the anger of the Lord

[rainbowinthesky]

On a diff forum, someone quoted these passages of Scripture
to show that Lord gets angry.


"Then God’s anger was aroused because he went, and the Angel of the Lord took His stand in the way as an adversary against him. And he was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him." (Numbers 22:22)

"Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there for his error; and he died there by the ark of God." (2 Samuel 6:7)

“When you beget children and grandchildren and have grown old in the land, and act corruptly and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do evil in the sight of the Lord your God to provoke Him to anger..." (Deut 4:25)

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them." (Romans 1:18-19)

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Thank you for these passages of Scripture. Scripture is explained by Scripture. I would like to bring something to your attention Mack. When David did the numbering of Israel, it is written, "Again THE ANGER OF THE LORD was aroused against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, 'Go, number Israel and Judah.'" 2 Samuel 24:1.

Did the Lord in anger tempt David to commit sin? We know from reading this story that Israel suffered greatly on account of this sin. No, it was not the Lord who in anger moved David to commit this sin for it is written that "God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone." James 1:13.

So then what is meant by "the anger of the Lord" then? The answer is found in 1 Chronicles 21:1 where the same account of the numbering of Israel by David is given word for word as in 2 Samual 24. But this time in verse one instead of saying "the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel and he moved David against them to number Israel," we read these words instead, "Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel." 1 Chronicles 21:1.

Who is the anger of the Lord? Satan himself.

This is a perfect example of how the Bible is its own interpreter. So then every time the Bible mentions "the anger of the Lord" or "the wrath of God," we know that it is speaking of Satan himself.

The prophet Jeremiah prophesied that in the last days this fact would be understood perfectly in these words:

"Behold, the WHIRLWIND OF THE LORD, goes forth with FURY, a CONTINUING WHIRLWIND; it will fall violently on the head of the wicked. The FIERCE ANGER OF THE LORD will not return until he has done it, and until he has performed the intents of his heart. In the LATTER DAYS you will CONSIDER it."

In chapter 23:19,20 we read, "Behold a WHIRLWIND OF THE LORD has gone forth in FURY, a VIOLENT WHIRLWIND! It will fall violently on the head of the wicked. THE ANGER OF THE LORD will not turn back until he has executed and performed the thoughts of his heart. In the LATTER DAYS you will UNDERSTAND it PERFECTLY."

Satan is the the whirlwind and the fierce anger of the Lord in the sense that he is the one who is intent on punishing and destroying the sinner. Satan is the accuser and the prosecutor and the avenger. But only as the Lord permits. There will come a time when God's restraining power will be fully removed and Satan will have entire control of the finally impenitent.

In the meantime God's restraining power is in a measure removed so that Satan is permitted to afflict and annoy.

It is in that sense that he is the anger of the Lord for he is the destroyer. And that proves that God does not stand toward the sinner as an executioner of the sentence against transgression but that He leaves the rejectors of His mercy to themselves to reap that which they have sown.

It is also true that Satan, the anger of the Lord, will prosper some whom he can used for his own purpose and bring calamities upon others and blame God for being responsible for these calamities.

sky

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[ChrisCarol]

Matthew 21:12
And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.
13 And He *said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.”

 

[rainbowinthesky]

Matthew 21:12
And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.
13 And He *said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.”

And that was the "fierce anger of the Lord"?

So ChrisCarol you just brushed aside everything that was presented in the introductory post as meaningless?

sky

 

[rainbowinthesky]

CLEANSING THE TEMPLE

This story can be as easily misinterpreted as the story of the plagues in Egypt, and mostly is. Without question, the simple explanation is accepted that Christ actually threatened to whip those men and would have done so if they had not obeyed Him.

But had He done so, then what difference would there have been between His behaviour and that of the lords of gangland? Wherein could He claim that His ways and man's ways are different?

These questions demand that another look be taken at this incident to see what really happened. This is the New Testament counterpart of the Old Testament story in Egypt. What God did to Pharaoh, Christ did to the money-changers. It is another dramatization of God's holding and controlling of power. The setting and the actions are slightly different, but the message is the same.

The most significant difference lay in the fact that while Moses allowed the rod to pass out of his hands and control, Christ did not lose either His grip on His control over the scourge.

The events which transpired in each of these times was exaclty consistent with the actions of Moses and Christ. Egypt suffered immediate calamities as Moses, by releasing the rod, indicated they would. Christ in the temple however, assured them that there was still yet time to repent, for He still retained control over the scourge. Thus, no great disasters overtook them during His earthly sojourn. Christ's action was also a warning of the danger that their unheeding apostasy would compel Him to release His grip. Should this happen, then the experience of the Egyptians would also be theirs. It is a matter of history that they refused to repent. They turned their backs utterly and defiantly upon God, and the rod did become a serpent of destruction as is evidenced by the devastation and slaughter in Jerusalem in A.D.70.

There was no possibility of Christ's striking them with the scourge. That was not His purpose in raising it up. It hung threateningly over them, but, while in Christ's hand, it never touched them. The important thing was for the Jews to keep it there where it could never hurt them nor destroy them.

Thus, when a careful comparison is made between the actions of God in Egypt and those of Christ in the temple, it is clear that Christ spoke the truth when He said that He did everything the Father did, exactly as He did it!

sky​

 

[ChrisCarol]

And that was the "fierce anger of the Lord"?

So ChrisCarol you just brushed aside everything that was presented in the introductory post as meaningless?

sky

All I did was add what I have learned.

