If God Is Loving, Why Does He Judge?
Understanding God’s Judgment in Revelation
Dr. David Talley
Guest Contributor
As a seminary professor, I often began my classes by asking for students’ views of God. Without fail, the intensity of God’s judgment surfaced. Someone always asked, “If God is loving, why does He judge people so harshly?”
And it’s true, God’s judgment can be shocking. From Scripture, we know such events as a global flood, the destruction of the Canaanites, and the exile of Israel were all ordained by God Himself. My students’ conclusion was that the God of the Old Testament is a God of wrath. But it’s not just in the Old Testament that we see God’s judgment. It was important for them to understand that the greatest judgment is still future. In fact, every judgment they mentioned could be understood as a “mini-judgment,” anticipating this final judgment when God pours out his wrath against sin.
Revelation, the final book of the Bible, describes this ultimate judgment against evil. Revelation is full of striking scenes of weighty punishment—the four horsemen, the seven trumpets, and the many plagues. When we read these challenging chapters, we struggle to reconcile a loving God with one who judges people that He created. We are tempted to cast our own judgment by crying out, “How dare He do that? That is so wrong!”
But God’s actions are undeniable, printed in the pages of the Bible. So how should we process these events?
Before we cast God in the role of “angry punisher,” we should ask ourselves some questions.
Who is the judge behind the judgment?
When you hear the word “judgment,” what comes to mind? Maybe you picture a high-profile court case weighed by a jury. Or even a disapproving family member with impossibly high standards. In today’s environment, the word “judgment” carries some extremely negative connotations. We typically go out of our way to avoid being labeled as “judgmental.”
But the Bible does not cast us in the role of the ultimate judge. That position is reserved exclusively for God. So before we ask the question, “Why would God…?” we have to ask, “Who is God?”
Our understanding of God’s judgment must be grounded in the very attributes of who He is.
God is not a human jury, weighed down by preconceived notions or flexible standards. He is not the disapproving family member who judges others to elevate Himself. He is divinely perfect, free from the hindrances of our human failures.
Our understanding of God’s judgment must be grounded in the very attributes of who He is. An attribute is simply something that is true about God. From His Word, we know God is three-in-one, self-existent, immutable, infinite, eternal, self-sufficient, omniscient, wise, omnipresent, transcendent, faithful, good, just, merciful, gracious, loving, holy, and sovereign.
God is all of these and more, simultaneously, all the time. If we are truly seeking to understand God’s judgment, we have to unpack the character of the judge Himself. When we do, we can acknowledge that God’s judgment is God’s, not ours.
Is judgment really part of God’s character?
In exploring God’s character, we must separate God’s actions from His attributes. Judgment or wrath are not listed as attributes of God. They are not fundamental elements of God’s character. Instead, they are necessary responses born of His character. In the face of injustice, a just God casts judgment. Confronted by unholiness, a holy God responds.
God’s responses are never random. In His judgment, God remains fully faithful, merciful, gracious, and loving. He is fully God in every moment.
In Revelation, God’s judgment may feel extreme. The language is strikingly vivid.
But God’s extreme measures are in response to people’s extreme sin. Through John’s writing, we see people’s unwillingness to repent from their sin and turn to God. Faced with the wreckage of human sin, God responded.
In His judgment, God remains fully faithful, merciful, gracious, and loving.
True to His character, God delivered justice for all who come to Him. He remained consistent, doing what He said He would do. And through it all, He extended mercy to the undeserving. It states in Revelation 9:20 that “the rest of mankind…did not repent” and “did not stop worshiping demons.” Throughout Revelation, God gave these people chance after chance to repent and turn to Him. God’s purpose in judgment was not destruction but reconciliation. His motivation was not revenge but compassion. He wasn’t wielding his power and justice merely as punishment but as invitation.
In every ounce of rendering judgment, God calls to his people, “Come back to me.” His perfect character never wavers.
Does God take His judgment too far?
We may accept that God’s character is perfect but still struggle when His judgment feels extreme. Why does God judge the people He claims to love? On the surface, we may believe that a God without judgment is a God of love. But when we really consider the evils of this world, no one wants a God who simply looks the other way.
Just ask the parent of a child who has been abused or the spouse who has been widowed through an act of violence. No one wants a God who casts the victim aside and looks at a perpetrator saying, “We need to be a little nicer.” That is not loving.
When we see the evils of this world, we want justice. We want a God who is both gracious and just—a God who judges evil even while He offers grace to the perpetrator. We want loving justice and love that is just.
God alone can deliver true justice. He does so in perfect love.
