THE WRATH OF GOD

THE WRATH OF GOD

 

The Bible clearly describes two separate periods of "wrath" that will come   to the world in these last days before the "end of time" as we have known it. The first one that is commonly known as the "Great Tribulation" is the period of time when Satan is allowed to persecute God's people through the Antichrist, who Paul calls the "man of sin" (2 Thess 2:1-4). This will be the time Daniel refers to as the "time of trouble" in (Dan 12:1), and Jesus calls it the time of "great tribulation" as recorded in (Matt 24:15-22). Apparently this brief time of unknown duration, will occur shortly after this man who pretends to be the "man of peace" the world is looking for, reveals himself as the Antichrist. Daniel says this will happen at the "mid-point" of what has been known as "Daniel's Seventieth Week" (Dan 9:27). Another scripture that covers this period of time is recorded by John in (Rev 13:1-10). Here we see more clearly a description of this man who is here referred to by John as the "Beast from the Sea", but his description matches perfectly with other descriptions given of this "man of sin" in the book of Revelation that is certainly the Antichrist.

 

The second period of wrath mentioned in scripture is known as the "Wrath of God" that will be poured out on the wicked people who are left here on earth after Jesus comes to receive His "Church/Bride" in the "rapture", which will be the time Jesus refers to in (Matt 24:21-22) when His return for His Church will "cut short" the period of great tribulation. This period of wrath, referred to in the OT as the "Day of the Lord" in many places, actually requires a period of several months, and we read about it in chapters 15 and 16 of Revelation where this Wrath of God is contained in seven bowls that are poured out one after the other by seven angels. This same wrath of God was poured out on Jesus on the cross on Mount Calvary, and those who believe in, and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior will escape this final Wrath of God. Some church doctrines fail to understand the difference between these separate mentions of wrath, and have brought much confusion to the church, in my opinion. Especially the very popular "Pre-tribulation Rapture" theory that assumes all wrath is the wrath of God through the Antichrist, and tries to assure people that the church will escape that. When in fact God will use this wrath of Satan through this "man of sin" to help purify the church to make her ready for the rapture!!

Sincerely submitted.

Dave Jamer                                                                               16/06/12