Righteous Wrath

The Wrath of God is not just a furious expression of His Righteous Anger. His Wrath is made known in order to fulfill His Divine Will. God’s Wrath destroys all that is not of Him in order to preserve those Who are His own. God’s Wrath reveals His Power and Glory over all. It is an execution of His Sovereign Power and Perfect Justice. In John’s revelation, God’s Wrath is poured out upon the earth and reveals His Glory. It resembles the way in which the Israelites were freed from the bonds of Egypt. Because Pharoah had hardened his heart, God set His Holy Wrath upon Egypt in order to free His people and make Himself known. God’s Wrath against Egypt culminates in the parting of the Red Sea, where the Israelites escape Pharoah unscathed through a passage walled with water. While Israel is safe, the army of Egypt is utterly destroyed as those watery walls collapse and crash over them. This terrible fate for Egypt means victory and freedom for Israel.

This is the same type of victory which God’s people celebrate in the Presence of God. The people of God do not have to fear their Lord’s Wrath, for they receive victory by it against the great Enemy of God. The people have been made safe by the work of Jesus, and therefore look forward to seeing this great Victory of God fulfilled. They praise God with one song, that of Moses and the Lamb, the story of God’s fulfilled Law and Love. God’s people worship and praise God declaring Him Holy, Righteous and True. His Ways have been revealed to all, and by their revelation have preserved His people. Those who do not belong to God should fear the Holy Wrath of God. But God’s people do not have to fear His Wrath, for He will complete it in order to bring about Victory for Him and His own.