As humans we are simply too flawed to offer this perfect blend of love and justice. It is impossible. Only God can accomplish that work. And in His mercy, He did so through Jesus’s death on the cross. God’s ultimate judgment for humanity’s evil rained down, not on us, but on Himself in the person of Jesus. In that moment, He was condemned so that we might live. God’s perfect love and perfect justice collided, resulting in eternal grace for those who believe.
So perhaps God is challenging us to ask a new question. Instead of “Why does God judge the people He loves?” maybe we should ask, “Can I trust the One who judges?” When we reflect on His full character and honestly seek to know Him, we discover that He alone can deliver true justice. And He does so in perfect love.
About The Author
David Talley is the Lead Pastor of First Baptist Church of Tellico Village. David is passionate about teaching God’s Word, discipleship, and “passing on the faith” to the next generation. He has authored or co-authored several books, including The Study of the Old Testament and Maturing the Flock of God. David has been married to his wife, Joni, for 35 years, and they have two adult children, Amanda and Andrew.
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I love your teaching it is spiritual growth standard and I want to be your student
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic. I found it to be very interesting and informative. The Lord bless you as you continue to work for Him.
Until I studied Revelation through BSF I belonged to the crowd who believed that the God of the OT is a God of wrath and that the final judgment continued this wrath. However, throughout the entire book of Revelation God demonstrated His patience, love and grace for mankind to repent and come to Him. Thank you Dr. Talley for reiterating who God is and pointing out that “in His judgment, God remains fully faithful, merciful, gracious, and loving”. As a believer, I trust in the One who judges and your comments encourage me to share the love of God in Christ Jesus with those who do not know Him.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the Judgment of God. I enjoyed what you had to say.
I have had some free time today, and came across one of the testimonies, and read it and then all of the ones I hadn’t ever taken the time to read!
I love how they are meant to be tied to this years study, and have appreciated the verses and words given, to coincide with some hard questions and issues!
Thank you so much!
TQ for this absolutely clear explanation of God’s love and wrath showcasing God’s holy character against humanity’s sin
Thank you, David Talley. What a wonderful and timely article. I saved it as a Word document on my computer so that I can have quick and easy access to it. I heard a very angry young man debate this very topic with a pastor on TV about a month ago. He was unable to hear what the pastor had to say. I think your article is very clear and gets to the point of God’s character, judgment, love and mercy. I am grateful for His pursuit of us as He provides opportunity after opportunity to come to Him through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Thanks David, I truly appreciate the sharing of ‘root cause’ depictions, which truly clarifies and solidifies Gods judgement.
Such well journaled article.
Blessings
I am so blessed by the words of this article. My mom is 86 and is reevaluating her life. She talk about how judgmental she has been throughout her life. I’m trying to understand and this give me peace and something to share with her. I can trust God to be the perfect judge. I don’t need to be the judge I do need to pray for the people who make choices that don’t agree with God’s word. That does include me. God is perfect and I am so glad.
I appreciate this blog as well as the others I have read. My only question is why is there not an option to get a print version to download? You can send it to Facebook or Twitter and a whole host of other social media sites but I don’t see one that I can just get a copy of it.
I would have sent this question a different way but could not find another link in which to send it.
Dear Brothers/Sisters in Christ,
I so much appreciated Dave Talley’s very definitive writing: “If God Is So
Loving; Why does He Judge?”
Thanks so very much!
Thanks for a comprehensive description of God’s characteristics and His merciful offer of salvation. I will be passing on to my family and friends.
Q: Yes, God wants all people, Satan worshipers, evil, etc. to repent and comeback to Him and if they don’t He will destroy them as they are evil. However, in this context does the Free will apply since He did gave it to all?
I would like your thoughts on this, please.
This study of Revelation, not only reveals things that Jesus wants us to know, but also reviews all of our Lord’s attributes shown to us in the “Was” and “Is now” phases of His contacts with His creation. This panorama is remarkable in the likenesses of the heavenly with the earthly. The past and the present are cohesive in God’s Word… We, like John, must record these events as they are observed and linked to the “Was” and “Is” we have already studied..Thanks.. This is the greatest study, yet to be encountered (personal opinion)..
Everyone should read this article for one’s understanding on the topic and also before the group discussion of Q14 in Lesson #20. Excellent article, Dr. Talley.
An easy choice of who should be judged are the particularly noteworthy “bad guys” of the world who did enormously bad things: Hitler, Stalin, etc. Do we want them to be judged? Most would say, “Absolutely!” But when we drop down the scale of “badness”, we eventually come to ourselves. We want justice and judgement–as long as it’s to somebody else! Do we want to be judged? Er… well…In the end, we all are on the scale of badness. God judges us all because we ALL deserve it. The question is, who pays for our (my) badness? Do I, or does someone else pay? That is the purpose and blessing of the Savior.
