The promise of Deliverance from Wrath
is One of the main reasons
some people believe
the Church must be Raptured
before the time of the Great Tribulation.
Let's take a closer look at the scriptures referenced,
and see if this interpretation is accurate.
Point # 2 in a list of 7 Reasons for a Pre-Trib Rapture is:
2. *Promise of Deliverance from Wrath:*
- **1 Thessalonians 1:10**:
- **1 Thessalonians 1:10**:
Jesus delivers us from the wrath to come.
- **1 Thessalonians 5:9**:
- **1 Thessalonians 5:9**:
God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation.
- **Revelation 3:10**:
- **Revelation 3:10**:
The church in Philadelphia is promised
to be kept from the "hour of trial"
that will come upon the whole world.
It is clear then that
if Christians go through the Tribulation,
we would suffer the wrath of God
because only the 144,000 sealed Jewish believers
will not suffer the wrath of God.
Therefore, we must conclude that the Rapture
Therefore, we must conclude that the Rapture
must be prior to the Tribulation
because scripture clearly declares
because scripture clearly declares
"God did not appoint us to wrath,
but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ"
(1 Thessalonians 5:9).
Thanks to David Floyd
for this 2nd of his 7 Reasons
he posted in defense
of the Pre-Trib Rapture theory.
I think the confusion centers around
what "wrath" is mentioned in the letters
from Paul to the Thessalonians.
And what the "hour of trial" is
referenced in Revelation
and to whom exactly it is to be applied to.
We need to look closely,
at what part of the Great Tribulation events
are God's Wrath.
And whether God is able to protect His chosen,
without "removing them" from the planet.
First let's look at the passages in 1st Thessalonians.
Chapter 1 and verse 10
which reads,
and to wait for His Son from heaven,
whom He raised from the dead,
even Jesus who delivers us
from the wrath to come.
And in Chapter 5 verse 9,
We read,
For God did not appoint us to wrath,
but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Reading the rest of the passage,
in verse 10, helps clarify it further,
It says,
who died for us,
that whether we wake or sleep,
we should live together
with Him.
These passages are referencing that we as believers
are to be saved from the ultimate wrath of God.
And instead we "obtain salvation" or the eternal life
promised to those who believe in Christ.
I've covered this in detail in previous posts.
One of the clearest passages
I know is John 3:36,
which reads,
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life;
and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life,
but the wrath of God abides on him.
and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life,
but the wrath of God abides on him.
That is what we are saved from,
not the wrath of man or Satan.
The Thessalonians were experiencing
persecution and suffering.
1 Thessalonians 1:6
we read,
And you became followers of us and of the Lord,
having received the word in much affliction,
with joy of the Holy Spirit,
2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 clearly shows these believers
were already experiencing suffering and tribulation.
There is no promise of the Church being excluded
from the same type of treatment our Lord experienced.
Let's Read the passage for Context
and a deeper understanding,
We are bound to thank God always
for you,brethren, as it is fitting,
because your faith grows exceedingly,
and the love of every one of you all
abounds toward each other,
4 so that we ourselves boast of you
among the churches of God
for your patience and faith
in all your persecutions and tribulations
that you endure,
5 which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God,
that you may be counted worthy
of the kingdom of God,
for which you also suffer;
6 since it is a righteous thing with God
to repay with tribulation
those who trouble you,
7 and to give you who are troubled
rest with us
when the Lord Jesus is
revealed from heaven
with His mighty angels,
in flaming fire
taking vengeance on those
who do not know God,
and on those who do not obey the gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 These shall be punished
with everlasting destruction
from the presence of the Lord
and from the glory of His power,
10 when He comes,
in that Day,
to be glorified in His saints
and to be admired among all those who believe,
because our testimony among you
was believed.
I would point out several keys things in this passage:
1st ) Verse 4 -
They were experiencing persecution and tribulation
2nd ) Verse 5 -
They were counted worth by virtue of there suffering
3rd ) Verse 7 -
They are promised REST
when the Lord Jesus
is revealed from heaven.
- With angels - in flaming fire -
taking vengeance on those
who do not know God
4th ) Verse 10 -
When He comes, in that Day,
to be glorified in His Saints
I'll provide a LINK in the description to another Video
for more discussion on what is the Wrath of God
and to whom it is to be applied.
****
Is a Pre-Trib Rapture of the Church required to save believers from Wrath?
and BLOG post,
****
Now let's take a closer look at the passage in Revelation
to the church at Philadelphia,
and see what it might be saying to us.
Let's start by reading verses 10 and 11
in Revelation chapter 3
It Says,
Because you have kept My command to persevere,
I also will keep you from the hour of trial
which shall come upon the whole world,
to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 Behold, I am coming quickly!
Hold fast what you have,
that no one may take your crown.
So, we see Jesus promising to "KEEP" them
from a period of trial.
First
I would like to point out that this KEEPING
does not require a pre-trib rapture
or the removal of the those being Kept.
This idea of Keeping meaning to Protect
is supported by other passages
where Jesus used the same terminology.
Such as
John chapter 17 verses 11 and 12
Now I am no longer in the world,
but these are in the world,
and I come to You.
Holy Father, keep through Your name
those whom You have given Me,
that they may be one as We are.
12 While I was with them in the world,
I kept them in Your name.
Those whom You gave Me I have kept;
and none of them is lost
except the son of perdition,
that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
And my favorite,
John chapter 17 verse 15
I do not pray
that You should take them out of the world,
but that You should keep them
from the evil one.
Combined with John 17 verse 20 in the same prayer,
I do not pray for these alone,
but also for those who will believe in Me
through their word;
My point is simply this.
Keeping implies protection,
and this does not require a Rapture
before the Great Tribulation,
nor is that likely what Jesus meant
in His message to the church
in Philadelphia.
Looking at His very next words in Verse 11
of Revelation chapter 3,
He states,
Behold, I am coming quickly!
Hold fast what you have,
that no one may take your crown.
This sounds like encouragement to persevere.
To be expectantly waiting for
the promised return of Christ.
I don't see anything about being raptured in this passage.
It should also be mentioned
that the term "hour" implies a short period of time,
or a specific event.
More likely referencing the 7th Seal
with its 7 trumpets.
This would be at the very end
or the climax of the Great Tribulation.
And if you read through Revelation chapter 16,
you'll see the bowls of wrath are specifically
upon the unbelievers who received the mark of the beast.
Jesus used the term "hour" many times,
with most of them found in the Gospel written by John.
Such a John chapter 17 verse 1
which reads
Jesus spoke these words,
lifted up His eyes to heaven,
and said:
"Father, the hour has come.
Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also
may glorify You,
I will provide LINKS to additional Blog Posts
and Videos on this subject.
And will combine this 2nd Reason discussion
into a playlist covering the 7 parts series on
the 7 common Reasons
that are taught to support a Pre-trib Rapture.
Thanks for making it to the end of this video,
please leave your comments below,
and click on the Like button,
to help others find this information.
Maranatha.
Saved by Grace,
Andrew Cross
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,
not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some,
but exhorting one another,
and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10:23-25
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