Topical Bible: Unholy Fear is Described as a Fear of Judgments

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Unholy fear, as described in the Scriptures, is a fear rooted in the anticipation of divine judgment and punishment rather than a reverent awe of God. This type of fear is often associated with a lack of faith and trust in God's mercy and love. It is a fear that drives individuals away from God rather than drawing them closer to Him.

In the Bible, unholy fear is often depicted as a response to the awareness of sin and the impending judgment that follows. This fear is not born out of a healthy respect for God's holiness but rather from a dread of His righteous retribution. The prophet Isaiah speaks to this kind of fear when he describes the terror that will seize the ungodly at the time of judgment: "The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling grips the ungodly: 'Who of us can dwell with a consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting flames?'" (Isaiah 33:14). Here, the fear is not of God Himself but of the consequences of His judgment.

The New Testament also addresses unholy fear, particularly in the context of the final judgment. In the book of Revelation, the apostle John describes the reaction of those who are unprepared for the return of Christ: "Then the kings of the earth, the nobles, the commanders, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and free man hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. And they said to the mountains and the rocks, 'Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?'" (Revelation 6:15-17). This passage illustrates the terror and desperation of those who fear judgment without the assurance of salvation.

Unholy fear is contrasted with the fear of the Lord, which is a foundational aspect of wisdom and faith. The fear of the Lord is characterized by reverence, awe, and a desire to live in accordance with God's will. Proverbs 9:10 states, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding" . This fear leads to a deeper relationship with God, marked by trust and obedience.

The apostle John provides further insight into the nature of unholy fear in his first epistle: "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love" (1 John 4:18). Here, John emphasizes that unholy fear is incompatible with the love of God. Those who are perfected in love have no reason to fear judgment, as they are secure in their relationship with God through Christ.

In summary, unholy fear is a fear of judgment that arises from a lack of faith and understanding of God's love and mercy. It is a fear that leads to separation from God, in contrast to the fear of the Lord, which draws believers closer to Him. The Scriptures encourage believers to seek a relationship with God that is based on love and trust, thereby dispelling the unholy fear of judgment.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 2:19
And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he rises to shake terribly the earth.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 21:26
Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
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Revelation 6:16,17
And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
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Library

A Treatise of the Fear of God;
... Now this fear, whether it be wrought by misapprehending of the judgments of God,
as in the Israelites, or otherwise as in the Canaanites, yet ungodliness is ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/a treatise of the fear.htm

part vii.
... of falsehood for the sake of this unholy heresy. ... they beheld these things, were seized
with fear, and ventured ... to act in the manner before described; for they ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/part vii.htm

A Call to Backsliders
... up may be quite stupid, without either fear, or sorrow ... covenant, wherewith he was
sanctifed, an unholy thing ... You are not the persons here described, against whom ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 86 a call to.htm

Solomon
... men must be just, ruling in the fear of God ... be a reign of righteousness, like that
described in the ... will be enabled to stand firm against unholy influences and ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 1 solomon.htm

Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and ...
... yet one may join with them without fear of wrath ... Then in ver.25 sacrilege is described,
and covered perjury ... cause, most holy things to maintain unholy or common ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/section v scriptures showing the.htm

Chapter xix
... of Sodom to be about their unholy practices that ... Whatever salt formations have since
been described as Lot's ... taking the place of an accusative after "fear.". ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xix.htm

Covenant Duties.
... And however they may be described in the sacred volume ... favourable to truth, are ignorant
of that unholy zeal with ... all the people able men, such as fear God, men ...
/.../cunningham/the ordinance of covenanting/chapter iv covenant duties.htm

God's Law Immutable.
... In chapter 13(736) is described another beast ... blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, without natural ... pressure of merely human fear, but they ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /25 gods law immutable.htm

God's Law Immutable
... 13 (verses 1-10) is described another beast ... blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy, without natural ... pressure of merely human fear, but they live ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 25 gods law immutable.htm

The First vision "In Heaven": Chapters 4-5
... execution of judgment (xviii.20; xix.2). "Fear God and ... when all shall be holy, where
now all is unholy. ... speak of the very judgments which are described in the ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the first vision in heaven .htm