This is a very clear presentation of the character of God and His judgements. It makes it easy to understand how the truth of both work together as one and none of God’s characteristics are lessened or compromised in His judgements.
Thank you for posting this.
Thank You for such a wonderful work You guys has been doing for so many years without failing anyone! For the contrary! Offering every year a different Bible Study for all to grow in Our relationship with The Lord!
A company that has been so firm helping others in the knowledge of God! Open to every one and helping many!
Thank You BSF for such a great and good Job
Thanks for the wise view of God as the one who loves and judges as the holy God.It helps me to answer a friend’s doubt about such a God.I’ve been reading Ezekiel and it helps to reinforce your observation about our God who is so patient with his people.
Thank you! And…Amen! I am 82 years old, have believed with my whole heart, mind and soul in my savior the LORD Jesus Christ for over 50 years. This message is such a blessing. May God use me in the lives of my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. To God be the Glory!
God is not judging anyone now because of Jesus’s finish work on the Cross! Because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve when told not to eat off the Tree of Good & Evil located in the mist of the Garden! They disobeyed and were evicted!
“God’s ultimate judgment for humanity’s evil rained down, not on us, but on Himself in the person of Jesus.”
Wow! For the first time in my Christian life, I powerfully and profoundly realised how much God’s perfect love and perfect justice collided. For me!
Thank You! For this blog and all BSF gives to us when I think about God’s judgment it is because of dis obedience when I don’t listen and things go wrong I chose what my judgement will be it reminds me of when my children were little I would punish them for their disobedience they were not bad children or mean children they were just disobedient and with disobedient there is a punishment so as a parent just like God they had to be punished I still loved them and I still do today very much. I wanted them to know in the world there is punishment and rewards and they must learn to chose which one they want most. So I believe this is what God our father is telling us He loves us.
The question that keeps popping up in my BSF group is why did God, with His foreknowledge of our fallen nature, create us and give us freedom to choose yet if we do not choose Him, we are thrown in eternal Hell? This is love out of fear not out of choice. As parents, even if our children commit the worst wrongs, we would never throw them in torture. I could not answer this question
God is not like us and he doesn’t behave like us. He is perfect in love and goodness and righteousness, and even perfect in justice. When we focus on the love of God only, we can miss the attribute of his holiness and justice. God is the judge of the whole earth and will he not do right? Those who love their sin and live as enemies of God, who reject his Son and choose to rule themselves will be cast into hell by God and God will be glorified for that. If we offer a judge a bribe, a good judge Will reject the bribe and see that justice is satisfied. God is infinitely more just than any earthly judge and his justice, for those who break his laws and refuse to repent, is hell.
Gods love is offered to all while they yet live and although many of us do not share the gospel with words because we are afraid of what will happen to us, it is an extremely loving thing for us to do, to warn people that there is a hell, and unless they turn from their sin and put their faith in the way and the truth, and the life, they too will perish.
Probably more to the point of your question, God’s ways are not our ways and his thoughts are not our thoughts, Romans 8:29-30 speaks of the fact that God has predestined those who would be saved.
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.”
I have learned not to question God. I don’t understand everything in the Bible, but I believe it and know that he is right in all he does. I am forever thankful that God chose me, a sinful wretch who loved her sin. I didn’t deserve it, but am so grateful.
We don’t know who is predestined and who isn’t, but God does and he calls us to share the Gospel, so let’s get out there and love people enough to share it with them. Let’s warn them that they have broken God’s law and will have to face God on judgment day where they will be found guilty as charged, and then tell them that God in his infinite mercy and grace so loved the world that he gave us his only begotton son, that whosoever who believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.
Nelly, surely this is a hard one in our human reasoning, but all I can say is, Who are we to talk back to God. If He had not given Adam and Eve free will, would we not all just be robots?
Thank you for the article. What stands out to me is that God is just and his justice is not only right but loving because he justified me himself. There was punishment for my sin, but he took that punishment so that I do not have to.
Pastor Talley, I’m am 85 yr. old first year convert to Chistianity. How you explained the love and judgement of God were an inspiration to me. Thank You.
Thank you for this explanation. It is hard to grasp the holiness of God and how He cannot have anything less in His presence. Praying for my lost family members.
I love all of these blogs. I attended BSF for 13 years and continue to study the bible. My daughter Melissa lives in Finland and continues in BSF and has her sons attend also, on line. Thank you for all you have done to have Gods word spread and accessible to all and everyone who is interested.
