Published on Sunday, 13 November 2011 03:38 | Written by Vernon Gillispie | | | Hits: 7561
Wrath Of God
Much has been discussed and written about God's wrath. Scripture seems clear on the issue of God's elect being spared the wrath of God. See verses below:
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 1 Thess 5:9-11; NIV (italics mine).
and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead — Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. 1 Thess 1:10; NIV
(italics mine).
It also seems clear on the issue of the disobedient and unbelieving:
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. Col 3:5-6; NIV (italics mine).
16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" Rev 6:16-17; NIV (italics mine).
The nations were angry;
and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead,
and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your saints and those who reverence your name,
both small and great —
and for destroying those who destroy the earth."
R ev 11:18; NIV (italics mine).
What is not so clear is when the rescue of God's elect will occur. It appears that it will be before the outpouring of God's bowls of wrath described in Revelation 15 and 16. How long before is the issue of debate among conservative Christians.
My personal view is that it will be just prior to the outpouring of God's bowls of wrath.
Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, "Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe."
16 So he who was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
17 Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle.
18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, because its grapes are ripe."
19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath.
20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses' bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.
Rev 14:15-20; NIV (italics mine).
In verses 15 and 16 above we see an angel harvesting the earth. Farmers harvest their crops - the fruits of their labors. But next we see an angel, who had charge of the fire, being commanded to gather the clusters of grapes from the earth's vine, and he threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath. This seems to be a vision symbolizing the gathering of the elect followed by the destruction of God's enemies.
I believe this view is strengthened by the fact that the very next chapter speaks of the the rejoicing of those redeemed and begins the description of the outpouring of God's wrath upon the earth's inhabitants.
Revelation 15
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.
2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number of his name. They held harps given them by God
3 and sang the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.
4 Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."
5 After this I looked and in heaven the temple, that is, the tabernacle of the Testimony, was opened.
6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests.
7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever.
8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
NIV (italics mine).
Category: Tabernacle
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