We Are Not Appointed
To God's Wrath!
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Pastor
Michael Brigmond
Apostolic
Lighthouse Church, Kissimmee, FL
View
From the Lighthouse
Volume 11, Issue 4, Oct 2005
Reprinted
by permission
“For
God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus
Christ
(1 Thess 5:9)
One of the most common statements used in defense
of the pre-tribulation rapture is, “We are not appointed to God’s wrath.”
While this statement is true, it does nothing in defending the doctrine of a
“rapture” before the tribulation. Post-tribulation believers also believe
that “We are not appointed to God’s wrath.”
1
Thessalonians 5:9 plainly states, “For
God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus
Christ,”
Evidently
the word “wrath” produces an image of fury, torment, destruction, mutilation
and even death. One may envision someone so enraged that his facial expression
becomes distorted, nostrils flaring, eyes blazing, a deep reddening of the skin,
teeth exposed in a fierce snarl and guttural sounds emanating as if from the
depths of hell itself. All in all, not a pretty picture; we really don’t want
to be on the receiving end of anyone’s wrath, especially God’s!
With
man there is a fine line between anger and rage. While anger may be contained
and even controlled, rage is completely out of control, and wrath far exceeds
both. Murders have been committed in the heat of jealousy. One pushed beyond
one’s personal limit may burst out in rage and do great harm, beyond what
would have been believed of that person. Anger may grow hot enough to melt
one’s self-restraint, pushing an otherwise rational individual to a fierce
outburst of passion; quivering and shaking uncontrollably; vexed with an
emotional poison until rage turns to wrath. The outcome of wrath is mostly
unpredictable, even unimaginable, and far too often unpreventable.
So,
what was Paul conveying to the Thessalonians? Simply that God has appointed a
time of wrath upon this world that will reach every unsaved, ungodly,
un-repented sinner, but that wrath is not intended for His bride, the church.
While it is not a defense for, or a proof of, a pre-tribulation rapture, it is a
comforting promise to the church. While the vials of wrath are being poured out
upon the earth, they will not be poured upon the saints; even though the saints
of God will still be here on earth at that time.
There
is no hope for anyone who is appointed to God’s wrath. Rest assured that all
who are appointed to His wrath will be present and accounted for. They may come
trembling, screaming, cursing, crying, clawing, spitting and sputtering, but
they will all show up and receive what God has promised. God cannot lie and He
will fulfill all of His promises, even when those promises concern meting out
justice to the ungodly. Just as God will make sure that all who are appointed to
his wrath receive it, he will also make sure that none receive it that are not
appointed to it.
In
an attempt to defend the pre-trib rapture, some say, “We (the church) are not
appointed to God’s wrath,” but it is not a defense at all, only an
acknowledgement of a lack of Scriptural understanding. Ezra understood the plan
of God quite well. It’s a shame theologians today are so baffled.
“For
I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us
against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The
hand of our God is upon all them
for good that seek him; but his power and his
wrath is against all them that forsake him."
(Ezra 8:22)
We have many Old Testament instances
where the Lord’s wrath was kindled against his disobedient people, Israel.
“And
when the people complained, it
displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it;
and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and
consumed them that were in the
uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses
prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.” (Numbers 11:1-2)
We see fire from the Lord reach out to those who complained, but
did not destroy everyone, only those for whom it was sent. Then we read of those
who were not satisfied with the manna God supplied, but lusted for meat.
And
while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the
LORD was kindled against the people, and the LORD smote the people with a very
great plague. And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: because
there they buried the people that lusted. (Numbers
11:33-34)
Notice, the plague was not for everyone, even though they were all
present, but only for whom it was sent, those who, “lusted.” Five chapters
later a rebellion was underway; with Korah leading a band of 250 of Israel’s
finest rebels against the authority of Moses. Before God’s judgment was
executed upon the rebels, the Lord instructed Moses to warn those with Korah,
and all those close by, to separate themselves from that rebellious group lest
they be destroyed. Though separated, all of the people were present. They all
witnessed the event, but only the rebellious ones for whom the judgment was sent
were swallowed up when the ground beneath them opened. Those who heeded the
warning were present, but safe.
They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into
the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the
congregation. (Numbers 16:33)
Let us pause a moment and consider Job: “O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me
secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and
remember me!” (Job 14:13)
Job knew that the wrath of God would be poured out in some future
day, but he rested in the assurance that he would be protected during that
event. The reader may say, “But Job is dead and in the grave. He is not
present when the wrath of God is poured out.”
While this is true the main point is that Job is in the grave. While the
wrath of God is being poured out Job is still in the grave,
awaiting the resurrection. The resurrection will take place when Jesus returns,
when the dead in Christ rise first. This means the return of Jesus Christ is AFTER
the wrath is poured out. The resurrection of the saints of God is AFTER
the wrath is poured out. We will not all be in the grave when Jesus
returns. Some will be alive and waiting during the time of wrath spoken of by
Job.
Proverbs reveals that,
“Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from
death.” (Prov 11:4)
With the wrath of God upon the earth, riches will have no value,
but the saints of God will be delivered by righteousness. The unrighteous will
have no defense.
Behold,
the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the
land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. (Isaiah 13:9)
The sinners are destroyed out of it, while the saints yet remain.
We see this in Matthew 13:30 as the tares are gathered first and cast into fire
then the wheat is gathered.
Ephesians 5:6 and Colossians 3:6 both state that the wrath of God
will be upon the “children of
disobedience.”
Let
no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. (Ephesians 5:6)
For
which things' sake the wrath of God
cometh on the children of disobedience: (Colossians 3:6)
Notice 1 Thessalonians 1:10: “And
to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which
delivered us from the wrath to come.” It does not say that he will
deliver us in the future, but that he has
already delivered us. Our deliverance in the day of wrath is in our faith
and obedience of today; in our relationship with Jesus. We close with these
exciting words from Psalms 58 and 91:
The
righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the
vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. (Psa 58:10)
A
thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and
see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my
refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee,
neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. (Psalm 91:7-10)
Sure,
the church is still here when the wrath of God is poured out, but His wrath will
not effect the righteous, only the ungodly.