Who gets a spanking?

Faithful believers will not see God's wrath in the Tribulation.

When we will be taken and how long we will be in heaven may be open to debate, but we the bride, the faithful believers in Jesus, will not be on Earth during God's wrath.

For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus the Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:9

And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the coming wrath.
1 Thessalonians 1:10

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Romans 5:9

It is important to note that God's judgment of souls will not be done in anger or wrath but in perfect order and justice.  The wrath in these verses is His final act of sifting of the unbelieving world in the Great Tribulation.  This time is also known as the hour of testing.

Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from [Ek = from out of] the hour of the temptation [Peirasmou = proving trial], which shall come on all the world, to try them that dwell on the earth.
Revelation 3:10

There are several views as to when we may be taken (pre-trib, mid-trib, and others), but there is one view which I must strongly oppose; the post-tribulation Rapture.  Those who hold this belief either:

  1. Don't believe that there will be any wrath - or even a Tribulation
  2. Don't understand how truly horrible God's wrath will be
  3. Have a wrong view of the person of God
  4. Believe that He will protect us physically like Daniel's friends in the furnace

For the first case one must ignore, spiritualize, or allagorize a very long list of New and Old Testament scriptures to think that there won't be any wrath at all.  Scripture must be taken literally unless it is obviously not meant to be (parables, symbols, idioms).  As soon as someone starts to spiritualize or allagorize scripture we lose any basis of argument.  My answer to these folks is to go argue with God - I can't help you.

For the second case one must filter out all the descriptions of the wrath of God throughout the Bible to believe that it really won't be that bad.  The truth is that almost no one will survive.  Read what Jesus said:

For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.  And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved, but for the elect's (Israel's) sake those days shall be shortened.
Matthew 24:21-22

For the third case one must have a twisted view of God to believe that He will subject His beloved children to the horrors of His wrath.

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.
1 John 3:1a

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Matthew 7:11

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment [punishment].
1 John 4:18

In concept, the fourth case could be possible as I don't doubt God's capability to do anything - but I don't see any evidence for this.  Citing Noah's ark does not apply because He saved only a few within one vehicle, not spread out over the whole the Earth.  God will miraculously protect an obedient portion of Israel, but again, that will be in one location (near Petra).

Alas!  For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he [Israel, Jacob's new name] shall be saved out of it. [read the entire chapter for context]
Jeremiah 30:7

When you are in tribulation, and all these things are come on you, even in the latter days, if you turn to YHWH your God and shall be obedient to his voice; For YHWH your God is a merciful God; he will not forsake you, neither destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers which he swore to them.
Deuteronomy 4:30-31

And to the woman [Israel] were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time [3.5 years], from the face of the serpent.
Revelation 12:14

For a long and detailed description of what will happen in the Tribulation, read Revelation chapter 6 through 18.  Notice that the church is not mentioned once in these chapters.  Why?  Because we were taken up by then in chapters 4 and 5!

And they sang a new song [in heaven], saying,
"You are worthy to take the scroll,
and to open its seals thereof;
For You were slain,
and have redeemed us to God by Your blood
out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
and have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.
"
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands [between 104-199 million]...
Revelation 5:9-11

Who were redeemed by the blood out of every tribe and nation?  Us - We - People!  No other creation of God can or will ever be redeemed.

 


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