~ THE WRATH OF GOD ~
God of holy scripture is often portrayed as full of compassion, gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. (Psalm 86:15) Without His mercy, we would be most miserable indeed for it is because of His mercy that He provided a plan of salvation for us.However, to give a proper balance, we must also recognize that He is a jealous God. Because of His just and holy nature, He will not always strive with man (Genesis 6:3) and his sinfulness. Indeed there will come a time when God’s fury will come up in His face.
“And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of lsrael, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be great shaking in the land of Israel.” (Ezekiel 38 18 15)
The New Testament speaking of the wrath of god: “And I saw an other sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the sever last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God” (Revelation 15:1). Fulfillment of this prophesy about God’s punishment of the whole world will precede the return of Christ.
Old Testament prophets foretold these seven last plagues of God’s wrath. Daniel mentioned the time of trouble in the following text:
“There shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” (Daniel 12:1 2)
God has used many plagues throughout history to punish man’s disobedience. In Old Testament times God punished the children of Israel, as well as Gentiles, with plagues. ~ PLAGUES OF THE PAST ~
God sent plagues against Egypt because it was a wicked nation and Pharaoh refused to free God’s people. Egyptians worshipped many gods in the form of animal life and spirits. The beetle, the fly, the crocodile, the cow, and frog were some of the creatures used as idols. The Nile was also an object of worship. Forces of nature were sacred to them. When God used these same natural elements against the Egyptians, the plagues became all the more abhorrent to them.
First: Waters turned to blood
Rivers, streams, ponds and pools turned to blood. (Exodus 7:17 19)Second: Invasion of frogs
These frogs were worshipped by the Egyptians, so God sent them as a plague into their houses, ovens, even their beds, and into every pot and pan. (Exodus 7:2 6)Third: Infestation of lice
How terrible this must have been for the fastidious Egyptians! The very dust of the earth became those loathsome invaders! (Exodus 7:16 18)Fourth: Swarm of flies
The Egyptians worshipped Baal Zebub, the fly god. What poetic justice! Only the portion of Egypt where the children of Israel lived was exempt from these plagues. (Exodus 7:21)Fifth: Pestilence on the cattle
Selected cattle were worshiped as gods by Egyptians. All the cattle of the Egyptians died from a plague. (Exodus 9: 3 6)Sixth: Scourge of boils on both man and beast
Pharaoh still did not repent, even though God was warning him through these plagues that He [God] was the ONE TRUE GOD. (Exodus 9:9)Seventh: Deluge of hail
Egyptians willing to obey God could escape this plague. They were warned to shelter their animals and to seek shelter themselves to avoid death in this plague. (Exodus 9:18)Eighth: Locusts blanket the land
They were so thick the sun did not shine through them. (Exodus 10: 13 15)Ninth: Darkness so dark it could be felt!
The Egyptians did not rise from their place for three days. But the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. (Exodus 10:21 23)Tenth: First born killed of both man and beast
Moses told the Israelites to prepare to leave Egypt. Each family should kill a lamb (or, if the family was small, share it with neighbors), spread its blood on the door posts of their house, and eat the whole lamb. That very midnight the angel of death would kill the firstborn of every man and beast in each house where blood was not sprinkled on the doorpost. (Exodus 12:4,7)Israelites in the land of Goshen who followed God’s instruction were protected. From Pharaoh on the throne to the captive in the dungeon, however, the first born of man and beast died. Pharaoh called on Moses and Aaron that same night and insisted that all the Israelites and all their possessions leave Egypt at once.
The Israelites were freed from the bondage of Egypt by God’s mighty hand working through plagues. Yet, despite having witnessed God’s deliverance, the people murmured against Him in the wilderness when they grew tired of the quail meat He had sent for them to eat. God’s anger was kindled, and He sent a plague on them with the meat still in their mouths (Num. 11:33). Those who murmured were killed.
When the children of Israel strayed from God to worship the “gods” of Moab, 24,000 died in a plague before it was stopped. When Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their followers rebelled, they caused the death of over 14,000 in a plague Because David disobeyed God by numbering the children of Israel. As a result, 70,000 were slain by a plague.
Revelation 16 tells of the final plagues which will culminate in the battle of Armageddon. At the end of those plagues, Satan’s rule on earth will be suspended until Christ and his saints have ruled the world for a thousand years. ~ PLAGUES TO COME ~
The word of God tells us that His wrath is filled up in these plagues: “For in them is filled up the wrath of God” (Rev. 15:1, King James version). An interlinear Greek New Testament states, “Because in them was completed the fury of God.”
The Bible tells of a time when the Gospel cannot be preached in the earth, just before the return of Christ when the last plagues begin. No man can then enter into the temple (Revelation 15:8).
At the time of these plagues, only those who have refused to follow anyone but God and his Son and have rejected all forms of paganism, both in thought and deed, will find sanctuary on the “sea of glass.” The rest of mankind who have worshipped the Beast and its image, having received the number of the Beast, will receive the full fury of God’s wrath.
