Sunday: The Wrath of the Lamb
Daily Lesson for Sunday 1st of June 2025
Read Revelation 6:12-17. Consider the details of these people’s response to seeing last-day events suddenly play out. What do you notice about their response?
It is interesting to note that the lost are not crying out, “What is this?” or “Who is behind this?” They appear to know what is happening. They refer to Jesus as the Lamb, which would require knowing something of the story of Christ. They also seem aware that “the great day of His wrath has come,” and that they are caught in a hopeless position: “Who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:17, NKJV).
Prior to the end, the gospel is carried to every nation on earth (Matthew 24:14), and the three angels’ messages are delivered to the entire planet. And yet, there will be people who are caught off guard—not for lack of information but because of their refusal to believe and to obey. This will be the reason that such people are lost in the last days.
Read Matthew 24:36-44. What lessons does Jesus tell us we should be drawing from the story of Noah?
Jesus points to the story of the Flood to warn us that His second coming will come as a surprise to many. As with the Second Coming, the Flood did not come as a surprise to the world because of a lack of information. Noah preached for 120 years to a world that refused to believe. All were told what was going to happen. They just didn’t believe.
Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com
Meanwhile, many people assure themselves that the passage of long periods of time means that the prophecies are false. Using the Flood story as context, Peter writes “that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation’ ” (2 Peter 3:3-4, NKJV). As each year passes, this sentiment will only grow.
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In each person’s own experience, the second coming of Jesus (or in some cases, the third coming) is never more than a moment after death, and we all know how quickly life goes by. How might this perspective help us deal with the “delay”? |
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“The wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:16), sound rather paradoxical in the sense that “wrath” refers to a fierce and just anger whereas the “Lamb” is a symbol of gentleness, sacrifice, and redemption (Jesus Christ). How can the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ) be associated with terror and destruction? Throughout the Book of Revelation, the Lamb of God (Jesus Christ) is portrayed as gentle, loving, caring, redemptive, forgiving, sacrificial and longsuffering. However, in this context we see another important aspect of the Lamb, Christ’s righteous judgment. Those who continually refuse His mercies and repeated call for repentance, will face divine and just judgment. Holy God executes holy judgment. Examining the wrath of the Lamb, we are given a stern warning, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” ( Galatians 6:7). From the wrath of the Lamb, we can learn a few priceless lessons:
1. The grace of God is time-bound. God’s mercy will not run forever (Hebrews 3:15, 2 Peter 3:9-10)
2. Christ is both Saviour and King and at the appointed time, He will hold all mankind accountable.
3. Evil will not be allowed to triumph forever. At the appointed time, divine justice will be served.
4. We need to warn the world that the wrath of the Lamb is real and they should repent now (2 Corinthians 5:11)
“Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. Whoever does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him” (John 5:22-23)
In Revelation, there is a paradoxical phrase- “the wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:16). How can a lamb—a symbol of innocence, gentleness, and sacrifice—express wrath? The answer lies in understanding what has been rejected.
God’s wrath is not reckless rage—it is the tragic consequence of rejecting His love. The Lamb, Jesus Christ, has offered Himself as a sacrifice for all. He bore our sins, extended mercy, and opened the door to eternal life. But like any gift, it must be accepted to be effective.
In 1829 a man named George Wilson was arrested for robbery and murder in a US mail heist. He was tried, convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. Some friends intervened on his behalf and were able to obtain his pardon from President Andrew Jackson. But when told of this, Wilson refused it saying he wanted to die. Well, the sheriff didn’t know what to do, how do you execute a man officially pardoned? An appeal was made to the President who perplexed turned the matter over to the US Supreme court. Chief Justice John Marshall gave this ruling: A pardon is a piece of paper, the value of which depends on its acceptance by the person implicated. Anyone under the sentence of death would hardly be expected to refuse a pardon, but if it’s refused, it’s no pardon. Thus, George Wilson was executed while his signed pardon lay on the sheriff’s desk!
In the same way, God has offered His gift of divine purity to every person, a gift that not only provides pardon from eternal condemnation, but offers much, much more. However, this gift of Christ must be personally appropriated to be personally beneficial. As George Wilson was executed—not for lack of mercy, but for rejecting it. Revelation 6 describes those who cry out for the mountains to fall on them, to hide them from “the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.” This is not the rage of a violent king—it’s the just response to grace refused, pardon rejected, and love scorned.
Christ’s wrath comes not because He delights in judgment, but because He mourns those who refuse the cross. Just like Wilson, they die with the pardon unclaimed—while the gift of salvation lies, so to speak, on the desk of their lives, unopened. God will honor our choice—even if that choice means facing the Lamb’s wrath instead of His mercy.
Peter has some words to say that are particularly pertinent:
The single biggest threat to Christianity today is not counterfeit religion; it is that people will scoff at it, or worse, will completely ignore it. It's as if we're living in a foreign country where nobody speaks our language. You want to tell them something is important but they ignore you because they simply cannot understand you.
The world needs to know Jesus, but they need the evangelism of action rather than apocalyptic interpretation.
Paul says:
The world certainly does need to know Jesus, but which Jesus? According to Matt 24, there are many Christ's, but there is only one Christ Crucified. The question is which Jesus is presented? While it is true that the "evangelism of action" is desperately needed, it might be difficult to separate "apocalyptic interpretation" especially since Paul refers to "the day of Christ Jesus" only four verses earlier.
"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:16)
The "day of Christ Jesus" is certainly understood by Paul as relating to His return - which is fundamentally understood within the context of "apocalyptic interpretation."
Ellen White highlights the main focus for "apocalyptic interpretation" in the following statement from TM 118:
"Let Daniel speak, let Revelation speak, and tell what is truth. But whatever phase of the subject is presented, uplift Jesus as the center of all hope, 'the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright and morning Star.'"
The biggest challenge or neglect may be only doing only half the job...
Hi Maurice, I believe what you term as "the single biggest threat" is most true in Australia, Europe and urban areas of Communist countries - all openly secular societies. For that matter, it is also true in large urban areas of America, which have a completely different mindset than the people living in the vast spaces of North America that are not as densely populated. Come to think of it, that may be much like Noah's time.
But Noah still needed to preach the message God gave him, and I think we do too. Sharing truth is not possible without living it, so, yes, that's primary. But atheists can live "righteous" lives, so just living a "righteous" life does not help our neighbors know Jesus. We need to tell them who is our strength, even while we minister to their needs.
America still has a deeply religious streak, with towns having dozens of churches that actually have people attending. And even large cities have "mega churches," although they probably don't draw as high a percentage of the population as churches in the more sparsely populated areas.
From what I sense, people over much of the world are getting "more religious." Not necessarily Christian, but "more religious." Some of this is genuine Christianity, some of it is cultural Christianity, much of it is emotional Christianity. A great portion is not Christianity at all - focusing on climate, nature or mystical experiences. But people are sensing a need that the world cannot fill, so they are searching ... often in all the wrong places.
The devil has his deceptions for every culture and here in America, at least, false religion is a real threat, because it lulls people into thinking they are all right - and that's true both in the church and outside of it.
It's time for us to study and pray and practice the faith of Jesus. That means ministry in word as well as deed - just like Jesus ministered.
In Revelation 12:11 we read that "they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." That sounds very much like words are necessary.
By all means talk to people about Jesus if you know they will understand what you are talking about. But we need to bear in mind that communication requires both transmission and reception. Sometimes we get so bound up with transmission we forget to check whether reception is occuring. We forget too, that there is often lack of communication within churches and individual congregations (and perhaps even within discussion forums). Words that are preceded and backed up by the language of love in action goes a long way in the aid of good communication.
All good points 😊
What does the author mean by the third coming of Christ?
1.) Jesus Christ was born in a manger in Bethlehem.
2.) Jesus is coming again as stated in John 14 and Acts 1, 1 Thessalonians 4, and so many other scriptures.
3.) After 1,000 years, the Holy City, New Jerusalem and all of its inhabitants will descend from Heaven to the earth made new. The Judgment in Heaven is completed, the King of Kings will reign in the New Earth and we shall forever be with the Lord
Appreciate you taking the time to make that more clear.
Jehovah became incarnate as the God-Man Christ Jesus about 2000 years ago.
He is coming back in the "Second Coming" to rescue His faithful followers from this damaged planet.
He is coming back the third time as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, bringing the New Jerusalem and the saints with Him to execute the final judgment and re-create this planet to its Edenic beauty.
Does that make sense?
Thank you! That helps.
Jeremiah 4:23-28 tells us of those who do not follow the Good Shepard. Revelation 21:1 tells us of those who follow the Good Shepard. When going on a cruise and the cruise ship drops you off for a little tour of the city, and the time has come to raise the ramp to go on with the cruse. If you are not ready to get aboard, you have missed the boat. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the time of the Son of Man. Luke 17:26. Remember plenty of warning to get aboard.
Let's be ready for Jesus to come. So, we can look up and say, this is our Lord, we have waited for Him. Worthy is He to be our Shepard, and Saviour. And sing the song of Moses. And The Lamb of God. Revelation 15:3-4.
"Great and amazing are Your deeds,
Oh Lord God the Almighty!
Just and true are Your ways,
Oh, King of the nations!
Who will not fear, Oh Lord,
and glorify Your name?
For You alone are holy.
All nations will come
and worship You,
For Your righteous acts have been revealed."
Three words are stronger in this Lesson: refusal, obedience, and delay. What am I refusing? Who am I obeying? God is never late.