God’s Wrath
The wrath of God should not be likened to human wrath. For God is love (1 John 4:8), and though He hates sin, He loves the sinner. “I have loved thee with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3). However, God does not push His love upon those who don’t want to accept it (Joshua 24:14,15).
The wrath of God in the Bible means divine displeasure against sin (Romans 1:18), resulting ultimately in permitting humans to reap what they had sown. “For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23 also John 3:36). God grants people life for a time so that they prepare for eternity (Ecclesiastes 12:13). When this has been done, sinners receive the results of their own choices.
God is the fountain of life. When people choose the service of sin, they separate from God, and thus cut themselves off from the source of life. The Lord says, “… your iniquities have separated between you and your God…” (Isaiah 59:2). Thus, God’s wrath against sinners is shown in the removal of His life-giving power from those who choose sin and consequently experience its deadly penalties (Genesis 6:3).
Christ Bore God’s Wrath for Every Sinner
No one needs to experience God’s wrath. For God loved people with infinite love when He offered His innocent Son to die and pay the penalty of their sins (John 3:16). He poured His wrath upon His own innocent Son who felt the darkest separation from His Father. God’s wrath was so great that Jesus cried, “My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death” (Matthew 26:38). At the Cross, Jesus mourned, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). That deep mental pain and physical torture led to Jesus’ death (Isaiah 53:3-6).
God’s wrath was shown by the Jews’ rejection to Christ. Since they had insisted in their rejection and had refused His repeated calls of love, He withdrew His presence from them and removed His protection. Thus, the nation was left to the mercy of the leader it had chosen (Matthew 23:37, 38). And in 70 AD they were destroyed by the Romans.
Eternal Life
The continual battle between God’s love and mercy will ultimately cease at the end of time when the Spirit of God will no longer try to draw men from sin (Ecclesiastes 12:14). Then, God’s wrath will finally be poured on the wicked and fire will come down from God out of heaven, and sin and sinners will be destroyed (Revelation 20:9; Malachi 4:1; 2 Peter 3:10).
As for the righteous, John assures that “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). What God had promised His faithful children through His prophets will finally become a reality. And “everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy” (Isaiah 51:11).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
