The Wrath of God Part 2

The Fire of God’s Jealousy

 

Introduction

 

This article is a transcribed sermon given to a local fellowship group in May 2005 as part two of a five part series on a subject I’ve entitled; "The Wrath of God".   I have decided to reformat these sermons into booklet form, but they can also be obtained on CD’s or audio cassettes.  To all believers that take the Bible seriously and are interested in studying the meanings of the words of God this subject of the "wrath of God", in my opinion, explains a special character of God that we need to be aware of.  As we all know, the Bible makes reference to the anger, jealousy, indignation, vengeance, and wrath of God in many scriptures.  If we proclaim as Christians to love the words of God (as we should); it then behooves us and it becomes our duty to trace the meanings of these terms that are biblically used to express what is called the "wrath of God".  It is my intention to show the meanings of these terms, and then we should all believe the meanings in spite of what we personally happen to believe as doctrine.  But I want to clarify that our salvation is secure even if we do not understand this subject as we should.  We are only saved by the works and faith of Jesus Christ, therefore our salvation does not depend on our own personal works of study; or on any works done on our part, for that matter.  Good works of study and good works of charity only come naturally on their own by loving God as the Spirit of God inspires us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).  We only respond in loving God and His inspired words of scripture because He first loved us (Romans 5:8).  Part two of the wrath of God addresses what I’ve called the "Fire of God‘s Jealousy".  Please read the following transcribed sermon very carefully…….

 

2 Corinthians6:14-18 KJV Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

 

We as an assembly of believers here locally over the years have come to believe that God has called us out of what we call the mainstream Church system.  In other words, we call ourselves different than the average Church.  The question of course is what determines in God’s eyes just what makes an unbeliever, and to what length or extreme are we to separate and not be unequally yoked with unbelievers?  One very important reason to separate from what God would call unbelievers is to escape the wrath of God. 

 

Today will be part 2 of the wrath of God, and I want to mainly talk about the jealously of God, and the causes that makes God jealous. 

 

1 Thessalonians1:9-10 KJV For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians5:8-9 KJV  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

These scriptures have identified some ways in how to avoid the wrath of God; turning to God from idols, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for an helmet the hope of salvation.  But do not all Churches and all Christian people proclaim to serve the living God, and proclaim to have faith, love, and hope? 

 

John3:36 KJV He 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. 

 

What does it mean, "he that believeth not the son"?  There is a difference in saying believing on Christ compared to believing what Christ said.  But do not all believers ON Christ say they also believe WHAT Christ said? 

 

By the way, I feel it would be proper to mention a very important fact that most people generally are not aware of.  This is so simple yet so very important to understand.  The words that Jesus Christ spoke that we must believe were not translated words; but the translated words in our Bibles are fairly accurate; but not entirely accurate.  To believe the words of Christ is to believe the meaning of the original words of Christ; not necessarily believing translated words.  The point is, the wrath of God will abide on those that refuse to believe the meaning of the original words of Christ if they are aware of examples where the meaning might not match with the translated words. 

 

What is so different in what we believe as doctrine compared to what average people believe out there in the Christian world?  One of the differences is that we proclaim that Israel is separate from all people, and that only Israel can rightfully claim the promises of God.  In other words, we believe there are a people in today’s world that can be called the modern day Israelites that are to bless all families of the earth through the covenant that God swore to Abraham many centuries ago.  This belief does truly set us apart from the modern Churches, but is that the only belief and doctrine that sets us apart?  We also do not do the modern day holidays such as Halloween, Christmas, and Easter.  We understand the paganism and false worship involved which mainstream Christianity generally does not seem to understand or does not seem to care.  That also separates and sets us apart. 

 

There are other issues that could be mentioned that could be called a departure from the modern Churches.  But my point is this; do we believe that God calls people in this day and age to separate from the false ways of this society, and to also separate from what we would call the world’s Churches.  I believe that is the calling of God, and calling simply means to be called out from among the vanity of this world, and especially to separate from the world’s Church system. 

