God's Wrath Or God's Righteousness? Series

Revelation 8:6--9:11; 16:1-11

Purpose: To show that God’s awful wrath will not turn sinners to God.

Aim: I want the listener to see that grace is the only answer to God’s coming wrath.

INTRODUCTION: We have come to the final seal or chapter in the scroll that was opened in heaven by Jesus Christ back in chapter six. In this seventh and final chapter there are seven trumpets announcing God’s wrath and seven vials that contain God’s wrath against this world. One Bible commentator observed, "John seems to have gathered together all the horrors and terrors from all the stories of the avenging wrath of God and hurled them at the unbelieving world in one last terrible deluge of disaster." [1]

The message of God’s wrath is a powerful message, but it is NOT the most powerful message in the Bible. In our Lord’s story about the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man who wound up in hell thought that a message about God’s wrath and judgment would be powerful enough to persuade his brothers to get right with God. Luke 16:30-31 30 "But [the rich man] said, ’No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ 31 "But he said to him, ’If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ " (NAU)

The most powerful message in the Bible is the Gospel. As Paul made clear in: Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.... (NAU) 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (NAU)

If the message of the wrath of God is not powerful enough to change lives, then why is God pouring out His wrath on mankind? We find the answer to that question in 1 Corinthians 1:19-20 19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside." 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (NAU)

The arrogance of those who have refused God’s grace must be wiped out in order to preserve God’s position of purity and holiness. Jeremiah 9:23-25 23 Thus says the Lord, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; 24 but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things," declares the Lord. 25 "Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord, "that I will punish all ... (NAU)

We see the arrogance of man all around us today. In America, for example, we have replaced God with government. We look to Washington to meet our every need and solve our every problem. The Bible predicted that this would happen. Psalm 2:1-6 1 Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 "Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!" 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury, saying, 6 "But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain." (NAU)

David goes on to warn us that humble dependence on God is the only way to avoid God’s wrath. Psalm 2:10-12 10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. 11 Worship the Lord with reverence And rejoice with trembling. 12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (NAU)

Let’s see what God’s wrath will look like.

REVIEW:

1:1-20 I. John’s Vision of the Past "the things which you have seen"

2:1-5:14II. Christ’s Vision of the Present "the things which are"

Ch.6-22 III. John’s Vision of the Future "things which will take places"

6-7; 12-14 A. Satan’s war against God’s creation

8-11; 15-18 B. The wrath of God: the seventh seal

1. The preparation for God’s wrath

8:1-2 a. A dramatic pause in heaven "silence in heaven"

8:3-5 b. The prayers from believers "prayers of all the saints"