God s Wrath Upon Christians?

God s Wrath Upon Christians? The aim of this paper is to answer two fundamental questions that many pose about God s wrath. 1) Will God s elect (those who believe in Christ for salvation, whether Jewish or not) be on earth during the events of God s wrath? 2) Will everyone on earth die during God s acts of wrath in the end times? Before attempting to answer these two questions, I d like to first discuss what we mean by God s Wrath. As is the case with many key words in the Bible, this word, wrath has multiple connotations. I don t mean that the word has multiple definitions, such as a homonym. I mean that it can refer to three different biblical applications, according to God s will. First, the word wrath is synonymous with anger, fury, vengeance, rage, displeasure, and judgment. I believe that there are two types of God s wrath, which are expressed in three ways. The two types of wrath I speak of are Temporary and Eternal. These terms describe the effects of God s wrath, whether its effects are temporary or eternal for the recipient. The three expressions I refer to are given according to whom the recipients of God s wrath are. These three recipients may be: an individual; a group or nation; or the entire world at once. Naturally, with two possible effects upon three classes of recipients, there is some variability that we would expect to encounter. In fact, looking at it mathematically, we could define six variations of the possible outcomes. For example, we might expect His wrath to be temporary for an individual or eternal for an individual. Now, whether this actually plays out for all of the options or not, we will just have to wait and see. Personally, I don t expect His wrath to be eternal for a nation, since a nation is a temporary entity by nature. Still, I hope you have the idea. We need to examine what type of wrath we are seeing when we read about it in the Lord s Word. This is really a very necessary process to engage in when we attempt to understand God s wrath. With that in mind, let us attempt to answer our first question. Will God s elect (those who believe in Christ for salvation, whether Jewish or not) be on earth during the events of God s wrath? Another way to ask this question might be, Will God s elect suffer His wrath? Or still another way might be, Will Christians suffer God s wrath? And this is really what we want to know, as Christians, isn t it? Well, this is where our definitions of God s wrath become very important. If we are talking about God s eternal wrath, the answer is no. If we are talking about God s temporary wrath, the answer is maybe. If God sends an event upon the earth and some of His children are killed in it but go on into eternal bliss with God, then the event was not an eternal act. At this point, it might be helpful to point out that all people are sinful and therefore must suffer death of the mortal body. And since each of us has an expiration date, the question can be asked, what does it

matter how we die? Does it really matter if death comes through decay, an accident, a disease, or a tsunami? Isn t the result the same, regardless of the circumstance? When we say that Christians are not destined for God s wrath (which is a true statement), I think it s extremely important to realize that the kind of wrath we mean is His eternal wrath, not His temporary wrath. When Adam and Eve sinned, God declared that the consequence for it was death of the mortal body. And this is an example of God s grace, really, because it means that we will not have to be separated from God in our sinful state for all eternity. He has determined that sin can be dealt with through the process of killing the physical nature of man. Of course, that isn t the entirety of the cure. Christ s substitutionary death on the cross is also key. But we can plainly see that it is through death that salvation comes. Therefore, death, in and of itself, is merely a vehicle for cleansing the human race. This is why the tree of life was off limits to mankind in the garden. 1 st Thessalonians 5: 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Verse 9, above, is clearly referring to God s eternal wrath, since it is contrasted with His great salvation through Christ, which is also eternal. Therefore, this verse does not address the subject of God s temporary wrath and has no place in the discussion of His end times acts of temporary wrath upon the entire world in general, and Satan s temporary kingdom specifically. Also, wrath does not always end in death for the recipient. Sometimes its purpose is to get us to repent. In fact, I would argue, every time God sends His wrath upon his people; it is to get them to repent. But whether His temporary wrath is to kill or frighten, it is not intended to have an eternal effect. In other words, no matter what the effect of His temporary wrath may be on the believer (including physical death), it should not be confused with His eternal wrath, for which there is no repentance. Before we look at whether Christians will be on earth at the time of His temporary wrath upon the entire world, we should take a quick look at Satan s wrath, which is commonly confused with God s wrath. Bonus Question Is the Great Tribulation God s Wrath or Satan s Wrath? Revelation 12: 13 And when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. 14 But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. 15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with a flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her a time, and times, and half a time 1 + 2 + ½ 3 ½ years 42 months 1260 days This is the length of time for the period of earth s history known as the Great Tribulation, which begins halfway through the 7-year period known as the Tribulation. offspring, on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea. (ESV) In the passage above, we see the dragon, which is Satan, being finally and permanently thrown out of heaven. Up to this point, he has been allowed to enter heaven and accuse the brethren (Rev 12:10), but

