When man is angry he shows forth his `power'! The wrath of man is no small matter. We saw that during the Second World War when Hitler gassed and killed 6 million Jews within a matter of a few years! In China, the communist leaders showed their `power'. Turn the clock back further and we have undeniable records of all sorts of despots who ruled and reigned like beasts over other men. Millions have been killed who opposed or stood in the way of man's greed. Men like Caesar of the great Roman Empire; Alexander the Great Grecian King who conquered till he declared that there was no more nation to conquer, and Nebuchadnezzar the Babylon King who destroyed Jerusalem in 586 B.C., as well as kings like Artaxerxes the Persian king who pillaged, plundered and slaughtered thousands in order to expand his territories to gain more fame and fortune, are examples of powerful individuals. But there will come in the near future the greatest ruler the world has ever known and he will show forth man's wrath which will make all the wrath of past despots look like child's play. This person is none other than the great Antichrist who will rule the world for seven years. During those seven years he will rule with an iron fist, having been given absolute power on earth. He will literally become like God! He will be energised by Satan, the great Dragon!
How should Christians relate to such wrath? The Bible says in Psalm 76:10 , "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain." Christians have a sovereign and all-powerful God to cling on and appeal to for help. They can be assured that the wrath of man is no match for their God who is Almighty! The psalmist was confident that even the wrath of man will not achieve the intended evil and hurt upon the Christian but that God would turn it around a hundred and eighty degrees for His praise and glory. [NOTE--"chemah" is the Hebrew word for "wrath" which means "hot displeasure" and it comes from a root word for the "curdling of milk". "Chemah" is a much stronger word for "aph" (translated as "anger") which is merely the flaring of the nostril."] The Christian has nothing to worry about and neither should he be afraid. Even Satan, the most powerful of all of the Christian's enemies is helpless against God. Did Satan not seek God's permission first before he could even lift a finger against Job? God said to Satan concerning Job His servant in Job 1:12 , "And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD."
The praise of God would always be the very best for the Christian. The praise of God does not mean that Christians will not be killed by lions or crucified or burned at the stakes or imprisoned or any such sufferings. There have been many thousands of faithful believers throughout the Bible and Church History who have been martyred for the faith. What the praise of God does mean is that these faithful men, women and children of God lived without compromise, even unto death. They remained faithful to the very end of their lives. Such is the grace and mercy of God, the courage and strength in the lives of these saints. They praised God with their lips and their lives!
The remainder of the wrath of man, God will restrain. God will keep in check what evil men would do or are allowed by Him to do. When these evil men do their wicked deeds, they would not be able to cross that invisible line, just like the waves of the sea which are confined by the shores of sand.
Today, the Christian is living in very wicked times, because he is living in the last of the last days. Wickedness and immorality will abound more and more. Evil will be called good and good will be called evil. Truth will be called lies and lies will be passed off as truth. We are living in a godless society that will lead only to death and destruction. Only in Jesus Christ will the sinner find peace and security. The wrath of man will praise the God of the Bible. The Christian has everything to live for in Christ and nothing to live for without Christ. He has strength and courage in Christ but fear and trepidation outside of Christ. The God of the Christian will restrain the remainder of wrath! AMEN.