The Judgments of God – A Biblical Overview
The purpose of this study is present a balanced Biblical perspective on the whole area of the
judgments of God. This is important, not just because it is an area in which Bible believing and
charismatic Christians have strongly divergent points of view, but also because it is an area that
has a significant affect on our view of God – and it is our view of God that is the most important
thing about us.
What we think about God is the single most important thing in our spiritual journey. Our image
of God will drive every single part of our life…We’re shaped, emotionally and spiritually, by the
image of God we carry in our hearts and minds. (Graham Cooke – The Nature of God)
It is our correct view of God that will become a foundation in our lives to help us live a life of
intimacy and favour with the Father – and it is our correct view of God expressed together
through the life of the church that will enable us to attract and sustain the revival that God is
sending to the earth. Of particular importance is our understanding of the goodness of God.
Goodness and love are among his primary attributes – but then so is judgment.
Judgment, mercy and grace are not acts of God, they are attributes of God. (Graham Cooke)
It is vital therefore that we understand how these attributes of God blend together to form
God’s great plan and purpose and that we allow His nature and attributes to inform and define
our mission on this earth and our place in His plan.
Divergent points of view
It is often put forward by Christians that disasters that take place in our world – such as the fall
of the twin towers on 9/11 – are the result of the judgment of God against the sin of our
nations, but is this really the case?
Many so-called prophets are putting out warnings of impending judgment – one of the most
prominent such voices has been David Wilkerson. In Appendix 1 is the full transcript of a blog
that Wilkerson put out in March 2009 warning of impending disaster in the USA and stating
“God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations. He is destroying the secular foundations.”
I recently watched some of the outpouring meetings at the International House of Prayer in
Kansas City – there has been a fantastic work of the Holy Spirit taking place among thousands of
young people here, but the extract I saw had a very intense young woman on the stage
proclaiming that 9/11 was the judgment of God on America. I believe there is a wonderful
work of the Holy Spirit taking place at IHOP but this particular proclamation left me feeling
uneasy.
Not all Christians subscribe to this view, for example Bill Johnson and Kris Vallatton of Bethel
Church, Redding and well-known Bible teacher Andrew Wommack. Appendix 2 contains two
short articles by Andrew Wommack giving a clear but alternative Biblical perspective on this.
Kris Vallatton in a talk called Great and Glorious makes a helpful and important distinction
between judgment and sowing and reaping.
Judgment and sowing and reaping are not the same thing. Judgment is a decision made by God to
punish or reward people for their actions. Sowing and reaping is the natural outcome of whatever
seed is planted. I don’t believe that God is making judgments against us, I think He’s actually
trying to save us from reaping what we’ve sown.
Kris’s argument is that much of what we see in the world IS the result of the sin of mankind –
because our sin and our rebellion against God has aligned us with the evil one – and Satan’s
purpose is to kill, steal and destroy. We are reaping what we have sown – whereas the truth of
the gospel is that Jesus came to save us from reaping what we have sown – and to bring us into
abundant life, not death.
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I believe it was after the Columbine School shooting in the USA, that Billy Graham’s daughter,
Anne, was interviewed on US television and asked the question “How could God let something like
this happen?” Her replied was simple yet profound:
I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get
out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the
gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His
blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'
As I have studied the scriptures on this matter I have come to a clear and deep conclusion that
Anne Graham, Andrew Wommack and the teachers from Redding have the correct
perspective, and I worry that many Christians who take the “judgments of God” view are
perverting the central message of the gospel by attributing to God evil things that are, in fact,
the work of the devil.
The meaning of judgment
There are two Greek words primarily used in the NT for judgment. The first is krisis which
denotes “the process of investigation, the act of distinguishing and separating”; hence "a judging,
a passing of judgment upon a person or thing". The second is krima which denotes “the sentence
pronounced, a verdict, a condemnation, the decision resulting from an investigation,” or “the
process of judgment leading to a decision.”
Similarly the Hebrew word mishpat primarily means the act of sitting as a judge, hearing a case,
and rendering a proper verdict.
The Righteousness and Justice of God
The process of judgment is closely associated with the righteousness and justice of God – a
judge is there to uphold justice and the law of the land and should be expected to make his
judgments in absolute integrity. Both Moses and David sing of the fact that God is totally
righteous and just in all his ways.