 

But separate how, and just how is it determined who the world’s Churches are?  Separation is taught in the Bible, but in a deceived world how do we here locally determine what and who we are to separate out from among?  Understand, it would be wrong to separate in the sense of having nothing to do with friends and relatives.  We are just not to believe as most people believe.  If we would know how God determines who is appointed to receive His wrath and those who are not; then it would suddenly become a very serious matter for us to determine who, and how to separate, and how not be unequally yoked with unbelievers.  The Bible talks a lot about a jealous God.  So if we can understand what causes God to be jealous; then just maybe we can avoid the wrath of God.

 

First of all, the term jealousy is not hard to understand, and generally it has to do with a marriage covenant with God and a special people called Israel that God dearly loves.  Jealous simply can be explained as something causing a man or a woman to be suspicious or have a mental anxiety and an uneasy feeling through the thought that another has withdrawn or may withdraw from the affections of a person he or she loves.  We know that God loves a people called Israel above all people on the face of the earth.

 

Deuteronomy7:6-8 KJV For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that [are] upon the face of the earth. 7 The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye [were] the fewest of all people: 8 But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 

 

Can we understand that God has a very special love for a people called Israel, and can we understand why God would get very jealous toward His people?  Another very important point to understand is that God does not change His love for a people called Israel.  His love for a special people called Israel is constant and will never change, and it is only Israel and no other people that are in that special love relationship.  It is not that God doesn’t love and care for other people; it’s just that He has a very special love for Israel because Israel became His wife at Mount Sinai, as we all know.  As we also know God had to divorce His wife because of spiritual adultery and fornication, but that does not mean God lost His love for His estranged wife.  That is the very reason that God gave His only begotten son to die as a sacrifice for His divorced wife so He could remarry here.  But the problem is this, Israel generally in the course of the plan of the ages has worshipped other Gods and broken her marriage vows, and God knows if Israel does not repent He will have to chastise her through His wrath so He can remarry her. 

 

Malachi3:6 KJV For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 

 

That word "consumed" is no. 3615 and can be summed up to mean to end, to cease, be finished, or to perish.  Because of God’s special unchanging love for the sons of Jacob means that a people called Israel will never end, cease, be finished, and will never perish.  But because of God’s special love He will have to chastise Israel through His wrath, His jealousy, His anger; for the very reason so they will not end, cease, and never perish as a people. 

 

Hebrews 12:6 KJV For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

 

That word chasteneth means to train up a child, that is, educate, or discipline by punishment.  It also means to instruct, to teach, to correct, to reform, to reprove.  These are the reasons for God to punish Israel out of love. 

 

Deuteronomy4:23-24 KJV Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, [or] the likeness of any [thing], which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee. 24 For the LORD thy God [is] a consuming fire, [even] a jealous God.

 

A consuming fire is no. 398 and means to eat, burn up, consume, devour.  That is a different word than used for the sons of Jacob not being consumed.  Notice it says that God himself is a consuming fire. 

 

Exodus34:14 KJV For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name [is] Jealous, [is] a jealous God: 

 

The worship of the custom of other gods is the main sin that causes the consuming fire of God’s jealousy.  God simply will not share Israel with other gods; He wants Israel to worship Him and Him alone in the exact same manner as a man and woman being one flesh.  When that one flesh bond is broken then the spirit of jealously is stirred up and there will be hell to pay, as the saying goes, from the viewpoint of a wrathful God. 

 

Is the worship of other gods practiced in our Christian world today?  Some people will confess the paganism that is in our Churches today, but they would never bow down to a graven image, and worship other gods as ancient Israel did.  Christians believe that God understands that they love Him and they have no evil intentions with the customs of paganism.  In their minds they think if they would just kind of blend paganism with Christian worship then somehow the paganism would magically become Christian worship.  That is how people reason and think, and it just shows the blatant, bold, and careless disrespect toward the God of Israel. 

