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Rejoicing in the Wrath of God: Part 2 by Pastor Charlie Handren

By Anonymous

In last week’s devotional, I drew our attention to Revelation 15:3-4, and 16:5-7 where the people of God rejoice in the wrath of God poured out upon the nations of the earth. I then asked you to ponder why God’s people would rejoice in this, and I promised that I would share a few answers of my own. So, what causes joy to rise up in the hearts of those who love God when they contemplate and even see his great and terrible wrath poured out on others?

First, the people of God rejoice in the wrath of God because his deeds are great and amazing (15:3). The essence of worship is delighting in the glory and greatness of God, and thus seeing a visible display of the same, even in terrible wrath, strikes awe and joy in the soul for those who love God, and it causes them to worship.

Second, the people of God rejoice in the wrath of God because he is holy and his ways are just and true (15:3; 16:5-7). Indeed, as the Psalmist has written, “You are good and do good” (Psalm 119:68). Even in his wrath the children of God rejoice because they know that he is infinitely holy, that his motives are pure and right, that he does not lash out in unholy anger as do they. And they know, therefore, that his judgments are just and right and fair, and that everything he thinks and says and does are perfectly in accordance with truth. He never gets it wrong! Can you imagine being so perfect in your character that you never misstep with your words or actions? This is true of God, and this truth strikes awe and joy in the hearts of those who love God, by grace, and it causes them to worship.

Third, the people of God rejoice in the wrath of God because they know that, in the end, “All nations will come and worship [God], for [his] righteous acts have been revealed” (15:4). They know that, in the end, “every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11). They know that, in the end, everyone will honor and revere this God who they have come to love, and it causes them to worship.

In short, the reason the people of God rejoice in the wrath of God is because it is a display of his infinite power and holiness. They do not rejoice in death and destruction, rather, they rejoice in God himself who does all things well.
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