Before God brings judgment, He repeatedly gives warning and opportunity to repent.
That pattern can be seen throughout Scripture.
BEFORE THE FLOOD — GOD WARNED
The world had become corrupt and violent.
“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth…” (Genesis 6:5).
Yet judgment did not fall without warning.
Noah was “a preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5), while the ark was being prepared.
The warning came before the flood.
SODOM AND GOMORRAH — GOD WARNED
Before destruction came upon the cities of the plain, Lot was told:
“Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city” (Genesis 19:15).
The warning came before the fire.
NINEVEH — GOD WARNED
God sent Jonah into Nineveh with a message:
“Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown” (Jonah 3:4).
What happened?
The people believed God.
They humbled themselves.
They turned from their evil way.
“And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not” (Jonah 3:10).
The warning accomplished its purpose.
JERUSALEM — GOD WARNED
For generations God sent His prophets to Judah.
Why?
Because He wanted His people to turn back.
“And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people…” (2 Chronicles 36:15).
But they mocked God’s messengers and rejected His prophets.
Eventually judgment came.
Jerusalem fell.
The temple was destroyed.
The warning came before the destruction.
JESUS WARNED JERUSALEM AGAIN
Centuries later, Jesus stood before another generation of Israelites and warned of another coming judgment.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee…” (Matthew 23:37).
Jesus then declared:
“Behold, your house is left unto you desolate” (Matthew 23:38).
He continued His warning in Matthew 24, describing the coming destruction and telling His disciples what to do when they saw the signs He had given them.
Once again:
WARNING CAME BEFORE JUDGMENT.
THE CHURCHES OF ASIA — JESUS WARNED
In Revelation 2–3, Jesus warned His own congregations.
To Ephesus:
“Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent…” (Revelation 2:5).
To Pergamos:
“Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly…” (Revelation 2:16).
To Sardis:
“Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent” (Revelation 3:3).
To Laodicea:
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19).
Notice the pattern.
SIN → WARNING → OPPORTUNITY TO REPENT → JUDGMENT IF THE WARNING IS REJECTED
Why does God warn?
Because warning is an expression of His mercy.
“The Lord is… longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
God’s warnings should never be mistaken for cruelty.
The warning is given because there is still time to turn.
Noah’s generation was warned.
Sodom was warned.
Nineveh was warned.
Judah was warned.
Jerusalem was warned.
The churches of Asia were warned.
Sometimes people listened.
Sometimes they did not.
But the pattern remained:
GOD WARNS BEFORE JUDGMENT.
The question is not whether God has spoken.
The question is whether we will listen while there is still time.
“…be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation 3:19).
THAT IS THE BIBLICAL PATTERN.
Open the Scriptures.
Examine the context.
Compare Scripture with Scripture.
Test the conclusions.
ALLOW SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE.
The Biblical Pattern
Biblical Studies & Books by Kevin L. Walker
The Biblical Pattern 