away. Sing a song of mourning on the hilltops. For the Lord has decided to reject and forsake this generation that has provoked His WRATH. (this was true during the time of the Babylonian captivity, Roman Rule, and will be true during the Tribulation).
Jeremiah 23:19 and Jeremiah 30:23: But just watch. The WRATH of the Lord will come like a storm! Like a raging storm and it will rage down on the heads of those who are wicked.
Daniel 8:19: Then He said, I am going to inform you about what will happen in the latter times of WRATH for the vision pertains to the appointed time of the end.
Zephaniah 1:18: Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to deliver them in the day of judgment. The whole earth will be consumed by His fiery WRATH. Indeed, He will bring terrifying destruction on all who live on the earth. (Zephaniah is only 3 chapters, the first 2 ½ are dire warnings – the last ½ is of recovery and hope.)
Moving to the New Testament:
Matthew 3:7 and Luke 3:7 (coincidence?) So John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming WRATH?” (Only the words Pharisees and Sadducees are added in Matthew different from Luke)
John 3:36: The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who reject the Son will not see life (heaven) but God’s WRATH remains on him. (this is the unforgivable sin.)
Romans 2:5: But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up WRATH for yourselves in the Day of Wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed.
Romans 5:9: (Good news) Much more then because we have now been declared righteous by His Blood, we will be saved through Him from God’s WRATH
Ephesians 5:6 and also Colossians 3:6: Let nobody deceive you with empty words. For because of these things God’s WRATH comes on the sons of disobedience. (Note, it never says His WRATH comes upon those who obey Him.)
1 Thessalonians 1:210: and to wait for His Son from Heaven whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the WRATH to come.
1 Thessalonians 5:9: (remember Romans 5:9) For God did not destine us for WRATH, but for gaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 6:17: because the great day of their WRATH has come, and who is able to withstand?
Some words of encouragement:
1 Thessalonians 2:19: For who is our Hope or Joy or Crown t boast before our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not of course YOU? (The ones that believed in Him)
1 Thessalonians 3:13: So that your hearts are strengthened in Holiness to be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.
Please remember, anytime He warned of the WRATH to come He made it clear it was brought on by bad choices made by the people. So, to say God doesn’t send anyone to Hell is true. When the final judgment comes, and Hell is actually populated – EVERYONE there will have chosen it.
As I said in a previous message, the Lake of Fire is not populated right now. It begins with the Anti-Christ and False Prophet (Revelation 19:20) followed by Satan 1000 years later (Revelation 20:10). After that, all who have not accepted God or Jesus from Genesis 1:1 to that judgment Next (Revelation 20: 12-15)
Would you rather be at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10) or the Great White Throne Judgment as mentioned above. IT’S YOUR CHOICE!!
Maranatha/Shalom