1. Matthew 3:7–8 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What is John the Baptist referring to with the phrase “the wrath to come”?

Matthew 3:7–8 (ESV)

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

In short

The wrath to come refers to God’s final judgment (Romans 2:5; 1 Thessalonians 1:10): that is, condemnation unto gehenna, the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11–15)

The wrath to come refers to the future final judgment of God (Romans 2:5,1 Thessalonians 1:10), that is, condemnation unto gehenna, the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11–15)1