now that he can no longer enter heaven he begins a violent tirade against the earth, starting with the people of God. The Woman represents the Jewish people who had given birth to the male child (v. 13), that is, Jesus Christ. This tirade of Satan will last for 3 ½ years (or 42 months, or 1,260 days) and is known as the Great Tribulation. The great tribulation should be known as Satan s wrath, for that is what it is. Our Lord spoke of this time to His four closest disciples on the Mount of Olives and is recorded in Matthew 24-25, Mark 13, and Luke 21. We call this teaching the Olivet Discourse. As Satan s army, led by the antichrist, surrounds Jerusalem, the Jews are able to escape into the wilderness (or mountains?) by way of airlift. God supernaturally protects His people, the Jews, while they are in their place of safety that had been prepared for them. In this place, they are cared for and fed for the duration of the great tribulation (3 ½ years). When Satan realizes the futility of trying to wipe out the Jews, he then turns to God s other children, the Christians, to make war on them. Matthew 24: 15 So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (ESV) According to the Lord, when this attack begins it will be swift and must be taken seriously. It would seem that the only ones in Judah who escape are those who are taken to the hideaway in the wilderness. When Christians see the Jews attacked in this manner, we should take precautions ourselves and head for the remote places as well. Because we will be next! By the way, will other people who are not God s people but live in remote places be spared from this attack as well? It s food for thought. Daniel 9: 26b A ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end. 27 The ruler will make a treaty with the people for a period of one set of seven, but after half this time, he will put an end to the sacrifices and offerings. And as a climax to all his terrible deeds, he will set up a sacrilegious object that causes desecration, until the fate decreed for this defiler is finally poured out on him. (NLT) So, in Matthew 24:22 and Revelation 12:17 we see that believers in Christ, called the Elect, will be on the earth during the Great Tribulation, which is Satan s wrath. This is confirmed in many passages of scripture, including Revelation 7 (which shows both Jews and Christians), 13, and 20:4. Jews and Christians have a special bond in the Bible. Both are God s people. Both are God s Elect. But since Christ s first advent, only believers in Him are His Elect. We know Abomination that Causes Desolation Dan. 9:27, Mt. 24, 2 nd Thess. 2, & Rev. 13:15 work together to give us a picture of a great statue that is created by the false prophet in the likeness of the antichrist, which everyone must bow down to and worship. When this statue is placed in the Jewish temple, all who believe in Christ must prepare themselves for the worst persecution ever known to mankind. It signals the beginning of The Great Tribulation. this to be true because a Jew must believe in Christ for salvation, just as anyone else must. But this is a topic for another time. For now, we just see that believers are present during the Great Tribulation (Satan s wrath). They are attacked. They are killed. But I digress; back to our first question.

Now, are Christians still on earth during God s wrath, or are they taken up (raptured) after Satan s wrath (the Great Tribulation, which is before God s wrath)? Will God s elect (those who believe in Christ for salvation, whether Jewish or not) be on earth during the events of God s wrath? First, we turn again to the Olivet Discourse. On the Mount of Olives, Jesus said, 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Mt 24:29-31, ESV) Here, Jesus uses words like after, and then, to set out a timeline. He says, Immediately after the tribulation Doesn t common sense and a natural understanding of communication dictate that whatever comes next in His statement will be what follows the tribulation in His timeline? Sure. And what will immediately follow the tribulation? Something that causes the following effects: the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken Do we know what this event is? Well, since this phrase has been used in the Bible before, I think we do. Let s look at a couple of verses from the Old Testament to see how this phrase has been used. Isaiah 13: 9 For see, the day of the Lord is coming the terrible day of his fury and fierce anger. The land will be made desolate, and all the sinners destroyed with it. 10 The heavens will be black above them; the stars will give no light. The sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will provide no light. 11 I, the Lord, will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their sin. I will crush the arrogance of the proud and humble the pride of the mighty. 12 I will make people scarcer than gold more rare than the fine gold of Ophir. 13 For I will shake the heavens. The earth will move from its place when the Lord of Heaven s Armies displays his wrath in the day of his fierce anger. (Isaiah 13:9-13) The Day of the Lord In the end times, this phrase is used to show a 1,000- year epoch that spans all of the following: God s wrath The return of Christ The resurrection of the dead in Christ The rapture of the living in Christ The death of antichrist and his false prophet The imprisonment of Satan The millennium The release of Satan The final rebellion of man The final judgment of mankind and demons The destruction of heaven and earth The creation of a new heaven and earth When the phrase is used for specific Old Testament events, they may serve as a model for these events. Joel 2: 30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