 

There is coming a day of vengeance.  Do we want to avoid the wrath of God on the day of vengeance?  It is called separation, brothers and sisters.  You can visit all the Churches you want, and the people there seem so friendly, so sincere, and they seem so Christian, and they really do show the fruit of the Spirit.  But try to tell them what the worship of the customs of other gods is all about.  Try to tell them about a jealous God and a wrathful God that has vengeance.  It’s not wrong to attend other Churches, but in wisdom it is best at this time to not try to change their false worship practices; that is if you want to continue to attend.  The principle is that we must first change our own personal character flaws (and we all have them) before we attempt to admonish and change others (Matthew7:3-5).  

 

Christ attended a Church service once and He made the people so mad at Him they wanted to kill him; they wanted to throw Him over a steep cliff.  Can we imagine that kind of hatred?  But no doubt, Christ attended many of the Jews assembles without causing hatred of Him.  As we know, Jesus Christ said His followers would also be hated, maybe even from their supposed best friends.  But we do not have to privately explain our "strange and unusual" beliefs unless we are asked.  All we really have to do to be a witness for Christ to our friends, relatives, and other Churches we might attend is to be a shining light, which is simply living by what we believe. 

 

Matthew5:16 KJV Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

People can SEE your good works (not your words) so that they will glorify your Father in heaven.  Therefore if you continue to attend Churches it is best to heed Christ's instructions so that people may SEE your good works of NOT worshipping the customs of false gods such as the world's holidays.  If you are then asked of your "strange" behavior do not be ashamed to explain to them the paganism involved in the holidays such as Christmas and Easter that do NOT uphold the glory of Christ and the Father.  Again, it is best not to admonish, but also at the same time do not be ashamed of your beliefs if you are asked.  In other words, do not take the attitude of being self-righteous and that you (and only you) are qualified to admonish the Church that you are attending.  You can rest assured that you will then be approached by the leadership or even by the pastor and you will be told to leave and to not come back.  You will be told in no uncertain terms that you are not welcome.  The point is, most Church-goers can see the spirit of being self-righteous and it does cause unrest, anger, and disunity, and you have not edified or gained any brothers.  Of course there are those that want to be hated and cast out because they read this scripture:

 

Luke6:22-23 KJV Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company], and shall reproach [you], and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. 23 Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward [is] great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. 

 

Christ was the explaining the principle of separation for the "Son of man's sake".  If some are truly convicted to admonish and correct Churches on false worship "for the Son of man's sake" then indeed that would be the way to be hated and to be separated from their company.  But it is very rare indeed to admonish the world and the Churches in the same spirit and like manner as the prophets  in the Old Testament did.  That is the point Christ made.  If one chooses to be a "prophet" for the Son of man's sake to be hated and separated it is very important that he biblically knows what he is talking about, and explain biblically why Churches need to change in how they worship and believe.  It is obvious to many sincere believers that generally the self proclaimed "prophets" of today are after self-glory, and they only THINK they know the truths of scripture and only THINK that what they are doing is for the Son of man's sake.   

 

Luke4:18-21 KJV The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave [it] again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

 

Here is one example of Christ being hated and cast out of a Jewish assembly.  Notice "this day is this scripture fulfilled" (verse 21).  Christ quoted from Isaiah 61, but then He closed the book without quoting the whole scripture, and most of you know why.

 

Isaiah61:1-4  KJV The Spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. 4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

 

The day of vengeance was not what was being fulfilled on that day.  Christ only quoted the part that He could truthfully say was being fulfilled in the ears of the Jews on that day He preached to them.  What was being fulfilled is that Christ was preaching the good news, and He healed the brokenhearted.  The preaching of deliverance of captives in prison that are in bondage to Satan was also being fulfilled that day.  Notice what happens after the day of vengeance.  These are things that could not be fulfilled in the ears of the Jews in the time of Christ.  God’s wrath and His day of vengeance will result in what is explained in verses 3 and 4.  These good things still have not been fulfilled, and they will not happen in a real sense until the day of vengeance when God unleashes the fire of His jealousy to educate, discipline, punish, instruct, teach, correct, reform, and reprove the people He dearly loves.  Only the things mentioned before verse 3 were fulfilled on that very day Christ preached and proclaimed them to the Israelites of His day. 

