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Three Types of Wrath

Pre-tribulation advocates have been led to believe that God’s children will escape His coming wrath. They typically put 1 Thessalonians 5:9 and Romans 5:9 together to support their claim. Unfortunately, these texts do not apply to the Great Tribulation. (I wish they did.) Instead, they speak of God’s wrath as the penalty for sin, that is, the second death – not the wrath of the Great tribulation. There are three types of wrath, and understanding the nature and purpose of these different types is crucial to understanding the fourth seal:

1. Wrath as the fruit or consequences that comes from wrongdoing: If we violate a physical or moral law, we suffer wrath – the consequences of the law. Paul wrote, “Because [the] law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.” (Romans 4:15, insertion mine)  For example, if we eat too much at Thanksgiving, we will suffer (wrath) for overeating. If we commit adultery, we will suffer pain (wrath) (the social consequences) for our sin and the innocent around us (spouse, children, families) will suffer too. The Bible says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” (Galatians 6:7,8) Sin always causes sorrow, suffering, pain and death because these things are the consequences of wrongdoing.

A victim of wrongdoing seeks justice (revenge). Once revenge has been administered, wrath is satisfied. The Middle East is a painful demonstration of a revenge process that cannot achieve justice. This is why Jesus taught, “But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” (Matthew 5:44; 6:12) Jesus said these words because the power of forgiveness is God’s way to peace. The power of forgiveness comes to those who are willing to receive it from God. Forgiveness terminates wrath. This is why Paul wrote, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay, ‘ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)

Of course, Jesus ordained the establishment of government when he created man. He permits humanity to execute corporate justice on wrong doers. (Romans 13) Jesus also empowers governments to administer justice as long as they uphold righteous principles. (Numbers 35) When governments overstep their authority, Jesus brings them down. (Daniel 4:17,35) Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, Rome and many other governments fell because they degenerated into arbitrary rule (lawlessness). Sin has consequences that are called wrath.

2. Wrath as the penalty for sin: When Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden; they were put under the obligation of law. “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:17, KJV) Adam and Eve were to be executed the very day they ate the fruit, because the penalty for sin is death by execution. This point was proved every time a sacrificial lamb died in the Old Testament. The animal was slaughtered on an alter – it did not naturally die from disease. Even more, Jesus was executed for our sins (1 Thessalonians 2:14,15) because the penalty for sin is death by execution. This point will be demonstrated when the wicked die at the end of the thousand years. No wicked person has received the penalty for his sins yet. Billions of wicked and righteous people have died from the consequences of sin, but God has not executed one wicked person with the penalty fro sin! The execution of the wicked occurs at the end of the thousand years. Think about this, if God had executed a wicked person, how could an eternally condemned person be resurrected “to life” (Revelation 20:5,6) at the end of the thousand years only to perish in the fires of Hell again? (Revelation 20:14, 15) The doctrine of soul sleep is highly important because it clarifies this aspect of God’s wrath so clearly.

Everyone who commits the unpardonable sin will be declared “wicked” by Jesus during the judgment bar of Christ because the wicked rejected the demands of the Holy Spirit. However, Jesus will declare a person who submits to the Holy Spirit “righteous” because His blood covers everyone who submits to the authority of the Holy Spirit. This is the meaning and context of Paul’s words, “For God did not appoint us too suffer wrath [as in the penalty of sin] but to receive salvation through  [the blood of] our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9, insertion mine) “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!” (Romans 5:9) “For the wages of sin is [eternal] death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23, insertion mine) “But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment [of mankind] will be revealed.” (Romans 2:5, insertion mine) Sin not has its consequences, but it has a deadly penalty, too. The penalty for sin is eternal death by execution. (Note: The difference between the consequences of sin and the penalty for sin may be compared to the difference between compensatory and punitive judgments in a court system.)  

