The burning light of God that wears the face of a man touches the atmosphere. It’s like a match to paper; the very air catches fire! Suddenly, every raging, cursing demon is exposed, writhing in pain. But we don’t notice them. We only have eyes for the King.

The graves open; the dead rise. The mighty fireball rolls down from the sky, searching us, trying us, changing many, but not all. The power of God pulls His own up, up into the air. Below, the fire of judgment rages. Hear the screams, the wailing, as the fabric of reality splits like gauze, opening a gigantic black hole. Everything untrue falls through into…blackness.

The hole closes. The wound heals. Finally, it heals! And back down to earth the conquerors come. Their strong feet touch solid earth under new heavens. Heaven and earth are one!

Finally and forever one.

I know the idea of the preaching of the wrath of God isn’t popular these days.  But, then, I don’t think it really ever has been.  We’d much rather believe in a God of love who just loves because He is love and what the world needs now is love, sweet love and love is all you need.

God is loving, beloved, but He’s no fool.  The fact is, without the wrath of God, what is the love of God worth?  Can’t we do as well loving each other on our own?  I mean, if there’s no wrath, no anger, no hell then we don’t need God to love, to forgive, to comfort.  We can do as much for each other, can’t we? But if we are playing for higher stakes, if human life is a game it’s possible to lose and lose big time, then we need a love that will save us from wrath.  We need the shed blood of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the cross to blow the hatch and get us off this sinking’ ship!

Now, here comes good news that really is good news!  Jesus will save believers from that wrath.  That’s what we believe.  That’s what we preach and teach. That’s our hope.