 

Numbers25:10-11  KJV And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.

 

Here is another example of what causes the jealousy of God, and what Phinehas did was to turn away God’s wrath so that God would not consume Israel in his jealousy, and that word consumed is no. 3615; the same word as the sons of Jacob not being consumed.  Phinehas was very zealous for God and he acted and did something that most people today simply cannot accept as a righteous act.  But what he did was turn God’s wrath away so God would not consume (no 3615) to end or to finish the nation of Israel so that they would not perish or cease.  I mean there were thousands of Israelites dying all over the place simply because God was jealous. 

 

Ezekiel36:5-6  KJV Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Surely in the fire of my jealousy have I spoken against the residue of the heathen, and against all Idumea, which have appointed my land into their possession with the joy of all [their] heart, with despiteful minds, to cast it out for a prey. 6 Prophesy therefore concerning the land of Israel, and say unto the mountains, and to the hills, to the rivers, and to the valleys, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I have spoken in my jealousy and in my fury, because ye have borne the shame of the heathen:  

 

Residue means the people left over of the heathen.  Heathen is the same Hebrew word "Goy" that is used for gentiles or nations, and it could mean the descendents of Abraham and of Israel.  Idumea means Edom and notice God spoke in the fire of His jealousy not only to the residue of the heathen but also against all of Edon because they appointed God’s land into their possession to cast it out for a prey; which also made God jealous even if Edom was not His wife.  God’s jealousy works both ways.  The people that remained or were left over were Israelites of the two southern tribes that were not taken captive when God put away the northern tribes in His wrath and scattered them to all nations. 

 

It was these heathen Israelite people that learned the worship of other gods, and the left over Israelites have also borne the shame of the other gods of the heathen, simply because they are the same people.  The heathen would have to be the Israelites God divorced and scattered to all nations in His wrath; and the point is this; since these Israelite heathen people were no longer considered the wife of God that is why God only spoke to the residue of these Israelite heathen people in the fire of His jealousy, but he still loved the heathen Israelites and died for them.  Once the sacrifice was paid for the heathen Israelite people then they could again become God’s remarried wife, and God would again be jealous of her, and He again will show the fire of His jealousy and will again on the day of vengeance chastise His beloved wife in His wrath.

 

Ezekiel38:19-23 KJV For in my jealousy [and] in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; 20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that [are] upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. 21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord GOD: every man's sword shall be against his brother. 22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that [are] with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. 23 Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I [am] the LORD. 

 

God speaks through His jealousy and the fire of His wrath.   This is talking about in that day; the day of God’s wrath and great shaking in the land of Israel.  That word shaking means commotion, confused noise, earthquake, fierceness, quaking, rattling, rushing, shaking.  This is end time language of the prophets and also of the book of Revelation showing the jealousy and fire of God’s wrath being real and finally carried out.  This is the time a whole lot of shaking going on and it has nothing to do with the name of a song sung by Elvis many years ago. 

 

The hailstones, fire, and brimstone are words out of Revelation of end time events.  This is how God pleads with man, and how God will magnify and sanctify himself.  Sanctify means to set apart for a holy use.  God in His wrath and jealousy sets himself apart for a holy use to make himself known so that many nations will know Him as Jehovah.  Is all this just spiritual language, and is the jealously and fire of God’s wrath also just something spiritual?  Some believe it is.  The hailstones, fire, and brimstone could very well have spiritual applications, but that still does not cancel the very real effects of God’s wrath that has to be felt as real chastisement from a wrathful God.  The point is this; the chastisement must be very severe and be spiritually and mentally felt to have very real results. 

 

The purpose of chastisement done out of Jealousy and wrath is to train, educate, discipline, instruct, teach, correct, reform, reprove a people God dearly loves, and that punishment cannot be a never ending punishment as many people today believe it is.  That would defeat God’s own purpose.  Some say that God only disciplines believers.  No, God loves and died for all Israel; it’s just that it is possible for believers in this age, if they are humble, to not be appointed to wrath as we read in 1Thes.  God only chastises if it is necessary and it is very necessary especially for unbelievers.

