Romans 1:18

Romans 1:18-23 (New International Version)
God's Wrath Against Mankind
 18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

For the wrath (3709) of God is revealed from heaven (3772)...
Wrath – Greek word, Orge – Wrath, anger as as state of mind. Aristotle says that orge, anger, is anger with grief.
This anger stems from being slighted, hurt, or sinned against. It is flowing from grief that has been caused. God's wrath, anger is being revealed and it is connected directly to that which has been done against Him.

Heaven (3772) – Greek word, Ouranos – Heaven. The singular and plural are used similarly and interchangeably. There is no difference between them. In the NT, it means in a physical sense, the over-arching, all-embracing heaven beneath which is the earth and all that is therein. In this, not only do the fowls of the air fly (Mt. 6:26) but the clouds are supported (Matt.24:30), rain is formed (Js. 5:18) but also the sun, moon, and stars are placed. (Mk13:25) It is also used for that heaven where the residence of God is called by the Psalmist “the holy heaven” or “heaven of holiness” (Ps. 20:6). It is God's dwelling or resting place. (Matt. 5:34,45,48)

Consider where the Heavens are located. Scripture said that Christ ascended into heaven. He went UP into heaven. Consider also that the earth is round. So, no matter where you are on planet earth, you must go UP to reach the heavens, heaven. The heavens entirely surround the earth. There is not an aspect of earth that is not surrounded by the heavens. If the heavens are the dwelling place of God, this yet another picture the all encompassing nature of God. There is not a single created thing that does not touch God. He is in, through, and around all things.

My natural question as I consider the wrath of God is this; How is it revealed from heaven? How is it being revealed? Colossians 3:6 says, “For it is on account of these things [immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed which amounts to idolatry– vs 5] that the wrath of God will come.”
I believe that we have yet to see the wrath of God descend. In fact, in light of what I know and understand from Revelation, we will be spared from having to see and be a part of that. The things that are happening in our world, environment, and such now, are mere warnings of God to take heed: HIS WRATH IS COMING. Like the prophets of old, we are to be preaching the warning. God is gracious, merciful, and patient. He is allowing time for people to repent and come to Him in humility, seeking forgiveness. However, a time will come when God will no longer suffer the foolishness and unrighteousness of man. He will bring His wrath to bear.

So...I believe that this written word, the spoken word of God is the wrath of God being revealed. He is revealing His anger and grief. He is seeking those who would repent to do so. He is permitting time for this to happen.

“...against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”

This is the object of God's wrath. This is the source of His grief and will be the target of His wrath.

Ungodliness – what does it mean to be ungodly? Simply put, it means to be opposed to the very things that make God, God. It is to stand against the very things that God IS and commands. To be ungodly is to put oneself completely opposite and in opposition to God.

Unrighteousness – what does it mean to be unrighteousness? Here is a short review of what righteousness is... Greek - Dikaiosune; justice or righteousness. God's uprightness or standard to which man is expected to conform. In short, to be righteous, is to meet God's standard for perfection, justice, holiness that He expects. To be righteous is to live in a life of obedience to what He expects and demands.
The word unrighteousness literally means this: What is not conformable with justice, what ought not to be, that which is wrong. Related to the Greek word, adikos – unjust, hence, injustice, unrighteousness.

God's wrath is going to be poured out on man's wickedness, unrighteousness, injustice, and ungodliness. Man has placed himself in direct opposition to God and God is storing up His wrath for retribution.

Suppress (2722) – Greek word, Katecho – to have, hold, hold fast in a spiritual sense, to possess, to take possession, seize, to take as a place, restrain, withhold.

The truth has been deliberately seized, taken possession of, held fast, and hidden. They have covered it up and hidden it, seized control of it by their wickedness and are holding it captive. They do not want its message being revealed. They suppress it in their unrighteousness. They drown out the truth that blares out from their consciences by diving deeper into sin. The truth is then, held captive and suppressed by their wicked deeds. Man does to sin but a drunk does to his problems: Drowns it out with more of the same destructive, sinful behavior.

Truth (225) – Greek Word, Aletheia – Truth, as the unveiled reality lying at the basis of and agreeing with an appearance; the manifested, the veritable essence of matter. Denotes the reality clearly lying before our eyes.

The truth is clear, revealed, and evident. Later in this same chapter, that point is driven home by saying that creation makes it clear. God in creation is enough to leave man without an excuse.

The truth is hidden, suppress, and kept from being clear because of man's unrighteousness. Their deeds and actions prevent the truth from being clearly seen and known. And we wonder why our country is in such dire need.

I ask myself, am I guilty of suppressing the truth by my actions? Am I guilty of hiding the truth from others by my deeds, my actions, my speech? Do people see God's truth when they look at my life?

God's wrath is coming. He is storing it up for a day when He will unleash it against mankind for their sin. While I am grateful I will not be the recipient of that wrath, I fear for those who will. In my minds eye I picture a lone single man fleeing for his life from a tornado or tsunami that is bearing down on him. That wrath is coming like a horrible wind that nothing will be able to stop.

God give me a sense of urgency to be out rescuing people who are in the path of that storm! Give me a fear of You and a fear for them that will drive me to boldly call them from the path of the storm into the walls of Your refuge! Oh God, that my heart would burn with this passion!