Join us for an eye-opening discussion from the International Gospel Hour about the delicate balance of God’s divine nature, focusing on his goodness and severity. Our speaker, Jeff Archie, delves deep into scripture, particularly Romans 11:22, to illustrate the grave choices we face in response to God’s mercy and potential wrath. Through a compelling examination of Biblical texts from both the Old and New Testaments, listeners gain a profound understanding of how God’s vengeance serves as a last resort, emphasizing His patience and justice.
Therefore, consider the goodness and severity of God. O friends, one is ready to grasp God’s goodness, but, O, his severity and his vengeance we must know, respect, and avoid. The Vengeance of God is our study today from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.
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It’s time for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jay Webb, and welcome to our study today as we embrace God’s Word to help us meet the challenges of today. Let’s open our Bibles and open our heart for this time of Bible study with our speaker Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ.
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Here’s Jeff. Well, thank you always to our J-Web for his wonderful words, and J will be back throughout our broadcast to share some other good things with you. And greetings to all of you. Thank you for being with us today, and we appreciate you joining us for our broadcast here from the International Gospel Hour. Now, if you’re relatively new to our broadcast, we’d like to mention from time to time, though, that everything that you will hear on this broadcast as far as offers of books or studies or things of that nature is absolutely free. We’re not going to ask for your money on any broadcast of the International Gospel Hour. We are thankful through the gifts of so many wonderful churches of Christ and interesting members, Christians, friends. We’re grateful to bring this to you on the air. Thank you for joining us and for being part of our study. And we began this broadcast speaking of Romans 11, 22. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God on those who fail severity, but toward you goodness, if you continue in his goodness, otherwise you also will be cut off. That’s a powerful text, friends. It’s a text of warning. It’s a text of choice. You see, the goodness and severity of God will be upon how we respond to him. You see, those who fail severity, But toward you, writing here to the Christians in Rome, goodness. But watch what Paul says, if you continue in his goodness. Well, what if they choose not to continue in his goodness? They will be cut off. The severity. The wrath. The vengeance of God upon evil. In Romans 12, verses 19-21, Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink, for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil. but overcome evil with good. Later in Hebrews 10, verses 30 and 31, For we know him who said, Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord. And again the Lord will judge his people. Then watch this. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. When one thinks of God’s vengeance, it should prompt one to think, this is not something of which I want to have a part. Allow me God’s goodness instead of His wrath and severity. You know, I think about God’s vengeance and wrath throughout the Old Testament, how God did punish evil. And of interest is a study of the word wrath that brings forth such definitions as to break or to snap off something. overwhelming and complete sweeping everything away before it. It’s an execution of judgment due to displeasure in what another had said or done. And I give credit with my research to the theological word book of the Old Testament, looking at this definition in its original meaning. And know this, friends, the vengeance and wrath of God is presented as a last resort. Due to the great long-suffering and patience of God, 2 Peter 3.9. It is brought forth solely for correction of wrongs and to save and keep His people safe. It’s the last thing God would want to do. And friends, why even remotely push Him to that end? Now with that said, we’re going to go to the last book in the Bible, the book of Revelation. And we want to look at some passages of the vengeance of God brought forth. And to remember that God will always stand strong for His people. And the wicked will fall through His wrath. And the lesson from the outset, we don’t want to be among the wicked. I’m going to pause for just a few seconds here. A few words about our social media from our J-Web.
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SPEAKER 01 :
And now, friends, the vengeance of God. Let’s consider some texts from the book of Revelation. In Revelation 6, 16 and 17. and said to the mountains and rocks, These wicked people, fall on us, hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? Get this image. Who are the ones that are calling out, making this plea? Go back to Revelation 6 and verse 15. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. Every and all, and the power of the kings melted down in the presence of God. And you know, friends, that’s worthy for every world leader, every politician to consider and to think on those things. Revelation 11 and verse 18, And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come. And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, that thou should give reward unto thy servants, the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great, and should destroy them which destroy the earth. Well, why were the nations angry? Well, we go back to verse 17, and it tells us, Because of the power of the Almighty, His great power, and His reign. When there are nations that are wicked, that will go against God, God will not forget. Let’s stay in Revelation 16, verse 19 now. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. Now, friends, this is actually speaking of Rome during the time of the Revelation. But the symbolic writing of the book mentions Babylon. But the point is made. The wickedness of nations. Dear friend, the power of the Roman Empire fell, and so will other nations that do not recognize God. Psalm 9, 17 says, The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. We need to take heed. In Revelation 14, verse 19, And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. Now, friends, the sickle is always a sign of God’s judgment. And here we are reminded of God’s wrath and power, how that he would thrust in the earth, gather the vine of the earth, and put it in that great winepress of the wrath of God. One day this old world is going to end, and there are going to be those that, if you will, will be cast into that great winepress. Dear friends, we want to learn of God’s will. I’m sure you would agree with me, we want to avoid the vengeance and the wrath of God, but we can only do so by studying and obeying His word and being what He would have us to be. With that said, let me pause. Our J-Web will come and offer, as we do quite often on our broadcast, our free Bible course available by mail.
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Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say Home Study. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it’s free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.
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Friends, let’s consider some other text. Let’s go to Revelation 15, 1, when John said, I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous, seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them is filled up the wrath of God. In verse 7, one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever. Into chapter 16, verse 1, I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. Now, friends, in the writing of the Revelation, the number 7 is symbolic for completeness or divine completeness. And God’s wrath, His vengeance, is depicted as a pouring out from the vials, a complete pouring, if you will. And how God’s wrath will come upon the wicked. And God will bring forth His wrath as this time will one day end. We know this from 2 Thessalonians 1, 7-9 and 2 Peter 3, 7-10. Dear friends, the world will end, as Paul said, or rather Peter said in 2 Peter 3, like a thief in the night. It’s not something that we will expect. Oh, there are many naysayers, there are many predictors who wish to predict when time will end, when this will come, when that will come. But friends, no one knows but God. And when man says he knows, he does it. He’s been proven wrong too many times. And then we note from Revelation 19 and verse 15, Speaking of the Christ and his authority, and out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, and he treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. I think of Hebrews 4 and verse 12, how the word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword. And yet when it goes forth from his mouth, that is the authority, the power. And in 1 Timothy 6 and verse 15, he is now the King of kings and the Lord of lords. And he is over every and all. He is the head of the church and he’s been placed over the head of all things. Dear friends, allow this study to remind us. that we need to avoid the vengeance of God and His wrath. The things we have talked about today are quite serious, and things that we need to take heed and make certain that we are walking faithful to God. Let’s continue these studies together at another time. I am always appreciative of you, our listeners, and thank you for helping to keep our broadcast on the air because of your interest. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Argy, and friends, keep listening.
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God be with you, still be with you. Thank you for listening today to God Be the Glory, and we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way. Feel free to listen to our other programs at our website at internationalgospelhour.com and join us next time.