 

[rainbowinthesky]

Can I ask you what it is exactly that you have learned?

sky

 

[rainbowinthesky]

"I was shown that Satan would entangle and then destroy, if he could, the souls he had tempted. God will bear long, but there is a bound to His mercy, a line which marks His mercy and His justice. I was shown that the judgments of God would NOT come directly out from the Lord upon them, but in this way--THEY PLACE THEMSELVES BEYOND HIS PROTECTION. He warns, corrects, reproves, and points out the only path of safety; then, if those who have been the objects of His special care follow their own course, independent of the Spirit of God, after repeated warnings, if they chose their own way, then HE DOES NOT COMMISSION HIS ANGELS TO PREVENT SATAN'S DECIDED ATTACKS UPON THEM." E.G. White, 14 .R. 3.1

The judgments of God DO NOT come directly out from the Lord upon sinners but in this way--they place themselves beyond His protection.

When probation shall close, the wrath of God will be complete.(Rev.15:1) What does that mean? It means that at that time "Satan will have entire control of the finally impenitent. Unsheltered by divine grace, they will have no protection from the wicked one. Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God CEASE to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old." The Great Controversy, p.614.

The language of the Bible in Revelation 16 is that of the angels of God pouring out the vials of God's wrath upon the earth. But we now know what that language means which is that God will say to them to no longer combat Satan in his efforts to destroy.

"To those who to the end continue in obstinate rebellion, He removes His protecting care. Providence will no longer shield them from Satan's power." R & H, Vol.4, p.335.

"Men have reached a point in insolence and disobedience which shows that their cup of iniquity is almost full. Many have well-nigh passed the boundary of mercy. Soon God will show that He is the living God. He will say to the angels,'NO LONGER COMBAT SATAN IN HIS EFFORTS TO DESTROY. Let him work out his malignity upon the children of disobedience; for the cup of iniquity is full. They have advanced from one degree of wickedness to another, adding daily to their lawlessness. I WILL NO LONGER INTERFERE TO PREVENT THE DESTROYER FROM DOING HIS WORK." Review & Herald, Vol.4, p.335; P.P.98; 8 T 50.

"We are not to regard God as waiting to punish the sinner for his sin." 1 S.M.235.

As to the destruction of Jerusalem, we read:

"The long-suffering of God toward Jerusalem only confirmed the Jews in their stubborn impenitence. In their hatred and cruelty toward the disciples of Jesus they rejected the last offer of mercy. Then God withdrew His protection from them and removed His restraining power from Satan and his angels, and the nation was left to the control of the leader she had chosen." The Great Controversy, p.28.
After the thousand years we read,

"But of all the countless millions whom he has allured into rebellion, there are none now to acknowledge his supremacy. His power is at an end. The wicked are filled with the same hatred of God that inspires Satan; but they see that their case is hopeless, that they cannot prevail against Jehovah. Their rage is kindled against Satan and those who have been his agents in deception, and with the fury of demons they turn upon them." The Great Controversy, p.672.

The Lord will not interfere as they turn upon Satan and his evil angels and the weapons they had been given ample time to prepare to take the City are now turned against Satan and his agents in deception. This gigantic battle will result in a lake of fire by which all will be consumed in the end.

"Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. They shall bring thee down to the pit. ''I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.... I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.... I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee.... Thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.'" Ezekiel 28:6-8, 16-19. Great Controversy, 672.

"Behold, therefore, I will bring strangers against you, the most terrible of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom, and defile your splendor. They shall throw you down into the Pit and you shall die the death of the slain in the midst of the seas. Will you still say before him who slays you, I am God? But you will be a man, and not God, in the hand of him sho slays you. You shall die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of aliens; for I have spoken, says the Lord." Ezekiel 28:7-10.

"All the kings of the nations, all of them, sleep in glory, everyone in His own house. But you are cast out of your grave like an abominable branch, like the garment of those who are slain, thrust through with a sword, who do down to the stones of the pit, like a corpse trodden underfoot." Isaiah 14:18,19.

sky

 

[rainbowinthesky]

Some question as to why it is that Satan brings destruction upon his own subjects and kingdoms, when it would appear that he would do better to make a happier and cleaner world in which men could live. But Satan is not concerned so much with making a better world for anyone as he is in saving his own skin. The only way he can do this now is to prove that God is wrong. To do this he must prevent God from doing what He would do, "finish the work and cut it short in righteousness." Rom.9:28.

Already, Satan has succeeded in greatly extending the finishing of the work in the past and, if he could finally detroy the work of God out of the earth, then he would succeed in proving God wrong, that God could not keep His word, that the power of sin was so great that it was impossible for created beings to be victorious over its power and that God was demanding too much in expecting created beings to obey His law. Should he succeed in doing this, then he would take away the power of God to punish him with eternal destruction and would win the fight for reinstatement into Heaven on his own terms.

As a means to this end, there is a calculated purpose in his destructive activity in the world which brings him a two-fold divident. In the first case, he causes men to charge God with his work. "It is thus that the great deceiver seeks to conceal his own work," (G.C.35), thus leading men to hate God and join him in his fearful rebellion against the Creator who destroys no one.(Rev.18:24)

"God destroys no man." C.O.L.84.

In the second case, "the great deceiver will persuade men that those who serve God are causing these evils. The class that have provoked the displeasure of Heaven will charge all their troubles upon those whose obedience to God's commandments is a perpetual reproof to transgressors." The Great Controversy,590.

Thus the devil is able to provide himself with an instrument with which to accomplish his long cherish ambition of destroying the people of God, for "If he could blot them from the earth, his triumph would be complete." Testimonies, 5:473.

This is the awful truth. All the devil has to do is to prevent the formation of the 144,000 by slaying all those who would be numbered among them, and he has won the great controversy and will have proved his point. He does not even have to wait till then, for if today he could destroy every faithful child of God, then his triumph right now would be complete. But let us praise the God of Heaven that "the Angel of the Lord emcampeth around about them that fear Him and delivereth them," (Ps.34:7), and will do so until the very end.

sky