The Rapture and
The Wrath of God
                                                                                           By Pastor F. M. Riley
                                                                                           February 15, 2017
     "For God hath not appointed us [true believers] to wrath, but to obtain salvation [soteria.....deliverance] by our Lord Jesus Christ,
     Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
     Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do."
                                                                                 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11
Introduction
     In the churches and the ranks of Christianity today, there are at least three doctrinal positions on the rapture of God's people.  These three main positions are:
     [1]  The Pre-Tribulation Rapture position.  
     [2]  The Mid-Trib or Pre-Wrath rapture position.
     [3]   The Post-Trib rapture position.
     There are a few other positions, with some even denying that there will be such a supernatural event as the rapture.  But to deny the reality of a rapture for God's people is to blatantly deny such inspired Scriptures as 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, and even Revelation 4:1-2.  If one cannot, or will not, believe these plainly stated Scriptures, then why claim to be a "Christian believer?"  Well...???
      Some believers today just cannot, or will not, allow themselves to believe that God's people are going to escape the judgment and suffering of the Tribulation period, but it is Scriptural truth that some will, [Luke 21:36], exactly as stated in our Scripture text for this study.  
     What some choose to overlook or ignore is that the entire Tribulation is the time of God's wrath upon God hating and Christ rejecting, mankind left behind on the earth when the rapture occurs.  
     And proof of this statement is what this study is about.......
The Three Rapture Positions
     [1] The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Position.......I have written several Bible studies setting forth the Pre-tribulation rapture position, proving it to be Scripturally correct, and giving book, chapter, and verse, from the inspired Word as proof of my position.  The last study I wrote on this subject was entitled "The Bottom Line on the Rapture Question."  If any reader did not receive a copy of this study, let me know and I will gladly send you a copy, by either email, or postal mail if necessary.
     [2]  The Mid-Trib or Pre-Wrath Rapture Position.......There are some who argue vehementily that this is the only correct position on the rapture.  Is this so?  No!  It most certainly is not!  
Purification of the Believer
      Some of the advocates of this position maintain that God's people, living in these "last days," simply MUST go through the first half of the Tribulation in order to be "purified" from the sins of this present evil world.   My, my!  I did not realize that the precious blood of Christ had lost it's power to purify the souls and bodies of all true believers.
      My Bible explicitly records the Lord Jesus Christ Himself stating to His disciples, "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you," John 15:3.  This statement of the Lord is immediately followed by the Lord's admonition for His people to "Abide in Me...," John 15:4.  If a true believer today is contaminated with the sins of the flesh and the world, perhaps they need to spend more time reading and STUDYING their Bibles, and less time trying to explain away what God's Word explicitly states, Revelation 3:10.  
Timing of God's Wrath
     Yet there are some who insist that God's people will enter into the first half of the Tribulation, and will be removed by the rapture just prior to God's wrath, which, according to them, will come upon the lost world during the last half of the Tribulation.   My answer to those who take this position is that they do not carefully pay attention to what they read in God's Word.  And now the proof of this statement.......
     Is the Lord Jesus Christ God?  I know the answer to this question, but I am asking it of our readers to prove an important point.  Was God incarnate in the person and body of the Lord Jesus Christ?   Was Christ Jesus not only the Son of God, as the Scriptures repeatedly refer to Him, but was He God in the flesh?  Read Luke 1:26-38 and John 1:1-18  and pay careful attention to what you are reading. But be sure to read and believe Revelation 1:8, 4:8, 11:17, 21:6, and 22:13.  Those readers who are willing to believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God, cannot come up with any other conclusion than that the Lord Jesus Christ was, and is, God incarnate in the flesh; the second person in the Godhead; "the Almighty." Glory to God!  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!  What a Savior!  
     Having seen this truth, now let's turn to Revelation 5:1.  It is in this chapter that the Lord Jesus Christ, in heaven, takes the seven sealed book from the hand of "...Him that sat on the throne..." [Father God].  Then in chapter Six, the Lord begins to open the seals on the book.  Each time a seal is opened by the Lord Jesus in heaven, wrath is poured out upon mankind dwelling upon the earth.  I remind our readers that these seals are opened during the first half of the Tribulation, so wrath is being poured out upon those upon the earth beginning immediately after the sealing of the 144,000 during the first half of the Tribulation, Revelation 7:1-4.    
     I am emphasizing this point, because some believe and teach that the wrath of God is limited only to the last half of the Trib.  This teaching is just not Scripturally correct, regardless of who is teaching it and how great a "scholar" they may think themselves to be.  Wrath begins just after the sealing of the 144,000, in the first half of the Tribulation, and continues to be poured out upon mankind throughout the entire Tribulation period.  PERIOD!
But Whose Wrath?   
     Now here is a point that almost all commentators and prophecy teachers have totally missed or ignored.  Let's read it right straight from the inspired Word.  When the sixth seal is opened by the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven, the inspired Word explicitly states,
     "And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
     And said to the mountains and rocks,  Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB:
     For the great day of His wrath is come: and who shall be able to stand?"  Revelation 6:15-17.  
