I ended last week’s article with the statement: “The good news is that thereafter . . . we shall escape the wrath of God.” By that I meant, as I explained in depth, that it will only be after the terrible events of the Great Tribulation that Christians will be raptured to meet the Lord, so that they do not experience God’s punishment that will be unleashed upon those who will be left behind.
Let us remember that Trumpets 1-6, just as Seals 1-4, are talking about the Great Tribulation, when Christians are still on the earth, as evidenced by Seal 5. It is at the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet that Jesus comes to the earth to ‘rapture’ the saints, to reign on earth, and for God to unleash His wrath (1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelation 11:15-18). Since the outpouring of God’s wrath starts following the rapture of the saints, it invariably means that the saints will escape the wrath of God (but not the Great Tribulation). Please note that the wrath of God are the seven vials or bowls of Revelation.
Now, in order for us Christians not to be part of the sinners who will be left behind after the Great Tribulation to suffer the wrath of God, we must live holy lives. This is exactly what Paul was talking about when he said that, “For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them” (Ephesians 5:5-7). It is very crucial to note that Paul taught that ‘sin practicing’ Christians will be bundled together with non-Christians upon whom the wrath of God will be unleashed. And that is exactly what his and our Lord taught (Matthew 7:21-23), when He said that Christians who are miracle-workers, demon-chasers, and prophesy accurately, all in the name of Jesus, will still be cast away because they were ‘practitioners’ of lawlessness (workers of iniquity). As Paul said, please let no one deceive you otherwise.
Thank God we have the Holy Spirit who helps us to live holy lives. If we yield to Him, then we shall live lives that are pleasing to God. Then after going through the Great Tribulation, we shall escape the wrath of God, to live forever and ever with Him. Hallelujah!
God bless you.