3.      Wrath comes in the form of redemptive or destructive judgments: If a nation 

angers God by persistent rebellion, He brings against that nation by sending redemptive judgments. If that nation continues in rebellion, God brings more wraths by sending destructive judgments. Jesus told Israel, “But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, then I will do this to you: I will bring sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.” (Leviticus 26:14-16)

After centuries of trying to get Israel to accomplish the purposes for which He delivered them out of Egypt, Jesus sent Israel into Babylonian captivity in 605 B.C. the first siege of Jerusalem and the captivity of Israel’s finest young men did not change Israel’s behavior. Therefore, Jesus sent Nebuchadnezzar a second time in 598 B.C. Still no change of heart. Finally, Jesus told Ezekiel: “For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments – sword and famine and wild beasts and plague – to kill its men and their animals! Yet there will be some survivors –sons and daughters who will be brought out of it. They will come to you, and when you see their conduct and their actions, you will be consoled regarding the disaster I have brought upon Jerusalem – every disaster I have brought upon it.” (Ezekiel 5; 14:21) Finally, King Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem in 586 B.C. and totally destroyed it. When redemptive judgments do not produce repentance and reformation, God’s wrath becomes grossly destructive. Global destruction occurred in Noah’s day for this reason. “So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the Earth – men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air – for I am grieved that I have made them.’” (Genesis 6:7) During the Great Tribulation, global destruction will happen again. First, there will be seven redemptive judgments (the seven trumpets), and then, there will be seven destructive judgments (the seven bowls).  “I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues – last, because with them God’s wrath is completed.” (Revelation 15:1)

Four Deadly Judgments

After examining the breaking of the fourth seal, I want to demonstrate two things. First, throughout the Bible, God’s deadly judgments are defined as sword, famine, plague and wild beasts. Second, the breaking of the fourth seal has to be in the future because the breaking of the fourth seal has to happen after the third seal was broken in 1844.

Leviticus 26, Deuteronomy 32 and Ezekiel 14 leave no wiggle room on the meaning of “sword, famine, plague and wild beasts.” God’s wrath is executed on mankind through these four instruments. (See also Leviticus 26; Jeremiah 21:7, 42:17; Ezekiel 7:15.) “For this is what the sovereign Lord says: How much worse will it be when I send against Jerusalem my four dreadful judgments – sword and famine and wild beasts and plague – to kill its men and their animals!” (Ezekiel 14:21) Jesus sent the flood in Noah’s day. He kills people when sin becomes so pervasive that recovery is impossible. Jesus warned Moses that He would do the same to Israel if they rebelled against His covenant: “See now that I myself am He! There is no other God besides me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I will heal, and no one can deliver out of my hand.” (Deuteronomy 32:39)

The Bible indicates repeatedly that these four judgments are punitive in nature; that is, Jesus deliberately uses them to punish nations when wickedness exceeds the limits of divine patience. This is why the language of the fourth seal is so succinct. The Great Tribulation will begin with the breaking of the fourth seal. Judgments from God are upon us because we have exhausted the limits of divine forbearance. If only Catholics and Protestants understood the subject of God’s wrath. A correct understanding of this subject will change your thoughts. We are accountable to God for our words and actions. God has not changed! His word has not changed. Our arrogance and ignorance keep us from understanding God’s wrath. This is why the world remains in great darkness and this is why the Holy Spirit will soon be sent out of Heaven’s courtroom on a campaign of wrath. Seeing is believing.

Summary

Now that we have examined the four horseman of Revelation 6, you should notice a very interesting progression. The first campaign to the world of salvation through faith in Jesus. The second campaign focused on the translation and distribution of the Bible throughout the world so that the teachings of Jesus could be rediscovered and understood. The third campaign was a message to the world that the judgment bar of Christ was under way. Jesus is cleansing Heaven’s temple by reviewing the records of the dead. The fourth campaign will be a mission of wrath that will kill 25% of the world’s population. This coming display of God’s wrath will accomplish a very important task. Humanity’s arrogance and ignorance will be subdued for a short time so the world can hear His servants; the 144,000 present the following messages from Jesus:

1.      The judgment of the living has begun. Honor the Creator; Worship the Creator on His seventh day Sabbath.

2.      Do not worship God according to the laws of Babylon, the Crisis Government.

3.      Do not worship or obey the Antichrist or receive his mark.

4.      Come out of Babylon – avoid her plagues.

We will examine these messages in Revelation 14 later, but when the fourth seal is broken, the wrath of Jesus will begin, the judgment of the living will begin, the ministry of the 144,000 will begin, and the Great Tribulation will begin. In days to come, the teachings of Jesus will explain why the wrath of God is upon us. Everyone will be able to see Bible prophecy fulfilled before his or her very eyes. The fulfillment of prophecy will give the Bible an incredible amount of believability and authority! In fact, this credibility will eventually cause evil men to kill those who obey God’s commandments. This killing is described in the next seal! (Remember how the distribution of the Bible under the second seal is connected to the killing that occurs during the fifth seal – see the chart below)

