Don't forget about the wrath of God. In the King James Version, the phrase "wrath of God" appears ten times. For those of you who think that the wrath of God is primarily an Old Testament concept, prepare to be surprised. Only one of the ten instances is in the Old Testament. Of course, the concept itself does find frequent expression in the Old Testament, it is just that the precise phrase "wrath of God" is rarely used there.
1) Psalm 78:31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen [men] of Israel.
2) John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
3) Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
4) Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
5) Colossians 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
6) Revelation 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
7) Revelation 14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast [it] into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
8) Revelation 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
9) Revelation 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
10) Revelation 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
What about the "Wrath of the LORD" instead? That expression is found (in the KJV) only in the Old Testament, in thirteen instances. If you're keeping track, that's now 14 Old Testament references and 9 New Testament references.
11) Numbers 11:33 And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very great plague.
12) 2 Kings 22:13 Go ye, enquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.
13) 2 Chronicles 12:12 And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well.
14) 2 Chronicles 28:11 Now hear me therefore, and deliver the captives again, which ye have taken captive of your brethren: for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.
15) 2 Chronicles 29:8 Wherefore the wrath of the LORD was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he hath delivered them to trouble, to astonishment, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes.
16) 2 Chronicles 32:26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
17) 2 Chronicles 34:21 Go, enquire of the LORD for me, and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do after all that is written in this book.
18) 2 Chronicles 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
19) Psalms 106:40 Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.
20) Isaiah 9:19 Through the wrath of the LORD of hosts is the land darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire: no man shall spare his brother.
21) Isaiah 13:13 Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.
22) Jeremiah 50:13 Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.
23) Ezekiel 7:19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.
Additionally, there is also usage of "Wrath of the Almighty" and "Wrath of the Lamb" with one instance in each testament, for a running tally of 15 Old Testament references and 10 New Testament references.
24) Job 21:20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
25) Revelation 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
Finally, there are instances of "wrath of our God" and "wrath of Almighty God" - again one in each testament, which brings the total to 16 and 11 instances respectively.
26) Ezra 10:14 Let now our rulers of all the congregation stand, and let all them which have taken strange wives in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter be turned from us.
27) Revelation 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
There are, of course, other examples that could be given. One of God's attributes is wrath. And if you have not placed your confidence in the only mediator between God and man, trusting in him alone for salvation, you are under that wrath. The Lamb of God has been slain for the sins of the world, but the Lamb is coming back to judge the world.
Beware the wrath of the Lamb!
-TurretinFan
Thursday, December 17, 2009
3 comments:
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turretinfan - Beautifully written. It seems like in sermons today we hear very little on this subject. I suppose that some pastors avoid it so as to avoid using so-called scare tactics.
ReplyDeleteBut I agree with you. We should not avoid the subject. To have a full understanding of God's nature we must understand this aspect. If we think God is only loving and not wrathful, our view of God is skewed. This would tend to skew our theology and understanding of the Bible.
We are also called to fear the Lord. Maybe this ties directly to the idea of God's wrath.
Here's another way of spelling wrath in the Bible:::>
ReplyDeleteRom 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.
Rom 11:22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.
While we are called to tear down every lofty argument that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, we are at the same time to proclaim that the curse is in effect and the wrath of God which Paul explicates in Romans 1 is being poured out.
ReplyDelete