"...hide us from...the anger of the Lamb." Revelation 6:15-16

There is a passage in scripture that has troubled me for years, and the Lord has been speaking to me this morning in detail about this particular passage in Revelation 6:15-16, it speaks regarding the nature of the Father.  But first, here is a question “Does a lamb have wrath or anger”… Especially a young lamb or a lambkin?  The obvious answer to that question is no, it is a mixed metaphor and an impossibility.  Then what can this passage really be saying?

I took some time this morning and studied this passage in Revelation 6 in the Blue Letter Bible application and investigated the meanings of the Greek words used in this passage and found something quite revealing.

First of all, we must settle that Jesus is the stone or rock as stated in Luke 20:17-18

"But Jesus looked straight at them and said, “Then what do the Scriptures mean when they say,

     ‘The stone that the builders tossed aside is now the most important stone of all’?

Anyone who stumbles over this stone will get hurt, and anyone it falls on will be smashed to pieces.”"

When the leaders speak for the “rocks” to fall in Revelation 6:16 it is speaking of falling from an “upright to a prostrate position” not to eliminate or destroy people as I had previously thought, but for those who call out to the mountain (of God) to obtain mercy while (falling prostrate) before the Lord will be hurt, that they may be healed. Jesus is also taking the lead here in this passage “anyone it (this rock) falls on will be smashed to pieces” doesn’t speak of wrath or anger, but speaks of mercy.  Doesn’t the Lord smash to pieces everything that sets itself up as contrary to the Fathers love, things like vengeful ideologies, prideful belief systems, greed, lust, etc. and angerly (sometimes even violently) chases out and overturns those type of things in our lives? He sees our bodies as the temple of God.

(Consider the example of Jesus chasing out and overturning the money-changers tables in the temple. John 2:14-15)

In Revelation 6:15-16 it indicates in this prophecy that when Jesus returns there will be a great misunderstanding about what He intends to do.  Many will think the Lord will be here to exact punishment, but that is not the nature of the Father, nor is it the nature that Jesus demonstrated when He was on earth the first time.  The nature of the Father as revealed by Jesus is that of love and mercy, not of anger or punishment.  There will be a huge deception on the earth led by Satan himself causing most people (even Christians) to believe that God is angry and is going to punish mankind for their sins.  This is evidenced in this passage that many non-believers and believers alike will buy into the deception that they are still connected to the law of sin and death rather than the grace and mercy that has been offered through Christ Jesus.

Now the (anger or the wrath of the lamb) is brought into question at this juncture, what is this wrath or anger that is mentioned, and where is it directed?  First, we must look at Jesus and what He has declared the heart of the Father to be, He demonstrated that the Father's heart is love and mercy, not wrath or anger.  So what is this passage actually saying?  

The Greek word used here for anger is “orge” (pronounced or-gay) which has at its core meaning “violent or passionate emotion, movement or agitation of the soul, or desire”.  The Father's intent isn’t to punish mankind out of anger which can be a violent and passionate emotion as previously thought, but instead to eagerly desire and passionately reach out to lovingly embrace His creation with tender mercy, which is His passionate emotion which is in line with the revelation of the Father by Jesus at His first coming.

We have had the imprint of an erroneous religious belief system imprinted on our minds from early on in our walk with Jesus, that somehow Jesus was going to return and wipe out the bad guys, much like a western movie declaring “Thar’s a new sheriff in town and he is going to be roundin' up all the bad guys and put 'em in jail”, which is part of the overall deception.  Jesus is going to return, and every eye will see Him, but He is going to demonstrate the power and passion of the Father’s love with mercy, not wrath or anger.  

Jesus always offers the Fathers love and mercy to anyone who asks for it.  Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 3:8)

It is how we perceive and understand this truth that we will operate in this same love and freedom that Jesus has demonstrated which comes directly from the Father. 

The lambkin (which is a young lamb) doesn’t get angry or punish anyone, but desires passionately to stay connected to the shepherd and to the flock for protection. Because of the shepherd's love for His sheep, the sheep will follow the Good Shepherd anywhere He goes for they recognize His voice and know His heart of love.

Be Blessed;

Stephen Barnett