“Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to
the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth” (Revelation 16:1).
There is a time coming when God will judge the world for rejecting His
Son and for sin. It will be a day of wrath and judgment. In the Bible, this
time is descriptively called the Wrath of
God (Colossians 3:6; Revelation 14:9-10, 19; 15:1, 7; 16:1). In some
passages, it is called the Day of the
Lord (Joel 1:15; 2:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9). It will be a day of
vengeance when God’s wrath will be expressed in the form of seven plagues
poured out upon the earth. There will be much physical pain and trouble for the
inhabitants of earth at that time. Some have taught that the plagues of God’s
wrath are part of the Great Tribulation. That is not the case according to the
Bible (see Tribulation
or Wrath?).
The seven plagues in the Book of Revelation constitute the outpouring of
the Wrath of God (Revelation 11:18;16:1 with the following references). The plagues
unleashed by the seven trumpets described in Revelation 8:6-13, 9:1-21, and
11:15-19 are not the same as the seven plagues described in Revelation
16:1-21. Only the seven bowls poured out by angels of God are called “the seven
bowls of the wrath of God” (Revelation
16:1). These plagues described
in the Book of Revelation are the outpouring of God’s wrath upon
a sinful world (Revelation 18:4, 8). Since the Great Tribulation is demonic
persecution (under the direction of the Beast) rather than godly judgment, it
should be clear that the seven plagues of God’s wrath are not part of the Great
Tribulation.
Failure to recognize only as the “wrath of God” the last seven plagues described in the Book of Revelation can
lead to confusion about end-time events. Some believe and teach that the
trumpets and the bowls are the same seven plagues described twice in the Book
of Revelation. Even though the plagues unleashed by the trumpets and those
poured out from the bowls describe slightly similar judgments, the two
different descriptions for each plague can be compared to see that both
descriptions not apply to the same
event. There is only one set of seven
plagues that is identified as the wrath of God, and it is not described twice in the Book of
Revelation, but once - in Revelation 16:1-21. (See Appendix C: Two Different
Sets of Seven Plagues Compared for more information on the seven plagues of
the Wrath of God.)
Christians are not destined to suffer the Wrath of God (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians
5:9; Revelation 18:4). Through faith in Christ Jesus, He has delivered us from
the coming wrath (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). Therefore, Christians will not
suffer the Wrath of God.
The Beast and non-Christians will suffer terribly during the Wrath of
God (Romans 1:18; 2:5-9; Eph 5:3-7; Colossians 3:5-6; Revelation 9:3-6;
16:9-11). Even though they refuse to repent, they will be forced to acknowledge
that Christ Jesus is the Lord of all (Revelation 9:20-21; 16:9, 11; 11:13; Romans
14:11; Phil. 2:10-11). Since no one repents during the Wrath of God, it would
appear that no one is saved during the Wrath of God (Acts 3:19; 11:18). Like
the flood of Noah’s days, the Wrath of God is a time of punishment, not a time
of correction (Matthew 24:36-39; Genesis 6:5-8, 13, 17; Genesis 7:13-24).
SUMMARY
Term Definition:
The Wrath of God is a scriptural term referring to a specific period of
time when God will punish the Beast and those who worship him (Revelation 14:9-11).
This outpouring of God’s wrath will take the form of seven plagues (Revelation
16:1-21). The Wrath of God is sometimes called the Day of the Lord (Joel 1:15;
2:1-11; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-9).
Significance of the Wrath of God:
The Wrath of God is a time of punishment for the Beast and all those who
worship him and take his mark during the Great Tribulation (Revelation 14:9-11).
The Wrath of God is God’s judgment upon sin and sinners (Romans 1:18; 2:5-9;
Eph 5:3-7; Colossians 3:5-6).
Source of the Wrath of God:
The Wrath of God comes from God (Romans 2:5-9; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10; Revelation
15:6-7). It is performed by angels under His command (Revelation 16:1).
Length of the Wrath of God:
The length of the Wrath of God is not explicitly given in the Bible,
though it is found “between the lines” by comparing the length of the Great
Tribulation (3 ½ years = 1,260 days) to the timing provided by the prophet
Daniel (12:11). 30 days seems to be the length of the wrath of God. (See the
diagram below, How long is the Great Tribulation and The 70 weeks of
Daniel for more information on the subject.)
Events Prior to the Wrath of God:
The Great Tribulation occurs before the Wrath of God. Immediately after
the Great Tribulation (but before the Wrath of God) certain signs will occur in
the sun, moon, and stars (Matthew 24:29; Revelation 6:12-14; and Appendix D).
Also, the Lord Jesus will be seen by the people on earth as He returns to
gather His people (Matthew 24:27, 30-21; Revelation 6:15-17).
Events of the Wrath of God:
The primary events associated with the Wrath of God are the seven
plagues poured out in judgment upon the earth and its inhabitants (Revelation 16:1-21).
God During the Wrath of God:
God’s judgment and punishment will be poured out as seven plagues upon
those who remain on the earth after the Rapture. God will be a shelter for His
people (Joel 3:9-16).
Christians During the Wrath of God:
Most Christians will be in heaven during the Wrath of God (Revelation
7:9-17; 15:1-4). There will be 144,000 Israelites who are sealed to protect
them against the plagues of the trumpets (Revelation 7:1-8; 14:1-5). Two
witnesses will participate in the outpouring of the plagues of the seven
trumpets while they witness against the people of the earth (Revelation
11:3-13). The Beast will kill God’s two witnesses between the sixth and seventh
trumpets (Revelation 11:7). The people of God will not suffer the plagues of
the Wrath of God contained in the bowls (Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:9;
1:9-10; Joel 3:9-16; Revelation 7:2-3).
Satan During the Wrath of God:
Satan (the dragon) will gather the people of the earth at Armageddon to
fight against God during the Wrath of God (Revelation 16:13-14).
Beast During the Wrath of God:
The Beast will suffer severe punishment during the Wrath of God (Revelation
16:10-11). The Beast, Satan, and the False Prophet will gather the people
together at Armageddon to fight against God (Revelation 16:13-14).
Non-Christians During the Wrath of God:
Non-Christians will suffer punishment during the Wrath of God (Romans
1:18; 2:5-9; Eph 5:3-7; Colossians 3:5-6; Revelation 9:3-6; 16:9-11). They will
blaspheme God (Revelation 16:9, 11, 21). They will refuse to repent for their
evil (Revelation 9:20-21; 16:9, 11). They will be forced to give God the glory
due Him (Revelation 11:13; Romans 14:11; Phil. 2:10-11).
Events Following the Wrath of God:
Satan will be bound for 1000 years and the Millennium will begin (Revelation
20:1-4).
Scripture references for the Wrath of God:
