John 3: 31-36 - Wrath of God

[Terry_from_Ypsi]

I was at mass on Thursday April 2, 2008. The Gospel reading was John 3:31-36.

This has been on my mind for 3 days now, especially vs. 36:

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.”
I was wondering, wow, how come we don’t see more people with
the wrath of God upon them ?

This is one scary thought. There must be more to this than the “literal sense” or does it mean that as “mark” is laid upon a person’s life who fails to “believe” in Jesus that makes the person an easy mark for Satan and the tragedies of life ?

Also, the scripture passage about “believing in the Son of Man”
that even the demons believe. There must be a lot to what the
real meaning of believing and obeying the Son.

Regards,

 

[Ilroy]

I was at mass on Thursday April 2, 2008. The Gospel reading was John 3:31-36.

This has been on my mind for 3 days now, especially vs. 36:

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.”
I was wondering, wow, how come we don’t see more people with
the wrath of God upon them ?

This is one scary thought. There must be more to this than the “literal sense” or does it mean that as “mark” is laid upon a person’s life who fails to “believe” in Jesus that makes the person an easy mark for Satan and the tragedies of life ?

Also, the scripture passage about “believing in the Son of Man”
that even the demons believe. There must be a lot to what the
real meaning of believing and obeying the Son.

Regards,

You are correct in your thinking that there is more to it than just believing. To truly believe in Christ, you have to actually live out that belief and not just believe. That’s why the verse says whoever disobeys the Son has no life, rather than just saying whoever doesn’t believe has no life.

Having the wrath of God on them seems more like their soul is out of the state of grace and the eternal concequences will not be good for them if they don’t turn to God. Anything that seems good or bad to us in this life doesn’t mean that person is in God’s grace or not…Many of the greatest saints had lives that seemed to have nothing but heartache and pain.

 

[NotWorthy]

The person who suffers “the wrath of God” may experience nothing in this life. The problem is, they experience nothing in the next. That’s the wrath of God, the complete lack of God in your life.

 

[Gara3987]

I was at mass on Thursday April 2, 2008. The Gospel reading was John 3:31-36.

This has been on my mind for 3 days now, especially vs. 36:

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the …

[John 3, 31-36]

31 He that cometh from above, is above all. He that is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the earth he speaketh. He that cometh from heaven, is above all.

32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth: and no man receiveth his testimony.

33 He that hath received his testimony, hath set to his seal that God is true.

34 For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God: for God doth not give the Spirit by measure.

35 The Father loveth the Son: and he hath given all things into his hand.

36 He that believeth in the Son, hath life everlasting; but he that believeth not the Son, shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

And thou, Capharnaum, which art exalted unto heaven, thou shalt be thrust down to hell." [Lk. 10, 15]

And thou Capharnaum, shalt thou be exalted up to heaven? thou shalt go down even unto hell. For if in Sodom had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in thee, perhaps it had remained unto this day. [Matth. 11, 23]

But yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, into the depth of the pit. [Isai. 14, 15]

Conditions of Hell: [Matth. 13, 40-43]
40 Even as cockle therefore is gathered up, and burnt with fire: so shall it be at the end of the world. *

41* The Son of man shall send his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all scandals, and them that work iniquity.

42 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. *

43* Then shall the just shine as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

    We must remember that Our Lord said, “I am the Truth.”   What is truth?   Truth omits          error, it is conformity to reality or actuality.   He founded his Church and said, “And if he          will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen” *[Matthew 18: 17]*.  Again He told His Apostles, “he that despiseth you,          despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me” *[Luke 10: 16]* and,          “He that is not with me, is against me” *Luke 11:23; Matth. 12:30*].

    Saint Paul, in his Second Epistle to the Thessalonians, [1 : 7–10], states:         
    
    “And to you who are troubled, rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven, with the angels          of his power: In a flame of fire, giving vengeance to them who know not God, and who obey not the gospel of          our Lord Jesus Christ.   Who shall suffer eternal punishment in destruction, from the face of the Lord,          and from the glory of his power: When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be made wonderful in          all them who have believed; because our testimony was believed upon you in that day.”

Also, in the same Epistle [2 : 8–11] Saint Paul says:

    “And then that wicked one shall be revealed whom the Lord Jesus shall kill with the spirit of his mouth; and          shall destroy with the brightness of his coming, him, Whose coming is according to the working of Satan, in          all power, and signs, and lying wonders, And in all seduction of iniquity to them that perish; because they          receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. Therefore **God shall send** them the operation of error, to believe lying:          That all may be judged who have not believed the truth, but have consented to iniquity.”

He that hath the Son, hath life. He that hath not the Son, hath not life. [1John 5, 12]

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father. He that the Son, hath the Father also. [1John 2,23]

Whosoever revolteth, and continueth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that continueth in the doctrine, the same hath both the Father and the Son. [2John 1, 9]

One may not alway receive their punishment in this life time, but they will be judged, they may obtain eternal life (after Purgatory), or God forbid eternal death.  The Greatest pain of hell is not the fires, but knowing that you have Loss of God completely.

What is interesting is that people say that Lucifer is the king of this world, which is true, but he has to ask permission from God before he does anything. Job would be a perfect example.

Those who do not believe that the devil exist and that hell also exists are more susceptible to falling to the temptations of the fallen angels, the unbaptized would also be more susceptible to falling.

What is interesting is that Saint Teressa of Avila went to Hell in physical body on three occasion.  One of which she was shown the small place, with her name on it.  The Devil has a space for all of the souls here on earth, but that does not mean that that person will be going to hell.  As for those who don't believe; they are not necessarily marked per se, Lucifer most likely already has them where he wants them, but if God wills that person to find His church and find his way then that person will be saved by the grace of God, or even Our Blessed Mother.  What I mean by Our Blessed Mother is that she may ask Our Lord to spare us, for our Lord will do anything that His Mother asks [John 2, 3-5].  God is the only One who makes that decision in the end, that verse [John 3, 36] I believe in its literal sense means exactly what it says, and God's wrath would be that of the soul being cast way into the pits of Hell.  But I think that it also speaks of the judgment after death in general also.

That is what I gather from [John 3, 31-36]

 

[Gara3987]

We must also follow Christ’s Church (The Roman Catholic Church, we know this because Saint Peter was our first Pope, and the Apostles were the first Catholics), “And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16: 18 DRB]; “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.” Matthew 28: 20 DRB]

                             Those who break away from Rome contravene what our Lord has ensured us about his Church, that She will never fall.

The Protestant revolt is proof that Luther felt that the Catholic Church has/had fallen, if Luther (Henry VIII, John Calvin, etc.) is/was correct then that would make Our Lord incorrect, for Our Lord Promised that His Church shall prevail.

[Luke 13, 22-27]
22 And he went through the cities and towns teaching, and making his journey to Jerusalem. *

23* And a certain man said to him: Lord, are they few that are saved? But he said to them: *

24* Strive to enter by the narrow gate; for many, I say to you, shall seek to enter, and shall not be able. *

25* But when the master of the house shall be gone in, and shall shut the door, you shall begin to stand without, and knock at the door, saying: Lord, open to us. And he answering, shall say to you: I know you not, whence you are.

“Shall seek”… Shall desire to be saved; but for want of taking sufficient pains, and being thoroughly in earnest, shall not attain to it.

26 Then you shall begin to say: We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. *

27* And he shall say to you: I know you not, whence you are: depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.