He is the Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice, a God of truth and without
injustice; righteous and upright is He. (Deut 32:4)
The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. (Ps 145:17)
One of the primary messages of the Old Testament is that God is utterly righteous and just and
all sin and wrongdoing has consequences which lead to God’s judgment. This is summarised in
the law which teaches us the nature and consequences of sin.
I would not have known sin except through the law. (Rom 7:7)
The Good News of the Cross
Paul summarises the consequences of sin in Rom 6:23 when he say “the wages of sin is death”, but
he goes on to proclaim “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This is the
wonderful news of the New Testament: the payment for sin (death) has been fully and
completely made in the death of Jesus so that God’s righteousness anger at the sins of the world
had been fully appeased. Instead of reaping death, the lawful consequences of our sin, we who
have believed in Jesus have received the free gift of eternal life.
Paul sets this all out very clearly in Romans 3:
But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and
the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who
believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being
justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as
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a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His
forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the
present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in
Jesus. (Rom 3:21-27)
At the cross Jesus became the “propitiation” for our sins. This word was used amongst the Greeks
with the significance “to make the gods propitious, to appease, propitiate,” – in other words to
turn back the anger of the gods and gain their favour through some act of appeasement. The use
of the word in the NT never implies that it is some act of ours which results in a favourable
attitude or disposition of God. The initiative, as Paul makes clear here, is totally with God who
has “set forth” Jesus as the propitiation for our sins. It is God who is "propitiated" by the
vindication of His holy and righteous character, which never changes. But in His great love and
mercy He sent His Son to the cross to deal with our sin, once and for all, so He can righteously
and justly forgive us from every sin and free us from all guilt. This theme occurs again in John’s
1st epistle.
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
(1 John 2:2)
Note that Jesus is not only the propitiation for our sins, but for those of the whole world.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation
for our sins. (1 John 4:10)
What amazing love! God would be completely right to judge and condemn every human being
to death, but instead He chose to send His Son, and to allow him to take onto himself the full
punishment for all our sins and wrongdoings. Is God angry about the sins of the world? Yes!
Does all this sin lead to punishment and death? Yes! So is God pouring out his judgment on
mankind today? No! He did it over 2000 years ago at a place called Golgotha where his sinless
perfect Son took onto himself all the hatred, filth and sin of mankind. It was a perfect sacrifice –
once and for all and for all time.
But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of
himself. Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was
sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear
sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Heb 9:26-28 NIV)
But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of
God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he
has made perfect for ever those who are being made holy. (Heb 10:12-14 NIV)
By one perfect sacrifice, Christ has taken away the sins of many people and averted the wrath of
God on the sins of mankind.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to
condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)
There is just one condition that we, as sinful human beings, have to fulfil to avail ourselves of
this wonderful offer of everlasting life that God has made available to us: we have to “believe in
Him”. There is a final judgment day coming and the key question then will be “did you believe
in Him?”
The Cross of Jesus is at the heart of all God’s plans and purposes. In looking at the judgments of
God therefore we need to keep central to our thinking the fact that God’s righteousness and
justice has been fully satisfied at the cross and to view the scriptures on judgment in this light.
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The teachings of Jesus
Let’s look at what Jesus had to teach about judgment.
In the area of personal judgment Jesus teaches clearly that we are not to judge other people,
otherwise we will stand under judgment ourselves. People who judge others are quick to spot
the “speck” in the someone else’s eye and to ignore the “plank” in their own (Matt 7:1-3, Luke
6:37). It is important therefore that we as Christians develop a non-judgmental attitude towards
other people – sadly this is something that has often not been the case within the church. We
could develop this further but it is not the main purpose of this paper.
The day of judgment
On a number of occasions Jesus refers to people who have received a clear revelation of the
truth – whether through Jesus’ mighty works and presence among them, or through the
disciples that were sent out to proclaim the kingdom of God and demonstrate it by healing the
sick, cleansing lepers, raising the dead, and casting out demons – and he makes it clear that if
those people reject the clear evidence of the kingdom that they have seen with their own eyes,
they put themselves in a position of severe judgment from God. Jesus often uses a phrase like “I
tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that
town.” (See Matt 10:14-15, 11:22,24, 12:41-42, Mark 6:11, Luke 10:14, 11:31-32.)
This oft repeated phraseology of Jesus teaches us three main things:
(1) There is a day of judgment coming at which time all men will be judged – this is a
future day, the judgment of God is not revealed in this age.
