What does ‘Deliver us from the wrath to come’ mean to a post-tribulationist

Pre-tribulationists maintain that the passages below teach that Christians will not go through the tribulation period since the tribulation involves God’s wrath.

 1Th 1:9-10 NKJV  For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,  10  and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

1Th 5:9 NKJV  For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

The following attempts to explain why this view is incorrect.

Conclusions

1. For the pre-tribulationist view to be sustained, they must provide evidence that the ‘wrath to come’ mentioned is referring particularly to the whole tribulation period.  As we will see, the passages in Thessalonians could refer to the tribulation period (based on Revelation 15 and 16) or it could be referring to the final judgment at the end of the tribulation (based on many verses throughout the NT including Revelation).
2. The following verses describe how the wrath of God is described in the NT.  What is clear is that in the majority of instances the wrath of God does not refer to the tribulation period but rather to a final judgment.  This provides sufficient cause to place 1 Th 1.9-10 and 1 Th 5.9 into the ‘unclear’ category and so cannot be used as a proof text to show that Christians are removed prior to the tribulation.
3. Because there is insufficient information given in 1 Thessalonians, it is impossible to say with certainty that these passages are promising deliverance from the tribulation period.
4. I am not maintaining that God’s wrath is never poured out during the tribulation.  Revelation 16.1 states that it is.  What I am attempting to show is that there is a ‘day of wrath’ referred to in Revelation and elsewhere that is different to the Bowl judgments of Revelation.
5. If this is true, then the passages in Thessalonians may be understood to be referring to this final day of God’s wrath.  Post-tribulationists affirm what 1 Thessalonians 1.9 teaches – Christians are delivered from this ‘day of wrath’ through Christ.

1. Post-tribulationists agree that God does not pour his wrath upon Christians

There is no scripture that supports God’s wrath being poured upon believers

2. God has made a distinction between the godly when sending plagues upon the ungodly.

Exo 8:22-23 NKJV  And in that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, in which My people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, in order that you may know that I am the LORD in the midst of the land.  23  I will make a difference between My people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall be.” ‘ “

Psa 78:30-31 NKJV  They were not deprived of their [Israel’s] craving [in the wilderness]; But while their food was still in their mouths,  31  The wrath of God came against them, And slew the stoutest of them, And struck down the choice men of Israel.

God is well able to strike the earth with plagues as described in Revelation and yet leave His own people untouched.

3. God does make a distinction between the unrighteous and the righteous in Revelation

Rev 16:2 NKJV  So the first went and poured out his bowl upon the earth, and a foul and loathsome sore came upon the men who had the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image.

Rev 16:6 NKJV  For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, And You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.”

Rev 16:10 NKJV  Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom became full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues because of the pain.

Rev 16:12 NKJV  Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared.

In these instances it is clear that the wrath poured out in the Bowl judgments is limited to a particular category.  This is exactly what we would expect based on the plagues of the Exodus.

4. The term ‘wrath of God’ almost always refers to the final judgment, not the tribulation.

People who would not see the tribulation would still experience the wrath of God. 

Mat 3:7 NKJV  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Rom 2:5 NKJV  But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

The wrath of God is presently abiding on unbelievers:

Joh 3:36 NKJV  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.”

God’s wrath is presently revealed against ungodliness:

Rom 1:18 NKJV  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

5. There is no compelling reason in the 1 Thessalonians verses to interpret the passages as referring to the Great Tribulation

Neither the verses or the context of the verses in 1Th 1:9-10 or 1Th 5:9 give any compelling reasons to assume that the ‘wrath to come’ is referring specifically to the Great Tribulation.  It should be noted that a compelling reason is required because the general usage of the term ‘wrath of God’ does not refer to the tribulation.

6. The ‘wrath to come’ mentioned in this passage may be referring to the final judgment at the end of the tribulation.

Rev 6:17 NKJV  For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

This verse comes at the end of the sixth seal.  The sky has receded as a scroll, every island and mountain has been removed from its place (6.14).  People across the earth have hidden themselves in caves from Him who sits on the throne.  This is clearly talking about Christ’s visible return to judge the earth at the end of the tribulation period.

Rev 11:18 NKJV  The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

This verse clearly indicates again that God’s wrath has come at the time when the dead are judged.  This occurs at the end of the tribulation period.