At this time, the stage is set. The people of Earth are about to be actors in a drama they do not anticipate. The five essential doctrines have gone as far as they can go. Bibles have been translated and distributed. The 144,000 will be empowered at the right moment and the wrath of Jesus will arrest the world. Earth’s cup of iniquity is full. The only thing that is holding back the “four winds” of God’s wrath is the sealing of the 144,000. (Revelation 7:1-4) During the Great Tribulation, the sheep in every religious system will hear the voice of Jesus speaking through His servants, and many of these sheep will call  on the name of the Lord and be saved. The goats will rebel against the testimony given by the servants of Jesus and they will punish His saints for refusing to go along with their rebellion. Jesus has deliberately and carefully designed a course of events so the Great Tribulation can accomplish several purposes. Through the testimony of the 144,000, Jesus will overcome the bias and hatred that exists toward Him, and a large number of people will be saved. Jesus will be revealed to the world as the only Savior of man. Jesus will be revealed as Almighty God through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. As these revelations occur, God’s sheep will abandon their false gods and serve Him who saves to the utmost. Isn’t this amazing?

In closing, I should point out that a correct understanding of the first four seals unlocks several key points in Revelation that we will soon study. For example, the breaking of the fourth seal initiates the Great Tribulation. The breaking of the fourth seal will be marked with a global earthquake. (Revelation 8:5) The 1,260 days of the Two Witnesses begin with the breaking of the fourth seal. (Revelation 11:3) The seven trumpets of Revelation 8 and 9 explain how sword, famine, plague and wild beasts occur during the Great Tribulation. The breaking of the fourth seal will produce a response from man that is described in Revelation. The horrific judgments of Jesus will cause a Crisis Government (the composite beast of Revelation 13:1) to rise and become a global power. As our examination of Revelation continues, these matters will become clearer.

Take a few moments to examine the charts below. Notice the timing of the first four seals. The length of time between seal four and seal six is a maximum of 1,335 days.

Seal #5 – A Campaign of Martyrdom – The Faith of Jesus Demonstrated

“When he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the alter the souls of those who had been slain because of the Word of God and the testimony they maintained. They called out in a loud voice, ‘How long, sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the Earth and avenge our blood?’ Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers who were to be killed as they had been was completed.” (Revelation 6:9-11)

The fifth seal will be a somber campaign. These three verses are full of information that will be helpful and encouraging to God’s people when the time comes. When God’s people suffer martyrdom under the fifth seal because of their loyalty to God’s Word, the assurance of the white robe will be worth more than all the fine gold found on Earth! I estimate that the fifth seal campaign will begin about 1,040 days into the Great Tribulation. (This timing will be further discussed when we talk about the Seven Trumpets.) This is about seven months before the offer of salvation is closed forever. Because the end of redemption is near, Jesus initiates a powerful campaign to demonstrate the religious difference between faith and presumption. (Few people experientially know the difference now.) Faith loves God Word and humbly submits to God’s demands. Presumption believes in God, but justifies rebellion against the commands of God. The behaviors of Cain and Abel reflect these powerful forces. Both men built altars to honor God. One man humbly obeyed the command of the Lord by bringing a lamb from his flock.  The other man presumed God would accept his offering of fruit and the rest of the story is history. Presumption is offended by faith, and ultimately, presumption convinces itself that the destruction of the faithful is justifiable. This is why Revelation says, “This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.” (Revelation 14:12)

The Faith of Jesus Reflected

The fifth seal is different from the other seals in that the faith of Jesus is revealed in this campaign through His saints. Consider this: The first four seals were “delivered” to Earth by four horsemen riding out of Heaven’s temple, the sixth seal will be a campaign revealing Christ’s glory, and the seventh seal will be the full disclosure of His deity. Therefore, six of the seven seals are direct revelations from Jesus to the world, but the fifth seal will be an indirect, powerful revelation, showing the faith of Jesus through the death of His saints. The martyrdom of the fifth seal will separate the faithful from the faithless, and I have no doubt, that like the martyr Stephen, the faces of people who stand firm for Jesus will shine like the faces of angels! “All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was [bright] like the face of an angel.” (Acts 6:15, insertion mine)

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