 

Zephaniah3:8-9 KJV Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination [is] to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, [even] all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. 9 For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent. {language: Heb. lip} {consent: Heb. shoulder} 

 

These are unbelieving Israelite nations and kingdoms.  After God has poured out His indignation and fierce anger, and after all the earth is devoured with the fire of God’s jealousy (now notice the word "then") then God will turn to the people a pure language.  God does that so that they would call upon the name of Jehovah; the self existing one; to serve Him with one consent.  The word language is "lip" and the word consent is "shoulder", and means the neck (between the shoulders) as the place of burdens.  The (DRB) translation says this:  Because then I will restore to the people a chosen lip, that all may call upon the name of the Lord, and may serve him with one shoulder.  All people will serve God in sharing the place of burdens as one people which can only happen if they all speak with one chosen voice or lip.  After God’s wrath and the fire of His jealousy has done its corrective work on the unbelieving nations and kingdoms of Israel then all people will serve God shoulder to shoulder. 

 

Ezekiel16:38-43 KJV And I will judge thee, as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will give thee blood in fury and jealousy. {as: Heb. with judgments of} The footnote for "as" in Hebrew is "with judgments of".  In other words, God will judge with the judgments of women that break wedlock.  39 And I will also give thee into their hand, and they shall throw down thine eminent place, and shall break down thy high places: they shall strip thee also of thy clothes, and shall take thy fair jewels, and leave thee naked and bare. 40 They shall also bring up a company against thee, and they shall stone thee with stones, and thrust thee through with their swords. 41 And they shall burn thine houses with fire, and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women: and I will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot, and thou also shalt give no hire any more. 42 So will I make my fury toward thee to rest, and my jealousy shall depart from thee, and I will be quiet, and will be no more angry. 43 Because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth, but hast fretted me in all these [things]; behold, therefore I also will recompense thy way upon [thine] head, saith the Lord GOD: and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations. 

 

It is Israel that was the woman that broke wedlock with God which caused His jealousy, but who will cause Israel to cease from playing the harlot?  It is God that causes Israel to repent through His wrath and the fury of His jealousy, but notice there will come a time after Israel is judged that God’s fury will rest and His jealousy will depart from Israel, and He will be quiet and will be no more angry. 

 

Psalm79:5-6 KJV How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? 6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. 

 

This is also talking about the timing of God’s anger and jealousy.  The word "forever" is an interesting word.  It is the Hebrew word no. 5331 and I suggest you write it down.  It means properly a goal, the bright object at a distance traveled towards; hence splendor.  It can also be used showing God’s truthfulness, and His confidence; continually to the most distant point of view.  This word is also taken from another word which means to "glitter from afar".  It could be said God has a goal of splendor that glitters from afar.  His anger, His jealousy burning like fire, and His wrath will only last as long as it takes to achieve His goal of splendor; which is the bright object at a distance that glitters from afar and is being traveled toward. 

 

David asked God how long God will be angry. The answer is when God reaches His goal of splendor; the bright object that glitters at a distance; not only that God is traveling on but that the heathen and kingdoms are also traveling on.  David was asking God if His anger would last until God reached his goal of splendor.  Psalm 79:5 is a very important scripture explaining a very important aspect of the jealousy and wrath of God.  The Hebrew word 5331 has nothing whatsoever to do with what we would call forever; yet it was translated like that because it implies something continual.  There is a plan of the ages involved here before we reach what is called eternity or forever.  The Bible only deals with the time allotted for the plan of the ages.  If you recall, I tried to explain this in my sermon some time ago, but I sensed there was some confusion. 

 

Confusion only happens when we try to mix our preconceived thoughts with the true meaning of certain Hebrew and Greek words.  You cannot add to or mix the meaning of words.  The problem is that translated words do not always match the meaning of certain Hebrew and Greek words.  All we have to is leave the meaning of words alone as they are.  The confusion will be lifted if we do not try to blend English translated words with the true meaning of the original words.  In the plan of the ages I chose to allow the meaning of the original words to speak for themselves.  Are we going to believe the meaning of the original words of God or the meaning of English translated words?  God help us to choose wisely.

