What was the real unbelief that brought God's wrath at Kadesh Barnea?
The unbelief that brought God's wrath at Kadesh Barnea was Israel's refusal to believe God's promise that they could take the land He had given them. It was not the idolatry of the golden calf, but their inability to take God at His word, which was the core controversy.
Les explains that at Kadesh Barnea, with the land in front of them, it was not the unbelief practiced around the golden calf that brought God's wrath; that was easy for Him to forgive. The real controversy was their unbelief that they could not take the land God said they could. They could not take Him at His word. Les applies this same principle to the great white throne: millions of good people will be there, but their sin is unbelief—they could not believe what God said concerning the work of the cross. Les grants it is hard from the human element to comprehend that the Creator God took on flesh, was crucified, and by that death, suffering, and resurrection, God can pass salvation out to the whole human race. Les maintains that every human being has already been pardoned by virtue of the work of the cross. Their pardon is accomplished; the only reason they will not receive it is because they will not appropriate it by faith.