Rejoice Because God Is Coming To Judge The Earth!
God Is In A Good Mood!
When I was a young teenager, I read books and prophesies by some Christians who seemed to think God was constantly on the verge of crushing everybody under his big boot because he was so mad at them. Every earthquake, hurricane, or tornado was seen as God`s judgement. As I grew, and especially as I started to see healing miracles, I rejected that kind of theology. I found out that God is in a good mood, and He is yearning to bless people and show them his goodness. He blesses the righteous and the unrighteous and is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. When a storm came, Jesus rebuked it, when a person was sick, Jesus healed them, and when a mother`s child died, Jesus raised the dead.
Much of the church has moved away from that “angry God” paradigm, as I did. However, I think that in the process some have almost missed the truth of God`s judgement in scripture. Scripture presents God`s judgement as good news! It is part of the gospel!
Romans 2:16 (NRSV)…on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all.
Acts 10: 42-43 (NRSV) He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.
God`s Judgement Is Good News!
If the first thing we think of when we read about God`s judgement is sending a disaster to kill lots of people, it`s hard to understand how this could be good news. But I have come to increasingly understand God`s judgement as setting things right. And to the oppressed, that is great news!
Psalm 96:10-13 (NRSV) Say among the nations, “The Lord is king! The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity.” Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord; for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.
Even God`s judgement in our own lives, dividing between what helps us and what hurts us, is to be desired. It can prevent much greater pain. But it is better to judge ourselves:
1 Corinthians 11:31-32 (NRSV) But if we judged ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
Rejoice in this Time Because God is Judging!
Lots of crazy things are happening in the world right now, and many people feel confused, disoriented, afraid, and disturbed. But I feel like God`s perspective is that this is a time of judgement and it is reason to rejoice. And no, I don`t mean God is giving people covid because they were bad and he`s mad. Nothing like that. I mean this is a time when everything that was hidden is being exposed. It is when things are being set right. All the turmoil we are seeing is a result of things that were hidden and are now being judged and uncovered. Rejoice, because God is coming to judge the earth!
Yes, scripture does speak of a day when God will judge the righteous and the unrighteous. Yet we also see him coming in judgement throughout history, working to set things right. Psalms talks quite a bit about God`s judgement and his workings with the nations.
Psalms 141:9-10 (NRSV) Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me, and from the snares of evildoers. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I alone escape.
Psalms 9:16 (NRSV) The Lord has made himself known, he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.
Proverbs 28:10 (NRSV) Those who mislead the upright into evil ways will fall into pits of their own making, but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.
Psalm 37:12-15 (NRSV) The wicked plot against the righteous, and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that their day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to kill those who walk uprightly; their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
Luke 12:1-3 (NRSV) Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed from the housetops.
Judgement is painful for people who have wrong foundations, who have believed lies, who have been living lies, whose house is built on sand. It`s not easy to find how much you were hanging on a lie, to see what you trusted in crumble. It`s not easy when God exposes the lie, but it prevents much greater pain in the future. I have the feeling that many media companies are going to lose all credibility in the coming months. The wicked will fall into their own trap. It won`t be easy for those who have been lead astray by them, but it will set many things right.
A lot of financial corruption, money under the table, is also in the process of being revealed in the secular realm. At the same time, God is putting his finger on the church where money has corrupted our wisdom. Leaders in the church accepting gifts from the atheist billionaire George Soros is one example.
3 John 7 (NRSV) for they began their journey for the sake of Christ, accepting no support from non-believers.
Last year, I had a word from the Lord that He was putting his finger on the issue of tithing and putting trust in money corrupting the wisdom of Christians. (Get “The Trojan Horse of Tithing” free here) Since then, I have been seeing this play out. In fact, several months ago I had a very clear vision with the strongest confirmation and actually sent the word to a church leader that the Lord was cutting him down like Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4, but he could be restored when he humbled himself. Understand guys, I`m all about encouraging pastors, I almost always give words for edification, and I only gave that word because I was sure it was the Lord. And I`m finding out that word is coming to pass. No bitterness or malice, just a tender heart, burning love, and passion to see God`s purposes for the church come to fruition. Things need to be set right.
This is a good time to let the book of Psalms inform your worldview. I encourage you guys to read Psalm 37, meditate on it, and hold on to its promises. And here is Psalm 98. I believe it is a word for this time. When you see from God`s perspective you won`t be freaking out, anxious, confused. You will rejoice because God is judging the earth, and then set yourself to pray the prayer of faith for revival and in accordance with God`s purposes!
Psalm 98 (NRSV) O sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory.
The Lord has made known his victory;
he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands;
let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
and the peoples with equity.