(2) God’s judgment is not “black and white” but there are degrees of judgment. Sodom and
Gomorrah were wicked places and those people will be certainly be judged, but Jesus is
saying that it will be worse for those people that have had a clear revelation of the truth
and rejected it. He does not elaborate on this point or tell us in what way it will be
worse for those who have rejected the revelation of truth.
(3) God’s judgment is fair and equitable and He will judge every man according to the light
that he has received, not merely looking at outward actions but judging the thoughts
and intentions of the heart.
Jesus is the judge
Jesus also teaches clearly that, on that future judgment day it is He, the Son, and not the Father
who will judge the world.
For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor
the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father
who sent Him. (John 5:22-23)
This is not however a judgment that He carries out apart from the Father, but as the delegated
authority of the Father.
I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek
My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.” (John 5: 30)
Not only that, but Jesus clearly indicated to his disciples that they too were going become part
of this delegated authority and participate in the judgment:
So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits
on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the
twelve tribes of Israel.” (Matt 19:28- also Lk 22:30)
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So the Father has committed all judgment to the Son, and we as his body are going to have a
part to play in this process. However this clearly refers to a future day (“in the regeneration”)
and so does not contradict Jesus’ teaching that we are not to judge others in this age. This is
reinforced by Jesus’ confirmation that He did not come to bring judgement, but salvation.
You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, my judgment is true; for I
am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me. (John 8:15-16)
God’s does not judge anyone “according to the flesh”. He looks at the thoughts and intentions of
the heart – and it is this spiritual judgment that we will partake in after Jesus’ return.
Judgment will be based on how we respond to the words of Jesus
I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.
And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did
not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not
receive My words, has that which judges him — the word that I have spoken will judge
him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me
gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. (John 12:46-49)
In this passage Jesus is saying that he came to the world, not to bring judgment or
condemnation, but the good news of salvation. There is a judgment day coming, and on that
day men and women will be judged according to whether they have rejected or received that
message of salvation. This ties in exactly with John 3:16-17, Jesus came as an expression of
God’s love, not to bring judgment or condemnation, but salvation; there is no need for anyone
to perish but all may receive eternal life.
Those who hear the words of Jesus and believe them receive that life and will not come to
judgment.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has
everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most
assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the
Son of God; and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted
the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He
is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves
will hear His voice and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and
those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” (John 5:24-29)
It’s interesting to note that Jesus refers to a time that was coming and “now is” when the dead
would hear his voice and be raised to life. This statement provides us with an interesting insight
into the question “what about the people who have never heard the gospel?” Some
commentators say this is referring to those who are “spiritually dead” and who can hear the
word of the Jesus and live. This may be true, but the context of the following verses refers to
those who are in the grave. What Jesus appears to be saying is that it is possible for those who
are already dead to hear the word of Jesus and live. The fact that they never heard the word of
Jesus in their lifetime will not prevent them from being judged fairly and equitably on the basis
of what they have done and how they would have responded to the gospel if they had heard it.
Adam Clarke’s commentary is helpful here:
Three kinds of death are mentioned in the Scriptures: natural, spiritual, and eternal.
The first consists in the separation of the body and soul. The second in the separation of God and
the soul. The third in the separation of body and soul from God in the other world. Answerable to
these three kinds of death, there is a threefold life: Natural life, which consists in the union of the
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soul and body. Spiritual life, which consists in the union of God and the soul, by faith and love.
Eternal life, which consists in the communion of the body and soul with God, by holiness, in the
realms of bliss.
Of the dead, our Lord says, the hour is coming, and now is, when they shall hear the voice of the
Son of God, and live. The hour is coming, when all that sleep in the dust shall awake at the voice
of the Son of man, and come to judgment: for he giveth life to the dead, John 5:21,28-29.
Again, the hour is coming, when some of those who have died a natural death shall hear the voice
of the Son of God and live again here. It is likely that our Lord had not as yet raised any from the
dead; and he refers to those whom he intended to raise: see the note at John 5:21. Lastly, the hour
now is, when many who are dead in trespasses and sins, shall hear the voice (the word) of the Son
of God, believe, and receive spiritual life through him. (from Adam Clarke's Commentary)
So on the day of judgment, all who have died will be resurrected – and this will either good or
bad, depending on what they have done – those who have done good will receive a resurrection
of life, those who have done evil a resurrection of condemnation. But as we have already
pointed out, this judgment will not be carried out “according to the flesh” – based on external
actions, but according to the spirit – based on heart response and whether people have accepted
or rejected the revelation of truth they have received.
