This one today may be a bit tough to process and digest for some of you, and I only say that because what you are going to see laid out in scripture may be ‘new’ to your understanding. I would also suspect that it’s not something you hear taught often, if at all, and you will have to admit it probably does not ‘fit’ with how you have been led to believe. But that does not mean it is not ‘truth’. It just means we were ‘ignorant’ to some things that have probably led to much suffering, if not destruction. (Hosea 4:6). This all has to do with this entity that we know as ‘Satan’ and the powers of darkness.

How about I begin with some simple statements of fact, backed up by scripture. You can look the verses up, maybe even write them out and study them for yourself. And I am doing this here at the prompting of the Holy Spirit because the one ‘dot that needs to be connected’ might shed more light on what (or who) this ‘wrath of God’ is that we’ve been talking about. Satan, a.k.a. the devil, or ‘serpent of old’ (Rev. 12:9) is the ‘wrath’ that God unleashes on the earth. He’s also known as the ‘destroyer’; and guess what? God created him. (Isa. 54:16) And guess what a ‘destroyer’ does? He ...’destroys’. (Rev. 9:1-11)

Now before you allow your anxiety and concerns rise too much, here’s the good news: Jesus offers incredible protection from this destroyer...for those who walk in covenant with Him. (1 John 5:18). But there are ‘conditions attached. (You might go read that last verse!)

This destroyer is the one who influences, deceives, and even has control over multitudes of people on this earth. (1 John 5:19; Rev. 12:9-12). Guess what is ‘on’ those who don’t follow Jesus? (John 3:36). And guess where and how he operates in those who were ‘dead’ in sin? (Eph. 2:1-3)

We believers are told to ‘give him no place’ and to ‘resist him’. (Eph. 4:27; James 4:7)

Peter warns us to be vigilant and alert and on the watch for this ‘enemy’ who ‘goes about like a roaring lion seeking to devour’. (1 Pet. 5:8)

In the OT, when God unleashed the enemies of His people, it was to bring judgement and wrath, and oftentimes...’correction’. They were known as the ‘instruments of His indignation’. (Isa. 13:4-9; Jer. 50:25) Be sure to notice who these instruments will target, there in Isa.13:9. And while you are in there, flip over to Matt. 13:37-43 and see if a ‘light’ doesn’t come on for you there as you discover who these ‘reapers’ target. (vs. 41)

We should be reminded that when it comes to our ‘enemies’ today, Paul clues us in that we are no longer talking about ‘flesh and blood’, but...spiritual forces of evil and wickedness. (Eph. 6:12). So when Jesus shared the story of the unmerciful servant, to whom was he ‘turned over’ to be tormented by? (Matt. 18:32-35)

One last passage for today- you might read through Ps. 78. This focuses on that rebellious group who refused to submit to God’s leadership, in spite of His mercy and compassion that He continued to offer them. This would also be the same group that Paul pointed out who were ‘destroyed by the destroyer’ in 1 Cor. 10:8-11...as an ‘example and warning to us today’. But Ps. 78:49-50 should shed more light on just who or what God’s ‘wrath’ looked like. Take your time with this one today. I can’t make you believe what you are reading, but I sure hope you at least acknowledge that this is clearly laid out for us to read and take to heart. You don’t want to miss tomorrow’s post.