Abstract
Historical and natural disasters regularly raise the question of whether they are a manifestation of God's judgment. This idea has traditionally been, on the one hand, an explanation of God's righteous government in the world, and, on the other hand, has helped people cope with tragic and seemingly absurd historical events.
P. Althaus and W.
Pannenberg interpret God's judgment in history not as God's special sanction, but as the historical impacts of human sin. God does not prevent these effects, so they turn against those who caused them.
Even in this form, however, the idea of God's judgment brings serious contradictions. Moreover, it cannot be overlooked that Jesus Christ did not act as the ruler of the world, but as the one who was executed by the rulers.
This puts God's reign in a different perspective. Theology must insist that God remains the ruler of history, but at the same time recognizes that theological interpretation of historical events is unavailable and even dangerous because it can justify human violence.