The part played by the angels
We have seen above that Jesus, as Son of Man, is the one who will judge mankind, but that we
as disciples will have some part to play in this process. He also indicates clearly through some of
the parables that the angels will also play an important part in this process, although not as those
who judge but as those who carry out his judgments. In the parables of the wheat and the tares
(Matt 13:24-30, 36-43) he says “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of
His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace
of fire.” A similar indication of the involvement of the angels is given in the parable of the
dragnet (Matt 13:47-50).
God’s judgment does NOT take place in this age
Both these parables confirm that the day of judgment is something that takes place at the end of
the age. It is made particularly clear in the parable of the wheat and tares that God’s judgment is
NOT something that takes place in this age, but that God allows the wheat and the tares to
grow together until the time of final harvest.
The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the
wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the
reapers are the angels. Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at
the end of this age. (Matt 13:38-40)
The work of the devil in men’s lives is allowed to continue in this age – this is in accordance
with God’s mercy because He wants to give men and women the maximum possible
opportunity to repent and receive salvation.
The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' But he said, 'No, lest
while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until
the harvest… (Matt 13:28-30)
Paul makes it clear, when urging us to prayer, that God wants all men to be saved:
This (prayer for all men) is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and
to come to a knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim 2:3-4 NIV)
Peter makes a similar statement in relation to the promise of Christ’s return:
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The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward
us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
Key areas of judgment
Jesus does outline some of the issues that will be important when the day of judgment comes.
He gives particular mention to the words that we speak (Matt 12:36-37) because the words we
speak indicate the state of our hearts (Matt 15:18). In particular words spoken in anger open us
up to God’s judgement (Matt 5:22).
In Matt 25:31-46 Jesus paints a clear picture of when the judgment day will be and what it will
involve. He starts this passage by stating that “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the
holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.” The judgment day occurs “when He
comes in glory” ie after the second coming of Christ and this process will involve separating the
“sheep” from the “goats”.
Loving God and loving people
To the righteous ‘sheep’ he says ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me
drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me;
I was in prison and you came to Me.’ The righteous respond with the question 'Lord, when did we see
You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in,
or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
Then the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of
the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' Exactly the reverse happens with the unrighteous
‘goats’. They are the ones who did not show kindness to ‘the least of these my brethren’.
This reminds us of the words of John in his epistle, If someone says, "I love God," and hates his
brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he
has not seen? (1 John 4:20) The greatest commandment is to love God and love people.
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is
one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind
and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no
commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)
Jesus teaching on the sheep and the goats illustrates clearly that one of the primary factors in the
judgement will be how you have kept these greatest of commandments, and both Jesus and
John clearly confirm that you cannot say you love God when you do not love your neighbour.
Satan was judged at the cross
We have established from the teaching of Jesus that he did not come to bring judgment to
mankind in this age, but that a day of judgment is coming when all men will be judged.
However there is a judgment that Jesus DID come to release in this age.
“Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am
lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” This He said, signifying by what death
He would die. (John 12:31-33)
And when He (the Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness,
and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My
Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. (John
16:8-11)
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Before the cross, Satan was referred to by Jesus as “the ruler of this world”, but this terminology is
not used in the NT after the cross. The only other occasion where Satan is referred to as a
“ruler” or “prince” is in Eph 2:2 where he is referred to as “the prince of the power of the air, the
spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience”.
At the creation God gave man the right and responsibility to rule over the earth (Gen 1:26-28)
but when Adam and Eve yielded to Satan’s temptation, they passed their right to rule the earth
over to him. At the cross Jesus died as a perfect man, the Son of Man, the last Adam, taking
onto himself the full penalty for the sins of mankind, releasing the judgment of God against
Satan and winning back the right for men and women to rule over the earth. After the cross,
therefore, Jesus could declare that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to Him:
"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all
the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age." (Matt 28:18-20)
The year of the Lord’s favour
At the outset of his ministry Jesus stood up in the synagogue at Nazareth and read the following
scripture.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He
has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the
oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour.” (Luke 4:18-19 NIV)
This scripture is found in Isaiah 61:
“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news
to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour and the day
of vengeance of our God…” (Isa 61:1-2 NIV)
It is interesting and significant to note that in quoting this scripture Jesus stops in mid-phrase
with “the year of the Lord’s favour” or “the acceptable year of the Lord” (NKJV). He does not continue
with “the day of vengeance of our God.”