 

To do a search and trace the meaning of words is like threading a needle and sewing peaces of cloth together, and you cannot tear them apart.  It’s like connecting the dots of a big picture.  The Hebrew word no. 5331 is found 43 times in the Old Testament, and it is very interesting to read the context on how this word is used in certain scriptures.   One example is in...

 

Isaiah25:8-9  KJV He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken [it]. 9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this [is] our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this [is] the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. 

 

That word "victory" is the same word translated as "forever" no. 5331.  God’s goal of splendor is when death is swallowed up in victory, and when God wipes away tears from all faces.  Does it say all faces?  This is God’s truthfulness and confidence that He sees continually that glitters from His distance point of view for His people Israel that He loves dearly.  This will be the time that all Israel has waited for and will rejoice.  God has to do the saving.  This is the bright object that glitters in the distance after the time allotted for plan of the ages, and it is all achieved by God’s fire of jealousy, anger, and wrath. 

 

Revelation21:4 KJV And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

 

This will be the time that God finally achieves His goal of splendor; the distant point of view He always had for His family, and God always knew His goal of splendor would only be achieved through severe chastisement, by wrath, by anger, by the fire of His jealousy; only because He loves His family with a love only God understands.  The apostle Paul also quoted from Isaiah 25. 

 

1Corinthians15:54-57  KJV So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory? {grave: or, hell} 56 The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law. 57 But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

The word "victory" is found three times in these verses.  This is the only time Paul in all his fourteen epistles ever made reference to the Greek word hades; which is translated as grave in verse 55.  Hades was translated as hell in all other places in the NT, and as we know, it simply means the unseen state of the dead.  The translators used "grave" in this one particular scripture, and it would be interesting to study why the word "hell" was not used.  Paul also quoted from:

 

Hosea13:14  KJV I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

 

The word grave is sheol; the same as Hades, and God will ransom His family from the power of the unseen state of the dead.  He will be as plagues to the state of death itself.  God himself is the consuming fire that will be the destruction of sheol and hades, and He will not repent from swallowing up death in victory.  The last enemy that will be destroyed is death (1 Cor15:24), and that means the state of death itself will be no more.  As long as the unseen state of death, the grave, sheol, or hades exists it will not be swallowed up in victory and will not yet be destroyed.  But that is God’s goal of splendor, His truthfulness, His confidence; the glittering victory He sees in the distance for His family after the ages have run their course.  The victory over the state of death will not be realized without severe chastisement, by the fire of His jealously, and by His wrath. 

 

In closing I want to say the purpose of the fire of God’s jealousy and His wrath is not hard to understand but we have to believe the meaning of certain words.  Why is God such a wrathful and jealous God?  There is only one reason, brothers and sisters.  It is because He loves His family, and it is a love we cannot comprehend; it is so profound and so deep that He gave His only begotten son in a very brutal death as the ultimate perfect sacrifice for the sins of His people. 

 

He has deliberately planned for His family to go through all forms of deception, evil, and sin in the time of the plan of the ages for the very purpose to refine, to polish, to shape, to purify, so He can do His good pleasure; the work of salvation for His people He loves.  That refining and purifying process can either be done in humility in repentance as a faith walk in this age now; or it can be done through the fire of God’s jealousy and wrath in a future age to come.  In this age God’s grace is only for true humility and meekness, because how can true humility and meekness be punished and corrected? 

 

Some people in the Christian world are proud of their supposed righteousness.  They don’t know what shame is because they are blind to even the possibility that they might be wrong in their beliefs.  God has ways to correct this type of self-righteousness and it is these types of flaws that God will consume and burn out of their consciousness.  Some will learn real quick what shame is all about, and it will be severe shame and mental torment, but only during an age; it will not be forever.  The vast majority of God’s people will have to face the day of vengeance, because He loves and died for the ungodly and the unbelievers.

 


 

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