Welcome to Episode #111 of Way of the Bible podcast. This is our seventh of eight episodes in our fourteenth mini-series entitled, Book That Blesses | Revelation. On this episode, Not Destined for Wrath, we’re going to dig into 1 Thessalonians 5:9 – For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. And provide a little more insight of some of the signs of the times in which we are living.
We’ve just finished overviewing Revelation and I can fully sympathize with many who likely grew weary of the extent of the wrath of God unleashed on the earth. I think the takeaway should be that even severe wrath of God could not get unbelievers to repent,
Following seven seals and six trumpets we find on earth… Revelation 9:20-21 – The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
The hardness of mankind continued through the fourth and fifth bowl judgments. Revelation 16:8-11 - The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was allowed to scorch people with fire. They were scorched by the fierce heat, and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory. The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores. They did not repent of their deeds.
The punishment and wrath of God described in the Bible are not intended to bring about repentance, nor can it do so. Punishment and wrath of God are the result of righteous judgment, sentence, and application of the penalty for an offense.
Paul tells us where repentance comes from in Romans 2:3-4 – Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Nothing demonstrates the love and kindness of God greater than the gospel. The gospel received produces Godly repentance and by grace through faith in Jesus, salvation. Salvation means freedom from judgment and condemnation. Jesus started his ministry with this in mind, Mark 1:14-15 – Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
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