The new era that Jesus came to instigate was an era of grace – prophesied by Isaiah in the phrase
“the year of the Lord’s favour.” This is not a literal year but a period of time in which God’s grace
and favour will be extended to mankind. Jesus came to make this possible through the cross.
And He has given to us in His church the responsibility to proclaim the good news that every
man can be reconciled and brought into a relationship with a good, loving and gracious God.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this
is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of
reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins
against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's
ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's
behalf: Be reconciled to God. (2 Cor 5:17-20 NIV)
God has not given us a message of judgment to proclaim to the world, but a message of grace
and reconciliation. He is appealing to the world to be reconciled – to come back into an
intimate relationship with a loving and kind Heavenly Father – and He has chosen to make his
appeal through us. This is our message – and it is indeed good news.
This age of grace is very different from the OT era of the law, as Jesus made very clear to his
disciples:
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Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set
His face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a
village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him, because His face was
set for the journey to Jerusalem. And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord,
do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”
But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of.
For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them.” And they went to
another village. (Luke 9:51-56)
Jesus’ sharp rebuke on this occasion made it very clear to his disciples that:
a) He was not operating under the same covenant as Elijah but had come to bring in a new
covenant.
b) This is a covenant of salvation – Jesus came to save men’s lives, not to destroy them. In
John 10:10 he said “the thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have
come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
c) We need as his disciples to be of the same spirit as Jesus – so that God can entrust us
with this ministry of reconciliation. We need to be careful that we don’t end up siding
with the devil, or attributing his works to God. The devil’s purpose is to steal, kill and
destroy, God’s purpose is to reconcile men and women to himself by not counting
their sins against them – so that they may receive abundant life.
Can you imagine how God feels when His people speak out in the world and attribute to Him,
the works of the devil? Can you imagine how Satan laughs with delight when he sees the people
of this world getting mad at God for the evil things which he, the devil, is doing in our world?
Conclusion
I believe God wants us as His people to come to a firm understanding of His goodness, His love
and His mercy, and for this confidence in the nature of our God to be a solid foundation to our
lives as individuals and together as the church. It is also to be at the heart of our message to the
world. He is indeed a good God, and this is something we are called to declare again and again
– both in our worship and our praise and in the message we give to the world.
David, living in the era of the Old Covenant, had clearly got hold of this truth. His Psalms are
full of the proclamation of the goodness of God – and nowhere is this more clearly expressed
than in Psalm 136 which starts by saying “O give thanks to the Lord for He is good!” and continues to
recount the great things that God had done, with every statement being echoed with the words
“For His mercy (or love) endures forever.”
Yes there is a judgment day coming, but Jesus has taken onto himself the judgment for every sin
you and I have committed in the past or will commit in the future. For those of us that trust in
Him that is going to be a great and glorious day. The same can be true for every person in this
world who puts their faith and trust in Jesus. This is the good news we have been given to
declare – let’s be faithful in proclaiming it!
Jonathan Wallis, March 2010
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APPENDIX 1
A prophecy given by David Wilkerson on March 7, 2009
I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message to all on our mailing list, and
to friends and to bishops we have met all over the world.
AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO
BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE - EVEN THE GODLIEST
AMONG US.
For ten years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will
engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all
across America will experience riots and blazing fires—such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles,
years ago.
There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting—including Times
Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a
depression. We are under God’s wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written,
“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (v. 3).
God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations. He is destroying the secular
foundations.
The prophet Jeremiah pleaded with wicked Israel, “God is fashioning a calamity against you and
devising a plan against you. Oh, turn back each of you from your evil way, and reform your
ways and deeds. But they will say, It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and
each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart” (Jeremiah 18:11-12).
In Psalm 11:6, David warns, “Upon the wicked he will rain snares (coals of
fire)…fire…burning wind…will be the portion of their cup.” Why? David answered, “Because
the Lord is righteous” (v. 7). This is a righteous judgment—just as in the judgments of Sodom
and in Noah’s generation.
WHAT SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS DO? WHAT ABOUT GOD’S PEOPLE?
First, I give you a practical word I received for my own direction. If possible lay in store a
thirty-day supply of non-perishable food, toiletries and other essentials. In major cities, grocery
stores are emptied in an hour at the sign of an impending disaster.
