God’s Wrath versus Tribulation

 

 

There is a popular teaching that the last seven years of the age are God’s wrath.  But that’s not what the Bible says.  Another teaching is that the events Jesus describes as birth pains and great tribulation in Matthew 24 are God’s wrath.  That’s not what the Bible teaches either.  Great tribulation is not God’s wrath!  The purposes and timing and nature of these two events are entirely different!

 

The first mention of God’s wrath in Revelation is in regard to the trumpet judgments.  After the sixth seal is broken in Revelation 6:12 and the signs of verses 12-14 take place, mention is made in verse 17 that the “great day of their wrath has come.”  This is the first mention of God’s wrath.   If we follow the text down, we see that God’s wrath begins to be poured out at the first trumpet judgment.  Therefore the events of the seals are not God’s wrath! 

 

The fifth seal martyrs call out for vengeance from the Lord, but they are told to wait until an additional quota of martyrs comes in.  These additional martyrs come in Revelation Chapter 7, after the breaking of the sixth seal but before the seventh seal is broken.  Therefore the vengeance of God cannot take place until sometime after the sixth seal is broken.  Following an interlude of silence and a sealing of the 144000, God’s wrath begins in Revelation Chapter 8 with the blowing of the first trumpet.  There is no indication of wrath before the first trumpet judgment.

 

The first five seals have to do with events leading up to and including the great tribulation that Jesus identifies in Matthew 24, and the church is very much involved and on earth during this time of great tribulation.  Jesus compares the events leading up to great tribulation as the beginning of birth pains in Matthew 24:8.  The beginning of great tribulation matches with the breaking of the fourth seal, and the martyrs of the fifth seal are the result of the persecution that takes place during that great tribulation.

 

So we see that the period of great tribulation that Jesus talks about in Matthew 24:21 is not God’s wrath.  Great tribulation is directed toward the church in order to purify her and “birth” her as a bride without spot or wrinkle.  Hence we see a great multitude coming out of great tribulation in Revelation 7 having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

 

Wrath is God’s response to the unbelieving and unrepentant on earth who have brought this great tribulation upon the church.  Until we understand this difference between wrath and great tribulation, we will always be confused as to the calling and destiny of the church, and we will be confused when the events of the end of the age come upon us.  The church is not appointed to wrath.  But she can expect great tribulation to the extent that she does not repent (see the letter to the church at Thyatira where the members will be thrown into great tribulation if they do not repent).

 

In summary, the Bible mentions wrath only in association with the trumpets and the bowls.  Wrath is not associated with the seals.  Only great tribulation is associated with the seals.  God’s wrath begins with the first trumpet, and the trumpet judgments cover approximately one-third of the earth.  The bowls are the final wrath of God, and they cover the entire earth.  The church is on earth during the trumpets, but she is removed at the seventh trumpet just prior to the pouring out of the first bowl.  As the Israelites were protected from the plagues poured out on the Egyptians, so will the church be protected during the trumpet judgments.  These will be the days of the fulfillment of Psalm 91, when the judgments and plagues will not come near our tents provided we put our trust in God.