The clear testimony of Holy Scripture is that wrath is one of the Divine perfections. That God must and will punish sin and the sinner as it is written on the pages of Holy Scriptures from Genesis to Revelation. The Bible makes no attempt to conceal the fact of God’s wrath, that vengeance and fury against sin belong unto him: “For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:30,31).
Listen to God’s own challenge concerning His wrath, “See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live forever. If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me” (Deuteronomy 32:39-41).
The wrath of God is his holiness stirred into activity against sin; for it is sin that causes God’s justice to be poured out upon sinners in a never-ending eternity of suffering and misery.
We read in Romans 1:18-“The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness” Yes, it is revealed, that is, manifested, shown to be poured out upon, caused to be known and felt by all who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. No wonder we are told to “flee from the wrath to come”; for when God rises up to avenge himself of sin, it surely will be a “fearful thing” to fall into his hands, “for our God is a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29).
Sin is the transgression of God’s holy law, and therefore (God’s) holy law demands payment. Sin is war on God, and therefore demands condemnation. Sin is guilt, and therefore demands the just penalty of separation from God. Yes, the one who walks after his own will and obeys not the gospel of Christ “shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (2 Thessalonians 1:8,9). Consider this solemn word: “A sword, a sword is sharpened, and also furbished: it is sharpened to make a sore slaughter; it is furbished that it may glitter: should we then make mirth?” (Ezekiel 21:9,10).