As for our spiritual reaction, we have but two options. This is outlined in Psalm 11. We “flee
like a bird to a mountain.” Or, as David says, “He fixed his eyes on the Lord on his throne in
heaven—his eyes beholding, his eyelids testing the sons of men” (v. 4). “In the Lord I take
refuge” (v. 1).
I will say to my soul: No need to run…no need to hide. This is God’s righteous work. I will
behold our Lord on his throne, with his eye of tender, loving kindness watching over every step
I take—trusting that he will deliver his people even through floods, fires, calamities, tests, trials
of all kinds.
Note: I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off. I have
unburdened my soul to you. Do with the message as you choose.
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God bless and keep you,
In Christ,
DAVID WILKERSON
A Typical Example of Many other “prophetic voices” that can be
found on the internet, labelling 9/11 and other such tragedies the
judgment of God:
“My people have been waiting for signs and wonders for years and years, waiting for me to do
great and mighty things. I already have, but no one was paying any attention. My ways are not
your ways and My thoughts are not your thoughts. As far as the sun is from the moon are My
thoughts higher than your thoughts and My ways higher than your ways. I sent the Great
Depression to warn you that you were becoming too focused on wealth and greed. Few
listened. I sent the planes into the World Trade Center on 9/11/2001 to warn you that your
pride, arrogance and lust for power and money had gone too far. Few listened. I sent Hurricane
Katrina in 2005 to warn you about your sexual and spiritual decadence and depravity that has
become an abomination reaching to the heavens. Few listened.
So now I will destroy your proud, arrogant, greedy, depraved and decadent nation and
churches. You would not humble yourselves before me and turn from your wicked and evil
ways. So now, I the Lord your God will force you to your knees, literally. My judgment upon
you is coming much quicker than any ever expected. It will be total and complete. Never again
will you stand proud and tall as a nation. Never again will you exalt yourselves above Me”.
Clifford Hibbert
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APPENDIX 2
Natural disasters, the Judgment of God?
By Andrew Wommack , Jul 23, 2009
Many have wondered if natural disasters, such as the one in New Orleans, are the work of God.
Let me first say that God’s discipline for the Christian is always one on one and always involves
the Word of God, not a natural disaster.
No doubt, many will attribute this to the judgment of God upon America. That is absolutely
not the case. Jesus clearly stated in Luke 9:56 that He did not come to destroy men’s lives but
to save them. This was said in a direct response to His disciples asking Him to call fire down
from heaven and consume the Samaritans in judgment, just as Elijah had done in the Old
Testament.
Jesus would not do it. In fact, He rebuked His disciples for desiring to do so. He was
demonstrating that God would deal with man differently after the atonement was made. The
book of Revelation describes a time in the future when God’s judgment will rain down upon
unbelievers. However, today we are living in an age of grace when God is not imputing men’s
sin unto them (2 Cor. 5:19).
There were, no doubt, godly men and women who lost their lives in this storm, but God
certainly wasn’t judging them. That’s not God’s “method of operation” during this age of grace.
If this would have been the judgment of God, it would have been much more severe.
In the Old Testament, there are many examples of the judgment of God. A death angel went
through the land of Egypt and killed all the first born (Ex. 12:29-30). Sodom and Gomorrah
were completely destroyed by fire from heaven, and the great flood at the time of Noah
destroyed all but eight people (Gen. 7).
America (or your own country) is certainly worthy of judgment, but God is extending grace to
America and all the nations of the earth during this church age. There will come a time when
God’s judgment is released on the whole world, and no one will have to be told it’s God doing
the judging. The Scripture says that people will actually cry out for the rocks to fall upon them
and hide them from the wrath of God (Rev. 6:12-17). But that time has not yet come.
The Scripture does say that the earth is groaning in birth pains awaiting the return of the Lord
to make it anew. It’s groaning because of the curse which was released upon it through Adam’s
sin. These groans include natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes. Again, this is not
to say that God causes these things.
Thoughts on the Haitian Earthquake
By Andrew Wommack , February 5, 2010
A number of people have asked me to comment on the Haitian earthquakes. Our local Sunday
paper even had a collection of comments from local pastors about why all of this happened.
Their responses ranged from "God did it" to "Satan did it" to "who knows who did it."
There appears to be a lack of clear understanding about why things like this happen. This isn't
limited to the Haitian earthquakes either. The same thing happened with hurricanes Rita and
Katrina and the terrorists attacks of 2001. It also happens on a daily basis with our individual
lives. People struggle to understand why bad things happen.
