The Wrath of God
“and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, [that is] Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (1Th 1:10 NAS)
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1Th 5:9 NAS)
Most pre-tribers present these scriptures as if they in themselves are proof that God will remove His Church via rapture before the Great Tribulation. Mid-tribers try to distinguish between which part of the tribulation is the wrath of God and which is not. Being able to distinguish God’s wrath from bad things happening or tribulation is important if we are to understand what it means to be destined for wrath or not.
There are times that the Scripture specifically identifies something as the wrath of God. In the Book of Revelation the bowl judgments are identified as containing the wrath of God. Other times we are told of troublesome events that are not identified as God’s wrath, such as the famine the came on the whole earth during the time of the early church.
Assumptions and Logic
I point these things out to show that we need to be careful not to jump to conclusions and assume something is God’s wrath just because it is bad. Many bad things happen because evil men do evil things. Some of those things dramatically affect believer and non-believer alike.
Because there are no scriptures that declare Christians will be taken from the earth prior to the great tribulation, those who develop and defend the pre-trib rapture doctrine have to rely on logic and conjecture. So according to the pre-triber if we are not destined to wrath, and since we are to be caught up to meet the Lord, then we must be caught up before wrath is poured out on the earth.
Logic like this only makes sense if you first assume certain things to be true. You have to assume that when Jesus mentioned great tribulation that He was referring to God’s wrath. This is a huge assumption since tribulation and wrath have entirely different meanings. You also have to assume that God has chosen removal as a means of shielding us from His wrath as it is being poured out on the unbelievers. As the pre-triber continues to build his case his conjecture and reasoning relies on these assumptions to be true.
God’s Word is Truth
I don’t believe it was ever God’s intention that our understanding of Scripture would be contingent on man’s logic. It is what God has declared that is truth, not what man might deduce from it. Every assumption we add to our conjecture leads us that much further from the pure unadulterated truth. Just because we are not destined for God’s wrath does not mean that God has no other option than to remove us prior to His outpouring of wrath. There are examples in Scripture where He did otherwise. All of the plagues in Egypt happened while the Children of Israel were still living there.
Taken in Judgment
“34 “I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. 35 “there will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. 36 [[“two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.”]]” (Lu 17:34-36 NAS)
For many years this was a favorite of the pre-triber, supposedly portraying the rapture of the Church. Then someone considered the context and read what the next verse states.
“and answering they *said to him, “where, lord?” and he said to them, “where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.”” (Lu 17:37 NAS)
From the reading of this verse it seems like some are taken in judgment and those left behind are the ones that are preserved. This certainly would be a way for God to pour out His wrath without Christians being recipient of that wrath.
38 “For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Mt 24:38-39 NAS)
Again we see that those who were taken, were taken in judgment. Those who were left were those that were saved.
God is not limited to our removal from earth before wrath is poured out. In the Book of Revelation we see a seal placed on the 144,000 so that they would not be harmed. Rather than limiting God we should limit ourselves to only that which God has revealed in His Word. We should believe by faith in God’s word that we will not be the recipients of His wrath and trust Him to accomplish it.
Tribulation
Probably the most erroneous mistake the pre-tribers make is to equate God’s wrath and tribulation. Wrath and tribulation are distinct words with distinct meanings, they are not synonymous. In fact Christians are told more than once that we will have tribulation, sometimes bad tribulations.
Much has been said in the Scripture concerning tribulation. Tribulation is a Biblical term used many times in the Bible. But the Great Tribulation is a theological term, used by theologians to identify that end time period when a lot of bad things happen.
Here is the definition of tribulation — adversary, adversity, affliction, anguish, distress, tribulation, trouble. Tribulation can come from different sources. For the Christian tribulation usually comes from the world. Those that are an enemy of God have always brought tribulation to those who bear His name. Tribulation can also come from God as we read in Revelation 2:22.
Wrath
The wrath of God on the other hand, is the outpouring of God’s anger in punishment or judgment. When the Scriptures talk of the day of God’s wrath they refer to a time of climactic and final judgment. We have the promise in the Scripture that we as believers are not destined to be recipients of God’s wrath.
The contention of the pre-tribers is that because we are not destined to God’s wrath the Church will not go through the period of great tribulation. This assumes that great tribulation and God’s wrath are equivalent. If that period spoken of by Jesus was of the time of God’s final punishment the Jesus would have described it as a day of God’s wrath. Instead, the distinguishing feature of this time period is great tribulation. As is typical with any doctrine or teaching that has no solid scriptural foundation, the conclusion is justified through logic. Logically what tribulation could be worse than God’s wrath? So the great tribulation must be the outpouring of God’s wrath.
I contend that God never intended that the understanding of his Word to contingent upon man’s logic. I still believe that God never intended his Word to be an intricate puzzle we had to solve. That is why I lean to the clear reading of scripture, and when Jesus said it was a time of great tribulation He did not mean a time of God’s wrath. When God tells us what He is going to do, he doesn’t always tell us how he is going to do it. The important thing to remember is that building Bible doctrine on our logical assumptions is just wrong.
You Shall Have Tribulation
“”these things I have spoken to you, so that in me you may have peace. in the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”” (Joh 16:33 NAS)
Now that is a cheerful thought, we shall have tribulation. The popularity of the pre-trib rapture theory rests on the comfort people experience when they are told that they will not have to endure tribulation. God just won’t allow his children to suffer so, would He? Yet Jesus teaching was intended to prepare us so we could endure tribulation and persecution. To the Church in Smyrna Jesus told that they would have tribulation 10 days. His instructions were to be faithful to death, for they would receive a crown.
