Wrath Has Its Limits

9/10/2016

Revelation 15.1 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God’s wrath is completed. – St. John

Yesterday, whilst on the road visiting clients, I listened to the radio and heard a message being given about the wrath of God. The speaker said that we need to be as aware of the wrath of God as we are the love of God. I think he was a Baptist.

But wrath is no laughing matter. Wrath is something the people of God experienced whether they were righteous or not.

To be righteous and experience the wrath of God is a mystery to me. But you have to couple that with the worldview I’ve been taught. To experience the wrath of God is one thing. To come through the wrath of God unscathed, is another. Jeremiah, the prophet came through the wrath of God. Jeremiah watched as it unfolded before him. We here in ‘Merica, may well be experiencing the wrath of God as well. When one rejects God, the wrath of God is his only option (John 3.36).

It is good to know, however, that the wrath of God has its limits. John said, “…last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.” Jeremiah witnessed the wrath of the Babylonians, but it too, came to an end. However, it is pretty clear to me, that wrath, whether ongoing (as it is presently) or final, as it will be, ultimately includes everyone.

I have heard that God will protect His Church and not permit her to suffer wrath (or at least the tribulation). But God has already permitted His people to suffer untold misery and persecution. My question is this: do the endurers of wrath suffer eternal separation or are they welcomed home as heroes for enduring and remaining faithful? We probably need to ask John and Jeremiah.

Is wrath strategic, or does God just lose His cool and start throwing things? (If He does, duck.) Does wrath serve a purpose? Are we supposed to acknowledge wrath and then live looking over our shoulder to see when it’s coming? Is/was John correct in saying: “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them”? (John 3.36) If that’s the case, then those we know who reject Him are in serious trouble.

It is relieving to know that even God has His limits. It’s relieving to know that God will destroy whom He will destroy and will spare whom He spares. Wrath is momentary in one sense, but His love lasts for eternity. God is not happy with the evil stuff mankind does, but He really doesn’t want to see any of us suffer His wrath. But He is who He is, and He does what He does – we can take that to the bank…

Father, You are forever faithful and kind – even in Your wrath. You will not let man get away with it, but You are gracious in giving us all opportunities to repent. And, like Jeremiah and John, if some of Your children die in the meting out of Your wrath, we will still be welcomed Home as heroes in Heaven. And we will sing the song of Moses, and the Lamb! Amen