Gerhard and Walther

In this life the believers at times receive a foretaste of the heavenly blessings, but soon after that there once again follows anxiety and pain. It will not be like that in eternal life. Instead, the heavenly joy and blessedness will endure side by side unfettered and indestructible.—Johann Gerhard, Schola Pietatis I:281.

To suggest that God is not angry against sin is a terrible error. That so many hypocrites or nonbelievers who still consider themselves Christians hold this belief proves that they have fallen even farther than the heathen world had already sunk. For all heathens believed there is a God who is angry against sin, and they thus wanted to appease Him with certain sacrifices.—C. F. W. Walther, God Grant It!, p. 283.