Journal Rev 6 (all references are from the ESV; changes in punctuation are mine)
Scripture: “Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains—calling to the mountains and rocks,
“Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the Wrath of the Lamb—for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Rev 6:15-17
Observation: Every so often I must remember that the Lamb that I worship…. has teeth.
Analysis: The Terrible Day of the Lamb is the Gospel as well as the Cross and the Resurrection.
The End of All Things is not usually equated with the Good News except for…never mind—it is not usually equated. I think about John 3:16 rewritten with That Day in mind: “For God so LOVED the world that he gave his only son…that all of those who DID NOT believe in Him shall perish under the terrible, righteous, GOOD, wrath of the Most High.”
I tend to be binary about a lot of things. The opposite of Good is Bad. Under that reasoning, what God did with the Atonement (and me) is Good. What I reason as Bad, I can’t quite attribute to God, so it must be the devil. But that reasoning, besides being dualistic (heresy), doesn’t jibe with what is known about God.
God is Sovereign and Supreme in all of Eternity and what I perceive as Creation. All creatures were created by Him and are subject to Him—even the devil. The devil cannot operate independently from God (c. Job 1-3). Fast forwarding in the theological explanation, because God is Good as an inalterable tenant of His Attributes and Character, all decisions—even subjecting unbelievers to His Wrath—is a function of His Goodness.
Therefore, in the scene represented by the above scripture quote, it is with sober understanding that the Wrath of the Lamb is integrated with the other of Jesus’ identifiable (communicable and incommunicable) Attributes as the Trinitarian God—His Goodness is equal with His Wrath as a function of His Character—sin cannot, will not be tolerated at the advent of the New Heavens and the New Earth.
It is conceivable then, in the light of His revealed character, that these folks somehow recognize that as far as His Goodness and Mercy is from the east to the west, so is His Wrath recognized at the End of Days.
Makes me wonder why that side of Jesus isn’t acknowledged today as well?
Prayer: Sobering today, O Lord. I must deliberately orient my mind to be accurate about all your Attributes and Characteristics equaling each other in width, breadth, and intensity. I am in error when exalt your Love and diminish your Wrath—not to mention favoring your Forgiveness and ignoring your Judgment against and Condemnation of Sin.
It is difficult—if not plainly hard—unless I immerse and embrace the whole Gospel, beginning to End—and that daily.
Make me into the image of the Son (Ro 8:29), O Lord of everlasting Holiness.
Bring revival.
AMEN.