A God of Warning: A Biblical Examination of Jehovah’s Pattern of Judgment

Edward D. Andrews
Jun 12
6 min read

The central premise of the article titled “A God of Warning” is rooted in the unwavering scriptural reality that Jehovah never executes judgment without prior warning. This is not a peripheral feature of His dealings with mankind but a consistent pattern that highlights both His justice and mercy. The biblical record affirms repeatedly that Jehovah desires repentance, not destruction (Ezekiel 18:23; 2 Peter 3:9). His warnings, though often ignored, serve as tangible evidence of His patience and commitment to righteousness.

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The Principle of Warning: Ezekiel 33:7 as a Theological Anchor

Ezekiel 33:7 declares, “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. And when you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me.” In this verse, Jehovah commissions Ezekiel as a spiritual sentry. The role of a watchman in ancient Israel was vital—he stood on the walls, eyes scanning the horizon for danger. Spiritually, this office extended beyond military threats to include moral and covenantal dangers, with the prophet obligated to sound the alarm.

This is not unique to Ezekiel. The same motif appears throughout the prophetic literature. In Jeremiah 6:17, Jehovah says, “I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’” The trumpet, often used to rally troops or warn of enemy approach, symbolizes the prophet’s call to repentance and faithfulness. To reject the watchman’s call is to invite catastrophe.

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Noah and the Flood: A Prototype of Divine Warning and Judgment

Genesis 6–9 records Jehovah's judgment of the antediluvian world, but this was preceded by extensive warning. Genesis 6:3 reveals, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” This marks the start of the countdown, during which Noah, “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5), warned the world through both proclamation and his faithful construction of the ark.

This period of 120 years served as an opportunity for repentance. The mockery Noah likely endured (implied by Jesus' later comparison in Matthew 24:38–39) does not negate Jehovah’s fairness. Rather, it proves the hardness of human hearts when faced with divine truth. Noah’s obedience, amidst near-total rejection, stands as a model of faith-driven witness (Hebrews 11:7).

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Sodom and Gomorrah: Warnings Rejected, Judgment Swift

Genesis 18–19 recounts the judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah, yet Jehovah first reveals His plans to Abraham (Genesis 18:17–21), allowing for intercession. Lot, though spiritually compromised (2 Peter 2:7–8), served as a last-minute warning in the city. His own family was reluctant, his sons-in-law thinking he “was jesting” (Genesis 19:14). Even when struck blind, the men of Sodom groped forward in pursuit of sin, demonstrating the extent of their depravity (Genesis 19:11).

Jehovah’s warnings, both miraculous and verbal, were spurned. The judgment of fire and brimstone (Genesis 19:24–25) was sudden only in execution—not in announcement. The moral here is that persistent rejection of divine truth leads inevitably to irreversible judgment.

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Egypt and the Ten Plagues: Warnings and Escalation

Jehovah’s dealings with Egypt, recorded in Exodus 7–12, underscore a stepwise intensification of judgment following ignored warnings. Moses, acting as Jehovah’s prophet, consistently warned Pharaoh before each plague (Exodus 7:16; 8:1; 9:1). The escalation—from water to blood to death of the firstborn—was not arbitrary. It was calculated to demonstrate Jehovah’s supremacy over Egypt’s gods (Exodus 12:12) and to give opportunity for repentance.

Despite witnessing undeniable signs, Pharaoh “hardened his heart” (Exodus 9:12). His rejection was mirrored by his people, though a “mixed multitude” (Exodus 12:38) did heed the warning. The preservation of Israel through obedience to the Passover regulations further highlights the role of faith in divine deliverance (Hebrews 11:28).

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Warnings to Israel and Judah: Prophetic Rejection and National Collapse

The fall of both Israel (722 B.C.E.) and Judah (586 B.C.E.) followed sustained periods of prophetic warning. Prophets like Amos, Hosea, Isaiah, and Micah spoke to Israel, condemning her for idolatry, injustice, and spiritual adultery. Hosea 8:7 captures the principle: “For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.” Their exile under Assyria was not a shock—it had been prophesied repeatedly (Amos 5:27; Hosea 11:5).

Judah, too, was warned. Jeremiah’s 40-year ministry, filled with symbolic acts, verbal rebukes, and visions, was aimed at averting Babylonian destruction. Yet he was rejected, beaten, imprisoned, and mocked (Jeremiah 20:2; 37:15). Jehovah declared, “I have spoken to them persistently, but they have not listened” (Jeremiah 25:4). Even the precise duration of exile—70 years—was foretold (Jeremiah 25:11). The city’s destruction was not sudden—it was long delayed due to divine mercy.

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Babylon and Assyria: Instruments of Judgment That Faced Judgment

Babylon, while used to judge Judah, was also warned of her own destruction. Isaiah, more than a century before Babylon’s rise, prophesied its fall to Cyrus the Persian (Isaiah 44:28–45:4). Jeremiah reaffirmed this (Jeremiah 25:12), and Daniel confirmed it at the moment of judgment (Daniel 5:25–31). Assyria, similarly, was warned through Nahum (Nahum 1–3) and Isaiah (Isaiah 10:5–19). These empires, though agents of divine justice, were not immune from accountability.

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Christ Jesus and the First-Century Warning

When Jesus arrived, He found a spiritually desolate Israel (Matthew 9:36). He proclaimed, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). His ministry was a direct warning to a generation steeped in legalism, pride, and tradition. His confrontations with the religious elite (Matthew 23), His parables of judgment (Luke 20:9–18), and His prophecies of destruction (Matthew 24:1–2) all declared an urgent call to repentance.

The destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. by the Romans was the fulfillment of Jesus’ explicit warnings. Luke 19:44 records His lament: “Because you did not know the time of your visitation.” This judgment fell precisely as prophesied, and again, not without clear warning.

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Final Warning: Armageddon

The biblical record concludes with global warning. Revelation, composed by John in 96 C.E., unveils divine judgments against the world system of political, religious, and economic rebellion. Revelation 14:6 speaks of an “eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth.” This is a final, worldwide call to fear God and give Him glory.

Jesus Himself stated that the gospel would be preached “in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). Armageddon is not an act of divine cruelty—it is the inevitable conclusion of persistent human rebellion in spite of divine warning. As with previous judgments, Jehovah gives time to repent. But as before, this time is limited.

Conclusion: Heed the Watchman’s Call

Jehovah’s pattern of warning before judgment is a testament to His mercy, justice, and desire for repentance. From the flood to Jerusalem’s fall, from Egypt’s plagues to Babylon’s demise, and now in the era preceding Armageddon, Jehovah remains a God of warning. Those who mock, delay, or dismiss the message do so at their peril. But those who listen, repent, and obey will find preservation—just as Noah, Lot, the faithful Israelites, and Jesus’ disciples did.

“For the Lord Jehovah does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). That warning still echoes today. Let us have ears to hear.

About the Author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220 books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).