God’s wrath is his immediate and continuous response to man’s wickedness. It is the settled opposition of his holiness to evil (Ps 7:11).

The Bible cites the wrath of God almost as much as it speaks of his love. In fact, when Scripture speaks of Christ’s death as a propitiation, both the love of God and the wrath of God come together in the sacrifice of his only Son. God is said to be “angry” (Hebrew anaph) at wickedness 180 times in the Old Testament. “Let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them” (Exod 32:10).

God is said to be “hot” (Hebrew charah, yacham) with anger. While some people assert that this is not the way God is depicted in the New Testament, the fact is this truth is reinforced there too. “The wrath of God abideth on” the one who does not believe in Christ (John 3:36). As happened with Adam and Eve in the Garden after they sinned, trust, love, and confidence were replaced with fear, dread, and the avoidance of God.

1. Upon the nations.

a. Israel (Ezek 22:21–22).

(1) For idolatry (Exod 32:10; Deut 11:17; 2 Chr 34:25; Ps 106:40).

(2) For slanderous complaining (Num 11:33; Ps 78:31).

(3) For disobedience (Deut 29:23, 28).

(4) For mocking his prophets (2 Chr 36:16; Zech 7:12).

(5) For intermarriage with pagan women (Ezra 10:14).

(6) For unbelief (Ps 95:11; Heb 3:11; 4:3).

b. Babylon (Jer 50:13; Rev 16:19).

c. Gog and Magog (Ezek 38:18–19).

d. All pagan nations (Ps 9:17; Rev 11:18).

2. Upon individuals.

a. Those who mistreat widows and orphans (Exod 22:24).

b. Job’s three friends (Job 42:7).

c. Saul (Hos 13:11).

d. Achan (Josh 22:20).

e. Moses (Exod 4:14).

f. Hezekiah (2 Chr 32:25).

g. Balaam (Num 22:22).

h. The sexually impure (Eph 5:6; Col 3:6).

i. Worshipers of Antichrist (Rev 14:10).

j. Truth rejecters (Rom 1:18).

k. Christ rejecters (Ps 2:5; John 3:36; 1 Thes 2:16).

1. The universal Flood (Gen 6–8).

2. Calvary (2 Cor 5:21; 1 Pet 3:18).

3. The coming Great Tribulation (Ps 110:5–6; Isa 13:9, 11; Jer 10:10; Zeph 1:14–15, 18; 1 Thes 1:10; Rev 6:16–17; 15:1, 7; 16:1).

4. Armageddon (Rev 14:19; 19:15).

5. Great White Throne Judgment (Rev 11:18).

6. Eternal hell (Rev 14:10).