The coming judgments of God

There was once a time on earth, spoken of in the Bible, when men scoffed at the idea of divine judgment. It was the time when the apostles went about preaching the gospel. Some responded by saying,

We can recognise these sentiments because they are also widely expressed in our own day. There is a widespread view that we are accountable to no-one but ourselves; that there is no God, or if there is, that He does not expect anything particular of us, and would not think of punishing us for disobedience to Him.

The God of the Bible

However, the God we read about in the Bible is very different from the popular impression of Him. Yes, He is very good; He is goodness itself, but He is also very severe.

We do well to recognise these two aspects of God, the all-powerful Creator. We have examples of those who have followed the wrong course and have been “cut off”. They were the same who scoffed, the same who considered that everything would carry on without any disturbance from the Creator. They were those who thought God was unmoved by their evil ways and would leave them for ever to do as they liked. They were those who had said in the days of the prophet Malachi: 

These were the disobedient among God's own people, the Jews. God said they must come into judgement and they did.

God's Judgments on the Jews

The Jewish people were greatly privileged to be given God's message in the Old Testament. They had God's law and with this privilege came the responsibility to keep it. They failed to do this and though God was patient with them for many years, the apostle Paul warned of impending judgments. He reminded his readers of God's previous judgments in the days of Noah, a judgment which the scoffers of his day conveniently forgot.  God then destroyed the world, corrupted by wickedness and violence, with a great flood.  He then goes on to show that the Jewish world was liable to an impending fiery judgment.

Shortly after this warning was given, Jerusalem was attacked by the Romans and there followed one of the most horrific sieges recorded in history. It was concluded, after the death of many of its inhabitants, by the burning of the city with fire and dispersion of the Jewish people throughout the world, where for nearly two thousand years, they have suffered persecution and terrible harassment. Thus God warned them of judgments and, most surely, they came!

God's Judgments on the Gentiles

Where do those of us who are not Jews figure in God's intentions? The apostle Paul writing to the believers in Rome said,

Judgements come first on the Jews (because of their being first responsible) but then on the Gentiles when they hear God's law and become similarly responsible. Thus Paul when speaking to the Gentiles living in Athens said of their idolatrous ways,

This command has been on record for nearly two thousand years. We believe that Jesus must surely return to do as God has ordained and judge the world.  Just as surely as judgments came upon the Jews so will they come on the Gentiles.

How to Survive the Coming Judgments

As we have already observed, God is severe, but also “good” to those who carefully listen to His words, believe them and obey them. These words are freely available in the Bible for all to read. Christadelphians try to follow them and invite others to do the same. For those who do this, the coming judgments will not be feared but will mark a time when the earth will see better days, when men will learn to honour God and will prosper as a result.