The above two passages show two things: 1) This event shown in the sun, moon and stars is indicative of God s wrath; 2) Among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls (His Elect). In the New Testament we read more on this. Revelation 8: 12 I watched as the Lamb broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as dark as black cloth, and the moon became as red as blood. 13 Then the stars of the sky fell to the earth like green figs falling from a tree shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky was rolled up like a scroll, and all of the mountains and islands were moved from their places. 15 Then everyone the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person all hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 And they cried to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive? (Revelation 8:12-17) Jesus has just confirmed for us (through John) that this event involving the sun, moon, and stars signals the day of God s wrath. Therefore, we can conclude that the phrase used by Jesus on the Mount of Olives regarding the sun, moon and stars is definitely referring to God s wrath. So Jesus was, in effect, telling His disciples that immediately after the tribulation will be God s wrath. And what follows His wrath? Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Mt 24:30, ESV) The return of our King, Creator and Savior, Jesus Christ will be seen by all in heaven and on earth, just after He sends his temporary wrath upon the world. And it is not until this glorious event that the elect are gathered from the heavens (if deceased) and the earth, or four winds (if living). And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Mt 24:31, ESV) Paul confirms this in his epistles to the Thessalonians. 1 Thessalonians 4: 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep [by way of resurrection]. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first [by way of resurrection]. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air [by way of rapture], and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. 2 nd Thessalonians 2: 1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts

himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. In his second letter, Paul teaches that the return of the Lord, the resurrection of the dead in Christ, and the rapture of the living in Christ will not occur until after the Great Tribulation. He does this by way of showing how the antichrist must first enter the temple and defile it, which we now know happens at the beginning of the Great Tribulation. Paul continues, 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. (2 nd Thessalonians 2:8-10) So, we have seen, by reading Matthew 24:29-31, that God s wrath immediately follows the Great Tribulation, and after God s wrath the Lord returns, and upon the Lord s return He gathers all of His elect to Himself, whether they are dead or alive. We can also say with absolute certainty that Christians will definitely be on earth during God s temporary wrath upon it. But what about others who are on earth during God s wrath? Will they survive it? In other words Will everyone on earth die during God s acts of wrath in the end times? As we have just seen, there will indeed be believers on earth during God s wrath, and yes, some of them survive it until the Lord s return. But, again, what about others besides believers who are on earth during God s wrath? Will any survive? This is a simple question, but the answer is not so simple. Well, the short answer is yes, but the way we arrive at that answer is not so easy. There are verses that seem to indicate that all people will perish as a result of God s wrath. However, there are other verses that seem to indicate that some will survive it. Which is true, and how can we tell? First, we must acknowledge that God s word is true and not self-contradictory. Therefore, we must take the verses that make us believe that all will die and contrast them with the ones that indicate that some will live. In this manner, using a plain meaning interpretation of the text, we may find our answer. Isaiah 26: 20 Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by. 21 For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain. Verse 20 seems to indicate that God s people will survive God s fury (wrath). Verse 21 indicates that God will punish the inhabitants of the earth, but it does not indicate that all will perish. Revelation 11:18 The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.