I loved Dr. David Talley’s take on God’s judgement. I understand now more about God’s character and His judgement. I am in awe of who God is and love him more.
Thank you for sharing his blog.
I am studying Revelation the Hope now. Enjoyed this article and look forward to more. Thank you all who work so hard to share the studies provided with BSF!!
May the Lord’s blessings be with each of you.
This blog was helpful to put things into perspective .. Thank you
I am very grateful for BSF for bringing so many teachings Bible Studies
and keep us all walking on God’s Word.
Every year I have Althea Francis as our leader! She is such a great and faithful leader and we all love her,
BSF offer every year a Bible Study to make us grow in our walking with the Lord! Thank You BSF to continue doing such an extraordinary Job, thank You also for your new Bible studies Wordgo! wonderful short way to keep us fresh in our waling with Our Lord! Congratulations for Your faithfulness to offer us continuing education in God’s Word.
God certainly has the authority to judge as He is the only Judge.
The point that why He will judge in the near future can be seen from three different angles.
1. He has been merciful to all after Jesus finished His perfect work on The Cross and long suffering all rebellions in histories, especially after the Flood, The Tower of Babel etc. However, He needs to draw a deadline.
2. From the book of Revelation we are studying this year, even though the deadline has been drawn, and probably the Church will be raptured, God still wants more and more to repent when they the tribulations. These will be those who forced to join the prince’s wedding feast in Matthew 22:9-10, again out of God’s mercies.
3. I think this point is most important for God to judge the evil world by 7-year tribulations. Despite the fact that The Israelites refuse to believe in Jesus Christ in these two thousand years, God still needs to take care of them out of His covenant with Abraham. God has no further choice but uses these extreme tribulations (standing for His wrath) to cleanse the Israelites’ sins just be equivalent to Jesus’ sufferings on The Cross. By then The Israelites will be cleansed and then repent when they will see Jesus will step His feet on Mt Olives. So for believers who insist post-tribulation rapture, they are looking down on the extreme extents of the tribulations, especially the 7 bowls.
In other words, these tribulations are God’s wisdom to finally collect His people, both from gentiles and most importantly to The Israelites, leading all His children into The Millennium and finally to the eternal New Heaven and New Earth.
Praise the Lord.
As a parent, human as I am, I would wield the rod to ensure my kid grows into a responsible and considerate adult. I would be inflicting pain, not because I wanted to demonstrate my superiority, but in the hope that the pain would enhance correction in the kid. Within that context, I am trying to understand why God judges the way He does.
The blend of justice and love beautifully showm om the cross.Is truly shown in this post.Thank You
This was a great hope inspired
explaination of judgement!
Thank you for helping me
understand God’s loving judgement.
Thank you for your assistance in understanding that in the end, the only way evil is vanquished is that it is “crushed”–decimated!” When the Bible says it was God’s will to “crush” Christ who became sin for us, that must be why–it would not be substitutionary atonement if sin were not crushed. Jesus, in becoming sin for us, really did bear our sentence of annihilation or sin being annihilated–the sentence of sin fully carried out. Still asking God for perfect understanding of Christ’s sacrifice, and the cost of redemption! Yes, I am one of the Redeemed! set free of the guilt of my sin. Hallelujah and Amen!
This is a very good read. I never question why’s when it comes to GOD.
GOD see what we can’t see. I also have never been placed in a situation to understand or experience extreme suffering but I have been put in suffering situations . When I think about GOD loved us enough to come as JESUS he never asks us to do the impossible as he did he knows our strength and suffering is seldom great enough for us to understand why he does what he do but I guess GOD sees us for what we will become not just what we are right now. My reverence for GOD is bigger than my suffering. As I study revelation and understand the promise GOD made of no more pain or suffering and the ultimate worship and praise of GOD assuring believers our earthly life is temporary hopefully 🙏🏾 that can get us some comfort even amidst our persecution and hardship.
I have had some weighty discussions over a loving God who judges so harshly, especially to followers of Jesus.
Having read your blog on God’s Judgement, it occurred to me that I was equating Judgement with Suffering and there is such a difference.
Suffering is our response to painful things that have happened to us, either by our own doing or by someone else inflicting pain upon us. God’s Judgement is the consequence of an individual’s sinful actions.
Thank you for your blog. It helped me to sort out my own thinkng.
When are we going to study Romans, The Letters of Paul and The Books of Moses.
