Lesson 57. God’s Wrath

As a human being, I am inclined to justify all my actions and words when they correspond to my values and my understanding of decency and holiness. But sometimes I begin to attribute divine qualities of character to myself while humanizing God, so that later, believing that He is like me, I can justify many of my actions. Moreover, I take the liberty of finding biblical examples through which I justify my sins and mistakes without considering how wrong this is. When someone calls himself holy or righteous, it always causes concern, although this is precisely the condition of heart toward which the Lord draws us. Holiness and righteousness are our goal, for without the first we will not see the Kingdom of God, and without the righteousness of Christ we will not be able to enter it.

Anger is one of the most destructive manifestations of pride, having neither meaning nor justification. It is almost always directed toward those who are weaker than you, poorer than you, or lower than you in status. Anger is often poured out upon loved ones and upon those who are unattractive in body or face. Human anger is selective. It knows very well where it may not show its teeth and where it may bare them. This vice assumes my superiority over my neighbor and my indignation that he refuses to accept it.

I have even heard the definition that every sin is idolatry and that an angry person makes himself an idol to be worshiped. But the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

There are several examples from the life of Jesus in which He revealed His wrath and did something while in that state. I consider it important to understand the nature of God’s wrath and see its distinctive characteristics.

Jesus is our Deliverer from the power of evil. If He had committed even one small sin, He could not have been our Lord and Savior. He would have borne the punishment for His own transgressions. But this did not happen, and therefore all the words and deeds of Christ can serve as an infallible example for us to follow. They possess tremendous power to transform my character.

We read in John 2:14–16: “And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not My Father’s house an house of merchandise.”

Jesus cleansed the temple in this manner twice. In our time, several directors have attempted to portray vividly how this took place. They present the sad and pitiful picture of an enraged man running around the temple and overturning tables. This is how we imagine God’s wrath.

But what actually happened? The divinity of Christ overcame His human nature and was revealed to those present in all its glory. Jesus stood before the priests and money changers as the Judge of the universe, and everyone understood this, not daring to oppose this manifestation of God’s wrath. Silence fell. And when Christ said, “Take these things hence,” no one contradicted Him. The scourge in His hand was like a flaming sword, and His voice was very authoritative. Everyone fled in fear and terror, while the Savior walked through the empty temple and overturned the tables of the money changers, thereby expressing His contempt for their love of money and their false motives concealed beneath divine requirements.

When God reveals His wrath, He directs it against sin in order to expose all of a person’s vices. His action is like light that penetrates everything around it and reveals everything hidden.

The wrath of God and the anger of man are two forces of completely different natures that cannot be compared. It is like comparing light and darkness. They are absolute opposites.

When Jesus accused the priests and Pharisees of unrighteousness, He did not sin in His feelings, and He understood what He was doing. We do not know what His tone and emotions were at that moment. I believe that Jesus pronounced the words of judgment with tears in His eyes, grieving over the hardness of their hearts. But what do I do? I use these words of divine pain as abuse and insults in order to humiliate people who were given a sacred trust and authority. Is this what God expects from me? If He considered it necessary to make me a judge, I believe He would endow me with the appropriate knowledge, love for these people, and the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. But when I claim for myself what I cannot possess, I bring God’s wrath down to the human level. I commit sin while justifying my actions by Christ’s attitude toward sin.

If God begins to rebuke sinners, they will be terrified, and there will be no need to insult them. These people will simply die from fear or from the glory of God’s presence.

Once, God destroyed the entire world with the waters of the Flood. This was a vivid example of God’s wrath. Yet people were given a choice: they could be saved by entering the Ark, or they could choose death. By preferring the latter, they received what they desired.

People are now offered salvation in Jesus, while outside Him there is destruction. What will we choose?

Even now, God desires to clothe every person in His love and seal him in this garment of righteousness. This way is open and accessible. But what do people choose? Life and death are offered to us. We will receive whatever we desire. Is that fair? Absolutely.

I have chosen life and am developing in this direction. For continual growth, I need agape love, and it is given to me according to my need as a means of attaining Eternal life and a deeper knowledge of God. Am I to blame when someone chooses death? I do not believe that I can force good things upon people against their will.

But God warns that all people who prefer death and receive the mark of this world will receive what they have chosen. And when the time of God’s wrath comes, it will fall upon those who decided to receive death.

This is a very terrible picture and act of God. The One Who is accustomed to showing mercy, forgiving, and exalting will come to destroy. And the Lord will perform this strange work of His, which will be a most terrible event. It is terrible for me as well, because I realize that by nature I am a sinner. If even one stain of vice remains upon me, I will be destroyed with those who chose death, for God will destroy sin, and with it those who have clung to evil.

Can I have righteous anger? Yes, and it consists of absolute love for the sinner and hatred for sin. These two concepts must be clearly distinguished and separated without confusing them. It is also best to express such anger without unnecessary emotion. How? If I do not know how to do this, it is better not to take the risk, but to entrust everything to God, Who does not make mistakes.

And may all who are weak, poor, unattractive, hungry, thirsty, and under authority receive love, happiness, and friendship from me. In this way, I can make their lives more interesting and beautiful. Let those who do not wish to love or be loved remain angry. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

If we consider our rights and God’s rights to express any feelings or judgments, it is important to remember that God is our Creator. He has the full right to give life and take it away without giving an account to anyone. Nevertheless, out of respect for us, God gives an account of all His actions and explains them. And the death of Jesus shows us all that great and marvelous are His works, and just and true are His ways. God is love.

1. Please read Genesis 1:1; Psalm 76:7; Isaiah 13:9–13; 26:20; 57:15–16; Mark 3:5; and John 3:36, and consider these verses in the light of our lesson.

2. Did you receive any revelations while studying this subject? Please share them.

3. What did you understand from this lesson?

4. How can the wrath of the One Who is Love be explained?

5. Is God’s wrath general toward everyone, or is it selective?

6. In your understanding, what are the wrath of God and the anger of man? Provide comparisons.