Destined For Tribulation

Another strange idea that I often hear from Christians is that because we are not destined to wrath we will not go through the tribulation. This is one of the oddest arguments for the rapture ever conceived, especially when you examine it carefully. This idea is based, in part, from 1 Thessalonian 5:9, "9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,..."

Notice the instant category error? Saying we will not go through the tribulation because we are not destined to wrath is a category error. A basic mistake of understanding. Wrath and tribulation are not synonyms, they may occur at similar times in similar events, but they are not the same.

Plus, we are promised tribulation as Christians. As Luke told us,

"21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 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" (Acts 14:21-22).

So, when someone tells you that we are not going to go through the tribulation, because we are not destined to wrath, you should now immediately recognize that, intentionally or not, they have performed a bait and switch. They have swapped out one word for another and misapplied it in a way that contradicts other passages, which promise us tribulation.

Here is another example: John 16:33, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

And again, Romans 12:12, "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."

This promise spans both testaments. For instance, Deuteronomy 4:30, "When you are in tribulation, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, you will return to the Lord your God and obey his voice."

So why do people make this bait and switch? Because intentionally or unintentionally (in many cases I believe the latter) they have conflated tribulation and wrath. Revelation, which many believe teaches a 3 and 1/2 or 7 year tribulation (I count myself among those people), mentions the pouring out of wrath 11 times, and arguably all of them apply to the tribulation. So, some people have conflated wrath and tribulation for that reason.

But this is, as I said, a category error. Just because wrath is being poured out during the tribulation does not mean that tribulation equals wrath. For believers it actually means salvation is very near. Jeremiah saw God's wrath poured out on Israel. The Hebrews lived through God's wrath being poured out on Egypt. But Jeremiah was not destined to wrath, nor were many of the Hebrews. The day of the Lord is terror for the damned and salvation for the believer.

So, we have rejected that bait and switch. But we can greatly strengthen our case because Revelation 6 and 14 both mention wrath being poured out, and both chapters mention Christians being present:

Revelation 6:9-17 –

"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. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11 Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been...17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

Revelation 14:9-12 –

"9 And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, 10 he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.” 12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus."

Revelation 6 mentions those who died for their faith in the Lord and his word and are called our brothers, the brethren. That is the Church. And Revelation 14 mentions those who are saints, which is those who obey God and trust in Jesus Christ. Both are descriptions of Christians. All who have faith in Jesus are Christians. All who are saved by Jesus Christ are inducted into his one church. As Paul says, " 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise."

Galatians 3 was not written by Paul to justify priestesses of Asherah in the church (aka female pastors) it was written to rebuke the idea that there are separate promises based on race. All have full membership in Christ and access to Abraham's promises through Jesus.

Therefore, even if the Church were raptured before the tribulation, which it is not, as soon as two or three were saved and gathered the next day the Church would still be on earth anyway. Hence the logic is knocked down from both directions.

The day of the Lord will be a day of terror for the unsaved and a day of joy for the redeemed. Make sure you are among the redeemed, trust in Jesus, because that day may be very near as far as we know.