"Punish evil and praise good" is a key God gives to those in authority (1 Peter 4:12), and is a strong guideline for how parents should bring up children "in the nurture and admonition" of the Lord. Therefore it follows that God, who is a perfect father, would follow these principles in raising up His godly children. However, it is also important to realize there is a source of all rebellion.
Jesus called the devil a thief and a murderer, a liar and the father of all lies. Both in Ezekiel and in Revelation he is declared the deceiver of the whole world. In Ephesians 2 there is a description of mankind living in the lusts and desires of the flesh, that we are actually walking according "to the prince of the power of the air" and as a result were "by nature children of wrath." Fallen human nature is not aware of how far he has fallen and how serious the consequences of our rebellion against God actually are. We glibly say sin deserves death, but do we understand that what we deserved is the kind of suffering and death Jesus endured for us. Because God is all just, it had to be paid, but because He is all merciful, He paid it for us. Even the well-known John 3:16 points out that "whoever believes in Him should not perish." Those who refuse to receive His free gift of salvation, or choose to reject His infinite love in dying for our sins, will perish.
Our flesh is like the prodigal son that thinks he can live a wild, carefree, sinful life and have no consequences. However, if instead of admitting his failure when destitute and hungry, what if this person decided to attack and try to overthrow his father to get what was not his. Lucifer, or Satan, is described as created perfect in beauty (Ezekiel 28) but when iniquity entered his heart he arrogantly declared "I will be like the Most High" (Isaiah 14:14) and began a concerted campaign to overthrow the throne and plan of God.
God ejected him from heaven, but in revenge and pride, he now does everything in his power to thwart the plan of God. And the amazing part is that Satan thinks he is winning...when he entered Judas to betray Jesus, when he led the Pharisees and Pilate to condemn Him to death. Obviously part of his long-range plan is to set up the antichrist and rule all nations on the earth.
Many people don't like to read Revelation because they don't want to think about the judgments of God. Clearly our finite limited minds do not understand the wisdom and judgments of God (Romans 11:33). There is good reason why God says vengeance is mine. He only can handle it and do it correctly. However, from the eternal perspective of heaven (Revelation 19:2-3) the multitude cry out, "For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.' Even the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fall down and worship God who sits on the throne, "Amen! Alleluia!" when His judgments are executed. God righteously and in truth does judge Satan, the beast, the false prophet, and all those who choose to rebel against the love of God. God punishes evil.
What a glorious joy to see that God cleanses the earth of all that hinders love and truth. He likewise opens the books of life and praises the good of all those who faithfully have received and obeyed the Lord Jesus. The book of Revelation is the revelation of Jesus that God has given to ensure faith and hope that His good will triumph over the enemy's evil. God's perfect plan shows the nature and character of the Lord Jesus in establishing a perfect kingdom of love and the complete recovery of all Adam and Eve lost in the fall. Praise God forever!
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