Dear Barbara – you can learn more about BSF’s studies here! https://www.bsfinternational.org/our-studies/
When we studied the Life of Moses a few years ago, we got to the part that God was not allowing to let Moses into the promised land but could only look; this was because he struck the rock instead of speaking to it. I thought it was unfair! He was so special to the Lord, a personal friend, yet because of God’s righteousness, He could not allow Moses to go. I understand more about the Lord and His righteousness now. If He made one exception, then everything else is useless.
The more we know and love God , then judgment of God and application becomes a part of my new nature
This was really good but I still have a hard time with God allowing those that love Him, believe in him, and try to honor him with their lives, that He allows them to be tortured. As a believer, the end times scare me. Why to we have to be tortured? Thank you, Kiffen
The End times doesn’t scarce me, it gives me ‘Hope’ which is the main theme of BSF this year.
The difference is that BSF dares not saying that we shall be raptured before these tribulations even though I have seen in the previous notes that BSF believes so. In fact, this confidence makes a great difference in presenting reading materials to BSF members.
I can see from this year’s notes telling members to persevere in sufferings, persecutions etc, while we may very possibly be enjoying the new wine with The Lord, waiting for the Lamb’s wedding! What a great contrast if we cannot stand in the Truth Ground.
Why I can be so sure of pre-tribulation rapture is because of Isaiah 54:9 when God tells all believers after Jesus had finished His perfect work on The Cross in Isaiah 53 that He will never be angry with us. When He will not be angry any more (because Jesus had bear all God’s wrath on The Cross for Christians), why should we Christians need to suffer God’s wrath (especially the seven bowls of wrath)?
God can never lie, right?
And in fact, there are many other evidences as well that can be raised to support, but those leave believers to find out individually by the help of The Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus Christ in John 16:13, to guide us into all truth (which is also emphasised by BSF).
Praise the Lord.
Kiffen. My understanding is that gold is precious and expensive but it has to pass through fire to reach that state.
Let’s hang on and endure up to the end in the hope of the precious life ahead.
I , too, struggle with the torture that believers face. It is frightening!
The tribulation is Gods wrath being poured out on the world. Christians will be raptured and not have to go through it. For the Christian, God‘s wrath was poured out on his son and believers are the bride of Christ and Jesus suffered God’s wrath to purchase his bride.
Revelation 3:10 is clear when it says, “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.”
The book of Daniel talks about the time of Jacob’s trouble and that is the tribulation when the Jews will come to faith as the church age is ended.
Before the tribulation we suffer man’s wrath, but the tribulation is Gods wrath. Fear not if you are in Christ Jesus. He won’t let the bride of Christ suffer Gods wrath as he endured that for her! Amen!!!
I once thought God’s judgement on Nature and Humanity was a bit excessive in relation to the seemingly insignificant sin of taking a bite of an apple. And I said so in a BSF class looking for enlightenment…none came.
Later that night in my sleep I was given the answer…that seeming first small sin cost God His Son. I felt very embarrassed for the thought and the obvious conclusion (which I did not understand) and now realize no amount of wrath could compensate…sorry God.
If you’re going to anoint/entrust someone with this much power/authority (John 14:12, Rom. 8:32, Mat. 17:20, Rev. 2:26-27, Rev. 3:21, etc.), how much do they need to be 100% totally trustworthy to apply everything they have been instructed on (Acts 3:22-23, Mat. 28:20a?? ===> Luke 16:10, Luke 6:46-49.
I read the OT completely at least once a year, Psalms and Proverbs monthly. One of the most important words descriptive of the Living God is chesed. It ranges in meaning from simple kindness/mercy to covenantal loyalty to a love of redemption. Not a scientific statement, but a strong personal observation, is that chesed is the descriptor that best fits the sum total of God’s moral attributes. All He does is rooted in chesed, as confirmed also in the revelation of Christ. Thanks for sharing.
Having completed 18 lessons in Revelation The Hope, I greatly appreciate Pastor Talley’s comments. I am learning a lot more about the love and graciousness of our God and understanding more about his judgement and all His other attributes!
Wow! So powerful. God is faithful. I truly enjoy the study of the book of Revelation. Thank you.
Why should christians study Revelation?
To find Jesus!!
Because it always reminds me of how much God wants ALL to come to repentance, gives than chance over chance to submit, and in the end He will judge those who choose not to accept His Son, but it is a promise that God wins and His glory will be seen by every person, tribe and tongue at the end of this world as we know it. Better to be prepared than caught off guard, with no oil for your lamps.
Was a participant of BFS for seven years. June Whipple was the teaching leader in San Diego for a lot of those years. I learned so much about Scripture from her teaching but also her life. I highly recommend this study to all who want a good reputable Bible Study.