One of the most common arguments for a pre-tribulation rapture goes like this: The great tribulation is God’s wrath. We (the church) are not appointed to wrath. Therefore, we won’t go through the tribulation, which means we must be raptured before.
The objective of this article is to show that while true believers won’t experience God’s wrath, they will experience tribulations and persecution. In a future article we will also show that the great tribulation is not God’s final outpouring of wrath.
Not appointed to wrath
The Bible does say that true believers are not appointed to God’s wrath:
[1 Thessalonians 5:9] God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
[#bibel 1Thes 1:9-10 ESV] You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
However, the fact that we are not appointed to wrath doesn’t mean we are not appointed to tribulations. In fact, Paul writes in the same letter to the Thessalonians exactly this.
[1 Thessalonians 3:3] No one should be moved by these tribulations. For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.
Most translations render the Greek word θλῖψις as ‘affliction’ or ‘tribulation.’ This is the same word used in the expression ‘the great tribulation’ of the end times (Matt 24:21, Rev 7:14).
To summarize, in the above verses Paul is saying that we are appointed to tribulations but not to wrath. While true believers won’t experience God’s wrath, they will most certainly experience tribulation and persecution at the hand of the wicked. The Bible says so and it happened many times throughout history.
Tribulation and persecution
The Bible says very clearly that believers will go through tribulation and persecution.
[John 16:33] In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.
[Acts 14:22] … strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
[2 Timothy 3:12] Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Not all believers are willing to endure through these. Some will fall away when the going gets tough.
[Matthew 13:21] He has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.
[Mark 4:17] They have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.
Make sure you won’t be one of those who fall away, because this is a salvation issue. What’s at stake here is the fate of your soul, your eternal destiny, not just your rewards.
Enduring to the end
The Bible warns us that the end-times generation will be tested and refined like no other generation. The tribulation and persecution that the followers of Jesus will go through will be unprecedented.
[Daniel 12:10] Many will be purified, made white, and refined.
[Matthew 24:9-13] Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
[Matthew 24:21-22] 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. 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.
[Revelation 6:9] When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne.
[Revelation 7:14] These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The church went through heavy persecution in her early days, and she will go through even heavier persecution in the end times, just before Jesus returns. But also the glory she will walk in will be greater.
I remind you that all twelve apostles were martyred, except John. The early church was persecuted first by the Jewish religious leaders, then by the Roman emperors. In the days of Nero and Diocletian, the blood of the martyrs flew like never before. Then there was the great persecution of the Catholic Inquisition, which is well documented.
And severe persecution is happening even today in many places.
In light of all these facts, it’s very unreasonable and dishonest to expect the end-times church not to go through tribulation and persecution, especially when the Bible is very clear that she will.