God, as presented in the Old Testament of the Bible, is confronted in the execution of his purposes by the ignorance and slowness of men, by their self-will and by their hostility. These arouse a divine anger which is not to be confused with the capricious fury of men. It is aroused when the conditions under which he alone can work out man's salvation are infringed and his purpose of mercy is imperilled. The anger of God is thus aroused by any act which stands between him and the ends which he has in view, by all those who are hostile to the people of his choice, and by the presence of evil and sin. In the New Testament of the Bible, the wrath of God is directed against those who reject Christ.
Recognition of the anger of God is of fundamental importance in Judaism and Christianity. For Christians the Bible leads to the conclusion that if people fail to respond to the opportunity of salvation, those who persist in opposition to God and rejection of divine mercy will have committed an eternal sin and must endure the utmost visitation of the wrath of God, especially at the last judgement.