Post-tribulationists believe that just prior to this point in time the church will be raptured.   So it is after these events that we are told that ‘the great day of His wrath has come’.  Clearly then, since believers have been raptured, they have also been delivered from the wrath that is to come in those final hours.

7. How the word ‘wrath’ is used in the NT

The following verses support that the ‘wrath to come’ is referring to the final judgment rather than the tribulation period.

Mat 3:7 NKJV  But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Luk 3:7 NKJV  Then he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

It is very unlikely that John had the final 3.5 years of the tribulation in mind but rather the day when God will judge the secrets of all people’s hearts.

Joh 3:36 NKJV  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.”

Clearly this passage is not speaking of the tribulation period but rather the fact that all men who reject Christ will receive the wrath of God.

Rom 1:18 NKJV  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

The wrath of God represented here is similar to John 3.36 in that all ungodly men are under that wrath.  Both pre and post-tribulationists agree that Christians are delivered from this wrath.

Rom 2:5-6 NKJV  But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,  6  who “WILL RENDER TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS”:

Verse 6 makes clear that this ‘wrath’ is when God ‘judges’ people according to what they have done.  This does not happen during the Great Tribulation but after it.  It also refers to ‘each one’ not just those alive during the tribulation.

Rom 5:9 NKJV  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Again, this passage is a general statement to all Christians affirming that we will not come under judgment.  It is unlikely to be referring to the last 3.5 years of the tribulation.

Eph 5:5-6 NKJV  For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  6  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Again, it is unlikely that this passage is referring to the tribulation period.  Rather, it is referring to the eternal destiny of those who do not obey the Lord.

Col 3:6 NKJV  Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,

This passage suggests that God’s wrath comes upon all disobedient people, not just those who are alive in the tribulation period.

1Th 2:16 NKJV  forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.

This affirms that God’s wrath has already come upon them.  Again, this confirms the view that when God’s wrath is spoken of it is not usually referring to the tribulation period.

Rev 14:9-10 NKJV  Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand,  10  he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.

In this passage the wine of God’s wrath is clearly referring to the eternal punishment in Hell which is the result of the final judgment.   Note also that the wrath is poured out on those who have received the mark of the beast.

Rev 14:19-20 NKJV  So the angel thrust his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth, and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.  20  And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.

This passage seems to be referring to the final battle between Jesus and the nations outside Jerusalem.   Again, this is at the very end of the tribulation and so the ‘wrath of God’ is not referring to the tribulation.

Rev 19:15 NKJV  Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

This passage is again referring to the final judgment of God.

8. God’s wrath in the bowl judgments does not always effect everyone.

Rev 15:1 NKJV  Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.

Rev 15:7 NKJV  Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.

Rev 16:1 NKJV  Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”

These passages are certainly referring to the tribulation period and equating it with the wrath of God.  But as shall be seen, this wrath is primarily visited upon the wicked, not upon believers.  And based upon God’ previous dealings with Israel at the time of the Exodus, there is no reason to think that God’s people will not be protected in some way through the other judgments.  This is explicitly stated in a number of instances.

First, the trumpet judgments are not spoken of as the ‘wrath’ of God in the same way as the bowl judgments are.  It is interesting to note that, even within the trumpet judgments, those affected by the fifth trumpet were ones not sealed by God in the forehead (Rev 9.4).  Thus the judgment (or wrath of God) was executed selectively.

Second, the bowls are explicitly said to contain the wrath of God.

Rev 16:1 NKJV  Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”

The first bowl afflicts only those who have taken the mark of the beast (Rev 16.1)

The second and third bowl (Rev 16.4) causes the waters to become blood.  The commentary by the angel (Rev 16.5-6) is that God has given those who have persecuted the saints and prophets blood to drink.  Thus the focus of this bowl of wrath is the persecutors.

The fourth bowl strikes men with fire (Rev 16.8).  The result is that the blaspheme God and do not repent.  This could suggest that those who are struck with heat are only those who need to repent, not Christians who have already repented.

The fifth bowl is poured out on the throne of the beast only (Rev 16.10)

The sixth bowl is not really a judgment and so is not relevant (Rev 16.12)

The seventh bowl is coming of the Lord and so is not a judgment upon Christians since they will be coming with Him. (Rev 16.17)

9. During the tribulation period Christians experience the wrath of Satan not the wrath of God

Rev 12:12 NKJV  Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

Rev 12:17 NKJV  And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Rev 20:4 NKJV  And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.