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Certainly bad things happen on an individual basis because of our poor choices. God gave us the
choice between life and death, blessing and cursing (Deuteronomy 30:19). And sadly, the vast
majority of people are making choices that give the devil dominion over them (John 10:10). In
order to avoid Satan's devices against us, we have to submit ourselves to God and resist the
devil (James 4:7).
And there are scriptural examples of God bringing judgment on a nationwide scale because of
the sins of people. Classic examples of this are Noah's flood and the destruction of Sodom and
Gomorrah.
BUT...there was a HUGE change in the way God deals with people after Jesus
died for our sins. Jesus bore our sins and all of God's wrath against them (John 12:32). And
this doesn't only apply to believers. First John 2:2 says Jesus, "is the propitiation for our sins:
and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
So, God isn't personally judging nations today for their sins. He judged Jesus for our sins. That
doesn't mean that it doesn't matter how we act. It does. When we act in an ungodly manner, it
makes us subject to Satan's control (Romans 6:16). The devil wants to devour everyone (1
Peter 5:8) but he can't do anything to us without our consent and co-operation.
I'm sure the fact that Haiti's national religion is voodoo is a factor in their poverty and social
issues that made the devastating effects of these earthquakes even more severe. But I don't think
the devil has the power to cause the earthquake.
There are just natural things that happen in a fallen world. And I think the earthquakes in Haiti
were just the natural results of tectonic plates rubbing against each other. It was just natural.
Those who are submitted to God have supernatural help to deal with life in a fallen world and
those who don't have a relationship with the Lord find how limited their natural abilities really
are. But this wasn't a direct result of sin or the judgment of God.
I could spend a lot of time justifying that statement but let me simply say, if you think this is
God's judgment on those people, then you are totally wrong to try and help them. If God is
punishing them, get out of the way and let them learn their lesson.
Of course, I don't believe anyone would agree with that approach, and that is not what I'm
advocating. Therefore, I think it's inconsistent to see this as an act of God and yet intervene in a
way that would thwart God's purposes by giving aid to the Haitians.
Blaming God for this tragedy has turned some people against God. I read one account of a
woman walking by a pile of burning bodies and she took the Bible out of her purse and threw it
in the fire. But God didn't cause this nor allow it. Therefore, it is compassionate to reach out to
those who have been hurt (1 John 3:17).
When Adam and Eve sinned, they plunged the whole world into sin. This not only includes
mankind but the animal creation and the natural world. Animals were originally herbivores but
now they are carnivores. Likewise, the original earth was in perfect balance. It didn't rain but
there was a mist that went up and watered the whole earth (Genesis 2:5-6). Everything was
perfect.
But all of that changed when man rebelled at God. Now we live in a fallen world where things
aren't perfect. If an animal kills a person, God didn't do it, the animal did. This could be traced
back to man's original sin but not always to an individual's sin. Mankind set the animal creation
at odds with us. And if a natural disaster happens, we are the ones who set the whole course of
nature on fire (James 3:6).
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Through Jesus, we have been reconciled back to God (2 Corinthians 5:19) and with that comes
authority and power. But it's not automatic. We have to believe and exercise our power and
authority. I've prayed and seen weather, including hurricanes, change. I've taken authority over
animals and I've seen miraculous healings. We aren't just helpless in this fallen world.
But it takes knowledge and persistence to grow and develop our God given authority to the
point of making a difference on all the ungodliness that has been unleashed in this world. Jesus
exercised His dominion over the forces of nature (Mark 4:39) and so can we (John 14:12).
Although I support helping those who have been devastated by the Haitian earthquakes, (Jamie
and I have personally given to their aid), I am constantly moved by the devastation I see in
people's lives daily. It amazes me that when people can see with their eyes the physical effects a
natural disaster causes, they respond generously. But the devastating effects of sin and ignorance
are all around us daily. I'm moved just as much to help those who are struggling to cope with
the loss of a loved one or trying to figure out why they haven't seen their prayers answered.
We all pray the Lord will comfort those who have been left homeless and lost loved ones in
Haiti. We pray those who don't know the Lord will turn to Him in this time of crisis and find
Him to be their source of strength. I also pray the Lord will help us to see that everyone who
doesn't know the Lord is hurting just as much as those who have been affected by the Haitian
earthquakes. They may not realize their need as much as those in Haiti, and therein lies the
problem.
“God make us all vessels to represent You to a lost world.”
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