SEMESTER 2
130 – THE WRATH OF GOD
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: THEOLOGY II LESSON # 30
THE WRATH OF GOD
Read Psalm 2:1-12
, Rev. 16:16-21, Rev. 14:18-20, Rom. 9:22-24.
INTRODUCTION:
1. The wrath of God is an attribute most frequently revealed in Scripture, but poorly understood.
2. It is often preached as an act, but seldom studied, and seldom taught, as an attribute.
3. Many people question the wrath of God for two reasons:
i. They know of the attributes which obviously equal love.
ii. They think of God as a super-human, not God.
I. THE UNITY OF EVERY DIVINE ATTRIBUTE
1. Due to depravity, human attributes often compete and conflict.
III: “Do not abuse an easy going person, he might hurt you.”
III: The parent who “Loses his temper,” and over-punishes an offending child.
III: Crimes of passion, “Hell hath no wrath like a woman scorned.”
2. This is not, at all, the nature of God’s wrath.
3. When God “speaks unto them in His wrath,” His longsuffering is still alive and well.
4. There is a precise co-ordination and agreement between divine longsuffering and divine wrath. (Rom. 9:22)
II. DIVINE WRATH IS AN ETERNAL ATTRIBUTE
1. We must never think of God as “becoming angry,” or becoming anything.
2. When the wrath of God is “kindled,” we must understand that the wrath was always there. It is the changing of human activity which kindles, not the changing or loss of patience by God.
3. God’s attitude toward sin, or the sinner, never changes. (Ps. 5:5)
4. Any change observed is in the sinner, not in God. (Eph. 2:3)
III. GOD’S WRATH IS NOT BROUGHT ABOUT BY TIME
1. From the viewpoint of God, neither wrath nor longsuffering have beginning or end.
2. We are creatures who cannot even think outside of time.
3. Conversely, God is not, at all, within time.
i. From our standpoint, all God does was eternally appointed.
ii. From God’s standpoint, all is both, present and eternal action.
a) As to divine action, all that shall be is predestinated.
b) As to revelation and experience to us, God brings it to pass in time.
c) Thus, longsuffering and wrath are but two aspects of one divine work in creation as a whole.
d) As do mercy and judgment, longsuffering and wrath kiss each other.
e) This is, perhaps, best observed in an exposition of II Pet. 3:3-10.
iii. God has promised to return and judge sin.
iv. The scoffers say, “Where is the fulfillment of this promise?” (vss 3- 4)
v. Peter answers, ‘God moved slowly (longsuffering) in past judgment, but it came (wrath).’ (vss 4-5)
vi. Know, also, that this which now is, is reserved unto judgment. (vs 7)
vii. But you must know this to understand, time is not an element with God. (vs 8)
viii. Why this forebearing of wrath, which has permitted more vessels of wrath to be born? Is it a slackness in divine wrath? No! (Verse 9)
ix. It is a longsuffering toward us (vessels of mercy), that we should not perish.
x. Meanwhile, the wicked become more wicked, and God at His appointed time will destroy them. (vs 10)
IV. THE PERFECT BEAUTY OF GOD’S WRATH
1. Wrath is a perfection of God as much as longsuffering or love. (Ps. 18:30)
2. God is to be recognized and praised for His wrath as much as any other act or attribute. (Rev. 19:1-7)