Unfortunately, the emphasis on the false pre-trib rapture includes being saved from any pain or suffering. This uniquely held belief found primarily in the U. S. implies that the believers in this period of time will escape any discomfort or persecution, which these false teachers confuse with God’s righteous wrath. Let us try and understand what God has said on the issues of persecution, His discipline, and His wrath. These two passages both in Thessalonians are the primary sources of these beliefs.
1Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves witness what kind of entrance we had to you, even how you turned from idols to God in order to serve the living and true God, 1:10 and to wait for His Son from Heaven (whom He raised from the dead), Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come.
What does this say? Wrath can also be interpreted as anger. It’s primary use is in regards to God’s wrath toward the unrighteous. It has a few uses as it relates to our wrath or anger. But, in terms of prophetic emphasis, it always points to God’s wrath which He will pour out on the unrighteous. This is clearer in the next passage.
5:9 For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:10 who died for us, so that whether we watch or sleep we should live together with Him.
Here we read how Paul is trying to comfort the church. The church has always been persecuted and will always be persecuted. Jesus gave us a number of references on this very point.
Matthew 5:10 "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 5:11 "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
This teaching of Jesus was from His sermon on the Mount; His first teaching and it warned of being persecuted.
Luke 21:10 Then He continued by saying to them, "Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, 21:11 and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
21:12 "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. 21:13 "It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. 21:14 "So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; 21:15 for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.
21:16 "But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 21:17 and you will be hated by all because of My name.
In Luke, Jesus is again telling His disciples of what it will be like as we near the end, but also as we live for Him in the present time. Even our family will turn against us, as many of you may be able to attest.
John 15:20 "Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 15:21 "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me.
Why would anyone think that they would not have to suffer for their faith? The more challenging question may be; if you are not being persecuted does that imply you are not doing the work God has prepared for you?
So clearly, persecution from the world under the deception of Satan should be expected. The world will experience God’s righteous wrath, but we will be protected from it. This does not mean being taken out of the world in some divine escape plan.
We will study that teaching next time.