THERE could not be a more solemn or solemnizing expression than the one that stands at the head of this paper; and for a few moments I would call my reader’s most earnest attention to it.
It is well to know that God is never spoken of as the God who delights in wrath; but He is, as the God of all grace, the God of peace, the God of hope, the God of patience, the God who is love, the God of our salvation, and judgment is His strange work. He swears by Himself, and says, “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked” (Ezek. 33:1111Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 33:11)). Yet God is a holy God, and it is written, “I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come” (John 8:2121Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. (John 8:21)). And one who dies in his sins remains under God’s wrath, and exposed to that wrath forever.
“The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:1818For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (Romans 1:18)). It is a revealed fact; it is not yet executed, but the day is fixed. When the day of grace is past, and God’s long-suffering ceases, when He takes in hand to execute His strange work, then the vials of His wrath will be poured out.
What a day that will be for this godless, Christ-less, Holy-Ghost-slighting, Word-of-God-rejecting, and grace-despising world! And, to speak of individuals, what a day for the atheist, pantheist, infidel, scoffer, moralist, and religionist, who has never bowed the knee to Christ! “He that believeth not [is not subject to] the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)).
O my reader, have you kissed the Son? If not, “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him” (Psa. 2:1212Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (Psalm 2:12)).
When Joseph was brought out of the prison in Egypt, and made second to Pharaoh, and as he rode in his chariot, they cried before him, “Bow the knee.” Joseph is a type of Christ, ―risen from the dead, exalted to the right hand of God, crowned with glory and honor, with all power and judgment committed into His hand. Let me ask, Have you bowed the knee? Have you submitted to His authority? Have you confessed Him Lord? Have you trusted Him for salvation? And thus has He become thy Saviour and Lord?
When Pharaoh had exalted Joseph lie gave him the name Zaphnath-paaneah, which has a double meaning― “A revealer of secrets,” and “Saviour of the world.” The exalted Jesus is that; He tells you all that you ever did, and saves your soul. As the Samaritans said, “Now we believe, not because of thy saying [verse 29]: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John 4:4242And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (John 4:42)).
He is now, in this day of grace, “the revealer of secrets” and “Saviour of the world,” and says, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)). But in the day that is coming, He will be the dispenser of wrath, and the executor of judgment. When He appears in glory, with His garments dipped in blood, as we read in Revelation 19:11-1611And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11‑16), it will be to tread the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God.
The wrath of God is revealed from heaven; and inexcusable man, who despises the riches of God’s goodness, and forbearance, and long-suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth to repentance, treasures up to himself wrath against the day of wrath, and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds (Rom. 2:3-63And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6Who will render to every man according to his deeds: (Romans 2:3‑6)).
Mark the words, “The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.” Where is the goodness of God fully displayed? It is in the cross. It all came out there; God’s love was manifested in His Son dying for His enemies. Oh! bring your heart under the power of that love of God, and you will take the sinner’s place; your cry will be, “God be merciful to me a sinner!” and God in Christ will be revealed to your soul a Saviour-God, One mighty to save!
Now, notice what Jesus says: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)).
From these words we learn that the one who has heard and believed is delivered from judgment, “and saved from wrath through him” (Rom. 5:99Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:9)). The blessed Lord bore his sins on the cross, and endured God’s judgment and wrath; hence he goes free. He is justified, has peace with God, stands in God’s eternal favor, and “rejoices in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:1-21Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1‑2)).
“Death and judgment are behind us,
Grace and glory are before;
All the billows rolled o’er Jesus,
Here they spent their utmost power.”
The wrath of God then will overtake all those who are out of Christ, ―not subject to Him, ―as the flood overtook all those outside the ark in Noah’s day. In the day of the Lamb’s wrath it will be vain to call upon the mountains and rocks to fall upon them to hide them from the face of Him that sits upon the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. Those mountains will remain erect, the prayer remain unanswered, and men will be made to “drink the cup of God’s wrath” (Psa. 75:88For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them. (Psalm 75:8)). Now is the time to pray, not then; now is the time to seek mercy, not then; now is the time to seek His face, not then; now is the time to be saved, then it will be swift judgment and unmingled wrath! Now He says, “Come;” then He will say, “Depart from me.” Which is it going to be with you, my reader?
A parting word, my friend. “FLEE FROM THE WRATH TO COME!” It is revealed from heaven; soon it will be poured out. Flee then, O flee, to the shelter of Christ’s blood, lest thou be swept away, and “judgment and justice take hold on thee!”