Verse 18 is difficult for some because it uses a very broad brush, covering the tribulation (Satan s wrath), the temporary wrath of God, the eternal judgment, and the reward of the saints. And it does this in a manner that is not chronological. Let s just read it again with the events tagged: The nations raged [TRIBULATION], but your wrath came [TEMPORARY WRATH], and the time for the dead to be judged [ETERNAL WRATH], and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great [SAINTS REWARD], and for destroying the destroyers of the earth [BOTH TEMPORARY AND ETERNAL WRATH]. A simple timeline would look like this: Return of Christ Tribulation Great Tribulation God s Wrath Resurrection Rapture Saints Reward Millennium Final Rebellion Final Judgment Joining the parts of the verse with the timeline would look like this: Tribulation Great Tribulation God s Wrath Return of Christ Resurrection Rapture Saints Reward Millennium Final Rebellion Final Judgment The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth. This diagram illustrates how we need to be careful when applying a timeline to scripture, which has a tendency to skip around and merge events that occur years or ages apart sometimes thousands of years. It also shows how important it is to distinguish between God s temporary and eternal acts of wrath. [How do we arrive at the timeline above? This question must be answered.] In Isaiah 13:9, quoted above, it would seem that all sinners are killed by God s wrath. However, if Isaiah were merely choosing a word to contrast with elect, then it may be permitted to deny this as a contradiction to other verses that indicate some people surviving who are not God s elect. What I mean is that this verse may allow some people to survive who did not take the mark of the beast nor worship the antichrist, and who did not accept Christ as Savior either. In other words, Isaiah may simply be attempting to identify the ones who go beyond flatly rejecting God and His Christ, and even worshiping Satan, while not addressing those who remain unaffiliated. If we do not allow this interpretation, then we have a solid contradiction, which the Bible does not allow. Very soon, I will show why it is important to allow Isaiah to be referring to a very specific group of unbelievers rather than to all unbelievers. After all, on the face of it, since believers are also sinners, and they clearly didn t die from God s wrath, there must be some provision for others to live as well who could be called sinners. If nothing else, we could simply take Isaiah s prophecy literally, and have it apply strictly to Babylon (as it says in v. 1 and v. 19). And in this way sidestep any contradiction at all, while still allowing other people in other parts of the world to survive God s wrath, even if not already pardoned through the cross of Christ.

As we continue, please keep in mind that God s wrath can be either temporary or eternal. We must allow the context of the passage to dictate which one we are reading about. So, why am I being so adamant about God s temporary wrath not killing everyone on earth who is not a believer? It is mostly because of passages like these: Revelation 4:4 Then I saw thrones, and the people sitting on them had been given the authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their testimony about Jesus and for proclaiming the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his statue, nor accepted his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This verse not only proves that God s elect are killed during the Great Tribulation (the only period of time when the Mark is forced upon everyone) but it also begs the question, over whom are they reigning? Is it that they are reigning over each other? That might seem plausible, but for another passage that we will examine next. Plus, another question that arises, in my head anyway, is what if someone does not take the Mark of the Beast and doesn t worship the antichrist, but still has not accepted Christ? As I ve alluded to earlier, there may be a class of sinners who have not completely turned their back on God, nor completely accepted him either. Could there be a special arrangement for these people who survive the wraths of both Satan and God? I think so. Revelation 20: 7 When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be let out of his prison. 8 He will go out to deceive the nations called Gog and Magog in every corner of the earth. He will gather them together for battle a mighty army, as numberless as sand along the seashore. 9 And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them. This passage is key to my position. For, in it I see a class of people who are quite important to the millennial reign of Christ. We must not lose sight of some very important facts about the saints, Christ, and His millennial reign. 1. Upon Christ s return, all believers, whether dead or alive (resurrected or raptured), will be transformed into sinless, perfect beings who share in Christ s glory. 2. Saints in this time are like the angels, neither giving in marriage nor conceiving children. 3. A glorified saint would NEVER even think of rebelling against the Lord. 4. Saints are by now a part of God s kingdom, living in His house, and not under His iron scepter (because such heavy-handed rule would not be necessary with us). 5. The nations that come to pay homage to the Lord are not the ones who are already there in His court. So, for these reasons alone it is imperative that some sinners survive God s wrath, who procreate and form nations (which saints cannot do), are subjugated to Christ s Iron Scepter (which saints do not need), and are eventually fooled again by that old serpent, the devil, and compelled to revolt against God (which saints would never do). Will any of these people have the opportunity to receive salvation? I don t know, but I hope so. Hopefully, they will be given the blessing of accepting Christ and thereby be glorified at the time of their acceptance in the millennium. Who knows? Q: Will God s elect (those who believe in Christ for salvation, whether Jewish or not) be on earth during the events of God s wrath? A: Yes!

Q: Will everyone on earth die during God s acts of wrath in the end times? A: No! Bonus Question: Is the Great Tribulation God s Wrath or Satan s Wrath? A: Satan s wrath! I hope this study has opened the reader s eyes to the truth of scripture: There is no pretribulational rapture; the tribulation is not God s eternal wrath; Christians are not subject to God s eternal wrath; the events of God s wrath upon the entire world are not His eternal wrath.