Post by tomdurst on Feb 26, 2019 21:51:42 GMT -5
WHAT IS THE WRATH OF GOD?
The wrath (passion) of God is His mercy encountering our sin and making all things new. His wrath (passion) encounters our ego, destroys it in the glory of His love, and creates us a new man in Christ. Jesus was wounded for our sins. He literally took our wounded condition upon Himself and healed it through His shed blood in order that we can be healed. This healing includes ALL. To the extent that we resist this healing we continue to suffer and are choosing darkness. At some point, which God only knows, we will see that heaping suffering upon ourselves by clinging to the old ego self is truly “hell.” We will joyfully surrender to the unspeakable revelation of love and mercy and freely acknowledge that Jesus is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). Thus, the wrath (passion) of God, His mercy encountering our sin and rebellion, will win our heart and transform us into loving Him instead of continuing to flee from His presence. This topic, like all others, is only understood by really understanding the gospel of Jesus Christ and the utter fullness of what salvation really means. In summary, salvation is wholeness, healing and full restoration into the image and likeness of God. The gospel of Jesus Christ is ALWAYS GOOD NEWS as taught by the inspired writers throughout the entire Bible. It is never “hellfire and brimstone,” although that version is still the one which has dominated Christianity after the first five centuries of its existence. It is truly time for a new reformation! The doctrine of eternal conscious torment, or even a milder version of it such as burning for a shorter time and then being being annihilated, are not in harmony with the character of God in any way. Sometime hold a lighted match under one finger and see how long that lasts. “Come now, and let us reason together.”—Isaiah 1:18
Summary Statement: The word "wrath" is applied to God many times in both Old and New Testaments and we have the terrible judgments of the seals, trumpets, and plagues in Revelation. I think these had a local application at the time they were written in connection with the end of the Jewish age, the Jewish Roman wars, and the destruction of Jerusalem. However, they have a wider application as well. Those who choose to live apart from God and live according to dictates of their self-centered nature WILL suffer terrible consequences in some cases according to the degree suffering that is chosen by rejecting the principles upon which the Kingdom of God operates. God does NOT prevent such suffering and is not to blame for it. So in a summary that is how I see the wrath of God.
These verses will help you to understand more fully what I’m sharing above. Please take some time to prayerfully go over every one of them. Especially pray for spiritual discernment to see what these verses are actually saying: Proverbs 13:15; Isaiah 53:5-8; Daniel 12:10; Romans 6:1-7; 14:11; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 2:10-11; 1 Peter 2:21-25.
[Note: The point of view which I express above most certainly doesn't answer all questions that could be raised on this topic but at least presents some aspects of it. There are no viewpoints on any topic that could be raised that are free from having unanswered questions and this one is no exception. I encourage readers of my writings to "take what you like and leave the rest." I have no disposition to debate about much of anything at this point in my spiritual journey. TD]
Be sure to read the companion article THE LAKE OF FIRE on the link below:
THE LAKE OF FIRE