     Now who is it that opens this sixth seal, as well as all the previous seals?  The Lord Jesus Christ!  Then who is it that is pouring out wrath, during this first half of the Tribulation?  The Lord Jesus Christ!   The One who presently sits at Father God's right hand, Matthew 22:44; 26:64; Mark 12:36; 14:62; 16:19; Luke 20:42-43; 22:69; Acts 2:34-35; 7:55-56; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3; 1:13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; 1 Peter 3:22.  
     Those "religionists" and others today who think that the Lord Jesus Christ is so totally consumed with "love" for people, that He is little more than a pathetic, weak, little "wimp," are in for a great shock and a  major awakening, and it is coming REAL SOON!  The Lord Jesus Christ, whom I serve in truth, is a great warrior and the King of kings.  There is nothing "wimpish" about my Savior and Lord.
       Of course, the Lord loves people.  He has put up with the wickedness of mankind for the past 4,000 years since the flood, giving them every opportunity to turn to Him and receive forgiveness and salvation.  But there is a limit to His patience; a time when His grace and mercy will be replaced by His anger and wrath.  
     During the entire first half of the Tribulation, it is "the wrath of the Lamb" which is being poured out upon wicked, God hating, Christ rejecting, sin loving mankind, who will be left behind when the rapture occurs.  At this point, I would suggest reading Isaiah 13:9-11, keeping in mind that the context is speaking about "the day of the Lord."  In other words, the seven year Tribulation period.   
     [3]   The Post-Trib Rapture Position
     I am not aware of a single true believer who holds to and teaches this position on the rapture.  I am aware of some "professing" Christians [?] who claim that the rapture will occur following the Tribulation period.  However, not a one of them has ever been able to explain to me why there would even be a rapture following the Tribulation?  Since the Lord Jesus will return to the earth at the end of the Tribulation, and bring all of the saved with Him, who are to "rule and reign" with Him, then where would God's people be raptured to after the Tribulation is over?  Well...??  This is all the time and space I feel like giving to this silly theory.  
Back to the Wrath of God
    If any reader thinks the judgments of the seals and trumpets, which will fall upon mankind on the earth during the first half of the Tribulation are bad, just wait until Father God takes over during the last half of the Tribulation.  
     Repeatedly in the prophetic Scriptures, Father God is quoted as saying to His Son, the Lord Jesus, "Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool," Psalm 110:1.  This is due to the fact that the judgments of the first half of the Trib will not result in turning unbelieving mankind back to God, Revelation 9:20-21.  Some, Yes!  Most, No!   When Father God sees this, He is going to become enraged.  He allowed mankind to sacrifice His own Son to pay the sin debt of humanity, and yet mankind will not repent even under the wrath poured out upon them by the Lord Jesus during the first half of the Tribulation?  It is then during the last half of the Trib, that it will be the wrath of Father God that is poured out upon the wicked, Revelation 6:17; 15:1-8; 16:1-21; Isaiah 28:14-22.  
     Obvious Conclusions
     So since the wrath of the Lamb is poured out upon wicked mankind during the first half of the Tribulation, and the wrath of Father God is poured out upon wicked, unrepentant mankind during the last half of the Tribulation, then the entire seven years of the Tribulation is a time of  the wrath of God.  
     Now since our Scripture text explicitly states that the Lord's New Covenant Church and people are not "appointed to wrath," then it ought to be glaringly obvious to any reader willing to deal honestly with the Scriptures, that the only time for the rapture to occur in order to avoid the wrath of God [Son and Father] has to be BEFORE the Tribulation begins.  That dear readers, absolutely makes it a Pre-Tribulation rapture.  And present world conditions, compared to the "signs" set forth in the prophetic Scriptures, makes it quite clear that  the  pre-tribulation rapture could occur at any minute of any day now!   Are you listening?  
Conclusion
     Are you ready?  Ready to be raptured? 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.  Ready to meet the Lord Jesus in person, face to face? 1 John 3:1-3.  Ready to give an account to Him of your own "deeds done in the body?  Romans 14:12; 1 Corinthians 3:1-23.  Ready to hear Him say, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant.....?" or to hear Him say, "Thou wicked and slothful servant!" Matthew 25:13-30; Luke 19:12-27.  Which will it be?  Are you ready?  
     Yes dear readers, we are that close to the coming of our Lord to resurrect and rapture His New Covenant believing people to glory.  And when He comes, each of us believers will "receive" our rewards, according to our degree of love for, dedication to, and obedience to Christ, in witnessing of Him,  and serving Him, 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.
Are You Ready?
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     Permission is granted to any true believer or Bible believing Christian ministry to reproduce this study to share with others, or to quote from it in context as written.
     Thank you, thank you, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, for your prayers for this writer, and your gifts supporting this ministry.  I am now looking forward to meeting each of you and expressing to you  personally my gratitude for your love, prayers, and help.  From my heart, I thank you.  
     Please address all comments, questions, and correspondence to:  Pastor F. M. Riley, 14275 County Road 8120, Rolla, Missouri 65401.  Those who prefer to call can reach me most easily by calling 573-201-0491.   Please disregard the 303 number given in a previous study.   
     May this study be a blessing to every reader is my prayer.  
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