The Wrath of God I – Five Types of Divine Anger

I urge you to listen to the first and second parts (second part tomorrow) of the two part radio series on Focus on the Family, which began today.  The series is a couple of lectures by John MacArthur entitled A Nation Abandoned by God (you can also download this and previous shows using the FOTF podcast RSS).  MacArthur is using Romans 1 as a description of one type of wrath of God – when God abandons us to our sinfulness by removing his restraint.   However, to set this idea up, he reviewed the five types of wrath that God exhibits in the bible.

Since many people don’t think or wrath as an attribute of God (having abandoned truth while holding only to grace), it is important to understand the judgment and righteous anger of God.

1. Eternal Wrath – Eternal separation from God – the final judgment for those who reject Christ.  This is going on now for those dead, and will go on into the infinite future.
2. Eschatological Wrath – The outpouring of God’s judgment during the “last days.” (Revelation 6-19).  This wrath is yet to come.
3. Calamitous Wrath - Such interventions as the Noahic Flood, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, etc.
4. Consequential Wrath – the natural results of bad choices.  Whatever we sow, we reap.  This reaping, though passive on God’s part, it still seen as God’s judgment, and wrath, on sin.
5. The Wrath of Abandonment – this is  what MacArthur says is being described in Romans 1, and how God judges individuals, groups, and nations.  And he says America is already there.

MacArthur has taught this previously, and you can read a sample in What’s Wrong with America.