The Rescue of Christ: Delivering Us from Wrath
In the face of impending judgment, the second coming of Christ is a beacon of hope, a rescue mission to save us from God’s wrath. As Paul writes, “We wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thess. 1:10). The day of judgment looms, and Christ is coming to rescue us from the peril of divine wrath.
The Wrath of God and the Mercy of Christ
But we must be careful not to distort this reality by pitting the mercy of the Son against the wrath of the Father. It is not as though God pours out wrath and Jesus intervenes to rescue us. Rather, Jesus himself sets the judgment in motion and carries it out. He is the judge, and his wrath is the wrath of God.
The Lamb of Wrath
In the book of Revelation, John speaks of the wrath of God and the Lamb, emphasizing that Jesus is not weak but has seven horns, symbolizing his authority and power (Rev. 5:6). His coming will be terrifying to those who have not accepted his sacrifice (Rev. 5:9-10). The wrath is “their wrath” (Rev. 6:17), and Jesus is the one who will judge the world.
The Fitness of Jesus as Judge
There is a special fitness in Jesus being the judge of the world. He came into the world, loved it, and gave himself for its salvation. It is fitting that the one who was judged by the world will judge the world. Paul and Peter both affirm that Jesus has been appointed as the judge of the world by being raised from the dead (Acts 17:30-31, Acts 10:42).
Parables of Judgment
Jesus’ parables also paint a picture of him as the judge and bringer of wrath. In the parable of the wicked servant, Jesus portrays himself as a master who will cut off the unfaithful servant (Matt. 24:48-51). In the parable of the ten minas, Jesus describes himself as a nobleman who will slaughter his enemies (Luke 19:27). And in the parable of the weeds, Jesus pictures himself as the Son of Man who will send his angels to gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and law-breakers, throwing them into the fiery furnace (Matt. 13:41-43).
Delighting in Justice
So, should we love the appearing of the Lord Jesus as deliverer and judge? We should delight in the justice of God and the righteousness of Christ. We should rejoice that this is not a universe where evil triumphs but where every wrong will be set right. We should take heart that we do not bear the final burden of needing to avenge ourselves, and we can defer the impossible weight of settling all accounts to God.
Liberation from Vengeance
The coming just judgment of God brings to the soul even now a liberation from grudge-holding and the poisonous burden of revenge. As Paul writes, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Rom. 12:19-21). So, yes, we should love the Lord’s appearing, even when we think of him as a coming judge.
Leave a Reply