Revelation 16: ~ SEVEN FINAL PLAGUES ~
First: A terrible sore falls on men.
A sore comes on those who have the mark of the beast or worship his image. This will include all who accept paganism or its counterpart in so called “Christian” churches. The first plague will take health from each person if he has not obeyed God.Second: The sea becomes blood.
Impossible? The Creator has already used forces of nature to punish, e.g. the Great Flood, fire and brimstone, etc.Third: Rivers and fountains of waters become blood.
If God punished the Egyptians for their idolatries by turning the waters to blood, is it any wonder he will punish the whole world by turning the waters of the rivers and fountains to blood? The world has spilt the blood of God’s people down through the ages, killing thousands. Blood is what the followers of Satan have demanded—blood is what God will give them in return.Fourth: The sun is given power to scorch men with fire.
Since the fall of man, people have worshipped the sun as a god. How right it is that God should scorch men with its heat!For thousands of years man has rejected his Creator, choosing instead to worship one of His creations—the sun—even in modern times. False religion has substituted “the venerable day of the sun” (Sunday) for the true Sabbath which God created for man. Men even dare to brag of their “power” to do this, and the whole “Christian” world accepts it meekly.
Sun worship has been disguised over the years, appearing to the unlearned as “Christian,” e.g. Easter sunrise services. What does God say about such practices?
“Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them, after that they be destroyed from before thee; and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God: for every abomination to the Lord which he hateth, have they done unto their gods; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods. What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.” (Deuteronomy 12:30 32)
Fifth: Darkness fills the land (the whole world).
Sinful men prefer the darkness of their own mortal minds rather than accept God given light. After the brightness of a blazing sun, the world will be plunged into darkness so great “they gnawed their tongues for pain,” according to John’s vision. This plague reflects the darkness unbelievers prefer—a symbol of their refusal to accept God’s light of truth. Truly a just punishment for those rejecting the light of the world, Jesus Christ!Sixth: The river Euphrates dries up
No physical barrier will prevent the “kings of the east” from coming upon the land of Israel for the battle of Armageddon in the valley of Jehosaphat between Jerusalem and the Mount of olives.In this plague, three unclean spirits of devils go forth to bring the leaders of the whole world to the battle of Armageddon. These spirits represent the devil (the dragon, Rev. 12:9), a government (the beast, Dan. 7:17), and a false religion (the false prophet, Dan. 7:8; 2 Thess. 2:3 10).
Seventh: A great earthquake levels the earth.
A great voice comes from the throne in heaven, saying, “It is done” accompanied by other voices, thunders, lightnings, a dreadful earthquake great hailstones weighing a talent (about seventy five pounds) apiece. Can you imagine a hailstorm with such terrible capacity to destroy? After all man knows nothing about energy in comparison to the Creator of energy God can use it in any circumstance he wishes. He CONTROLS energy.Many Bible scholars believe these seven plagues are only symbolic. They do not believe that God will pour out His fury on the wicked who are living at the second coming of Christ. However scripture records God smote the Egyptians because they did not worship him. The last plagues will be poured out on unbelievers because they refuse to worship God as He has instructed, choosing rather to follow man’s idea about how and whom to worship.
“For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;” (Romans 2:12)
Revelation 16 we get a glimpse of the reason for the plagues: Rev 16:4-6: “And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.”
From the days of Cain, the wicked have slain God’s righteous people because wicked men could not tolerate truth.
Leaders of “religion” must know—if they read the word of God—that they are teaching their followers error mixed with some truth. Many must also know that, if they teach all the truth, they would soon be unemployed or, at the very least, ridiculed. Sad to say, they often choose to remain silent, fearing man more than God.
Scientists quake at the thought of the earth moving even one tiny bit out of orbit. What would happen if it is moved out of its regular place entirely? This can and will happen. God hung the world in space. He can also move it at His whim. Isaiah saw this coming!
“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.” (Isaiah 13:13)
When will this happen? “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it” (Isaiah 13:9). Isaiah was foretelling the return of Christ. The cataclysmic shaking of the heavens and earth precedes His coming.
Note God’s reason for doing so: “I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible” (Isaiah 13:11). This will punish all the wicked of the world—all those not following the will of the heavenly Father.
As scripture prophesies, God’s wrath will inevitably come against all who defy Him. How then shall anyone escape such an awesome and terrible certainty? ~ WORDS FOR THE WlSE~
Heb 2:1-3: “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;”
The solution to this dilemma is also given in scripture:
“But continue thou in the things which thou has learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou has known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:14 15)“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Rev 14:12)
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.” (Matthew 7:24)
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13 14)
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments:. . .” (1 John 5:2,3)
God’s people will be marked with a seal:
“Till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” (Rev. 7:3)
By what means?
“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4:30)Praise God that in His mercy He has provided a way for His people to escape His terrible wrath which, without Christ, we would indeed deserve.
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” (Rev.22:14)
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