“”if you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” (Joh 15:19 NAS)
“”remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ if they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.” (Joh 15:20 NAS)
“strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of god.”” (Ac 14:22 NAS)
Even though we have been told to be prepared for tribulation and persecution, the pre-tribers will contend that the Great Tribulation is different and contains the wrath of God so therefore God has to remove His Church before these events take place.
Again we are confronted with man’s logic. But what does the Scripture say?
To start with I am not sure The Great Tribulation is defined in Scripture as the event scholars have portrayed it. It is just an assumption that the great tribulation Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24 is a seven year period. What distinguishes this time of tribulation is that there never was greater tribulation before this time nor will there be greater tribulation after this time. This is what makes it distinct. That is why it seem apparent that this verse in Daniel is speaking of the same time.
“”now at that time Michael, the great prince who stands guard over the sons of your people, will arise. and there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.” (Da 12:1 NAS)
“‘Alas! for that day is great, there is none like it; and it is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved from it.” (Jer 30:7 NAS)
Keep Focus on the Word
As far as tribulation goes, this is as bad as it gets. As far as assumption go this is probably as bad as it can get also. Scholars assume this is a seven year period, because there is one inferred in end time prophesy. But this is only the beginning of their assumptions, for the entire Book of Revelation from the fourth chapter on has been stuffed under the category of The Great Tribulation. Books have been written, sermons preached, movies made, all built on man’s logic, assumptions, and inferences. Time and space would not allow me to deal with them all here. God has given us some very important revelations concerning end time events. We would do well to focus on what he has said rather than what He might have inferred.
If we follow Jesus dialogue in the 24 chapter of Matthew we will see that He not only told us about this time of tribulation, but he also gave us important instruction concerning this time. One of the things that seems to have been emphasized is the warning about false, christs, prophets, and teachers. If Jesus gave us instruction for this time, how can we as the pre-tribers do, assume we won’t be here during this time?
“1 ¶ therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with god through our lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of god. 3 and not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of god has been poured out within our hearts through the holy spirit who was given to us.” (Ro 5:1-5 NAS)
Paul had a strange attitude about tribulation, but that was because he saw the good that came out of it. Isn’t that what we see in the Book of Revelation?
“after these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands;” (Re 7:9 NAS)
“13 ¶ then one of the elders answered, saying to me, “these who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?” 14 I said to him, “my lord, you know.” and he said to me, “these are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the lamb.” (Re 7:13-14 NAS)
Fear God
Tribulation is not what we need to fear if we trust God. It is the wrath of the Lamb that we need to fear. The results of God dealing out just punishment on those who have rejected righteousness is not going to be a pretty sight. God clearly distinguishes between wrath and tribulation. Pre-trib scholars have muddled it all together. Notice I said pre-trib scholars. Mid-trib scholars have their agenda too. And even post-tribers do too. My point is that if we approach God’s Word with a preconceive position, then everything we look at will have a biased slant. Our approach needs to be a search for truth and God help us conform to it. If we stand in righteousness before Him we don’t need to worry about wrath. Neither do we need to be concerned about how he will isolate us from that wrath.
The Blessed Hope
“looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great god and savior, Christ Jesus,” (Tit 2:13 NAS)
According to some Church’s doctrines the blessed hope referred to in these verses is the pre-trib rapture of the saints. They assert this even though the rapture is not mentioned in these verses, nor is the tribulation. It is interesting to note that never once in Scripture are we encouraged to look forward to the rapture of the Church. Why? Could it be because the rapture is not the main event? What we are instructed is to be ready and alert for is the Coming of the Lord.
Our anticipation of Christ’s return is never linked with the great tribulation. I have come to the conclusion that it is an unhealthy perspective to focus on tribulation but rather our focus should be on the glorious appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ. Rather than referring to a post-tribulation appearing of Christ, we should refer to His pre-millennial appearing. It is true that when He appears it will be the end of our tribulation. But the focus the Scripture gives is that we will be saved from the wrath of the Lamb.
In Thessalonians it actually describes His appearing as the end of our tribulation.
“therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of god for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.” (2Th 1:4 NAS)
“7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know god and to those who do not obey the gospel of our lord Jesus.” (2Th 1:7-8 NAS)
When do the troubled (or those in tribulation) find rest? When the Lord is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. It is actually pretty clear by just reading it as written.
God’s Word, Handle With Care
So what do pre-trib scholars do with all the seemingly clear references to Christ coming that includes our rescue from tribulation and vengeance on them that don’t know God? They ignore, they rationalize, and they use the argument of silence.
I am not going to take the time to deal with every argument used by pre-tribers. What I really want to do is get us back on track to handling God’s Word with the proper respect. Just thinking about how we want people to take our words would help. Do you want people to simply believe what you say, or would you want them to look for hidden meanings? If they don’t understand what you mean, do you want them to ask questions, or would you rather they assumed what you meant? I think that God feels much as we do. He simply wants us to take Him at His Word.
Teachers are a gift from God and they assist in our understanding, but we must hold them to principle. Show me the clear reading of the Word, where does it declare what you are teaching me. Developed doctrine is only of value if it is founded on the clear reading of Scripture.
“many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.” (Ps 34:19 NAS)