Disciples of Jesus escape God’s wrath, but they endure tribulation. And according to Paul, the church has been appointed to tribulation. The terms “tribulation” and “wrath” are NOT synonymous in Paul’s letters or in the book of Revelation. “Tribulation” is what disciples endure for the sake of the gospel. “Wrath” is the horrific fate that awaits the wicked at the final judgment when the Lord arrives in glory.
In his first letter to the Thessalonians, Paul writes that God did not appoint the church to “wrath,” but in the same letter, he states that the church is appointed to “suffer tribulation.”
Persevering through trials and persecutions is part and parcel of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, and Paul does not treat tribulation as something unexpected or extraordinary in the life of the church.
- “GOD DID NOT APPOINT US TO WRATH, but to the acquiring of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” - (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
- “Wherefore, no longer concealing our anxiety, we were well-pleased to be left in Athens alone; and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s minister in the gospel of the Christ, that he might confirm and console you over your faith, that no one might be shrinking back in these tribulations. FOR YOU YOURSELVES KNOW THAT HEREUNTO ARE WE APPOINTED. For even when we were with you, we told you beforehand, WE ARE DESTINED TO SUFFER TRIBULATION! Even as it also came to pass, and you know” - (1 Thessalonians 3:1-4).
SUFFERING PATIENTLY
Either Paul contradicts himself in the letter or he does not equate “tribulation” with “wrath.” By enduring persecution, the believers of Thessalonica “became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much tribulation with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit” - (1 Thessalonians 1:6).
Likewise, Jesus taught his disciples to expect tribulation and persecution. Opponents of the faith will deliver them “for tribulation and kill them: and they will be hated by all the nations.” Before his return, there will be “great tribulation” for the saints; so much so, that only “he who endures to the end” will be saved - (Matthew 13:21, 24:9, 24:21-22).
Contrary to human wisdom, disciples who endure persecution will be pronounced “blessed” in the Kingdom. Suffering for him is a matter for great rejoicing - “Blessed are you when men reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake. Rejoice! Be exceedingly glad! For great is your reward in heaven!” (Matthew 5:10-12).
Paul also encourages his churches to rejoice in suffering. We are to “exult in our tribulations because they bring about endurance, and our endurance a testing, and our testing hope” - (Romans 5:3, 12:12, 2 Corinthians 1:4).
Disciples are to remain patient in tribulations and “continue steadfastly in prayer.” It is God who “comforts us in every tribulation, so that we ourselves may be able to comfort those who are in any tribulation.” Tribulations “prepare for us an everlasting weight of glory beyond all comparison” - (Romans 8:35-39, 12:12, 2 Corinthians 1:4, 4:17).
IMITATING JESUS
According to Peter, it is thankworthy if we suffer for the sake of our “conscience towards God.” There is no glory or honor if we suffer for doing wrong, but if we do so because of our obedience to God, it is praiseworthy. Moreover, as believers, we “HAVE BEEN CALLED FOR THIS” very thing - (1 Peter 2:19-20, 4:15).
To suffer for the gospel is to “follow in the footsteps” of Jesus who “left us an example” in his sacrificial death. Disciples found worthy to “suffer for righteousness” are blessed, and this is in “ACCORD WITH THE WILL OF GOD” - (1 Peter 2:19-23, 3:14-18, 4:19).
In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul boasts of their steadfastness. They have endured faithfully through “all their persecutions and tribulations.” And at Christ’s return, faithful disciples will be vindicated, but the unrepentant will be condemned - (2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).
WRATH
In Paul’s epistles, “wrath” is NOT identical to “tribulation.” The impenitent man stores up for himself “wrath” and “fury” that he will reap on the “day of wrath.”
Because of sin, the “wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.” In contrast, the saints have been justified by Jesus and, therefore, they will “be saved by him from the wrath of God” - (Romans 2:5-8, 5:9, Ephesians 5:6, Colossians 3:6-8).
The coming “wrath” is connected to the day when Jesus returns in glory. God has not appointed His church to experience this “wrath.” Instead, disciples will acquire salvation through Jesus, and that means they will not experience this future “wrath.” It does not mean they will avoid suffering and persecution in this life - (1 Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9).
In Revelation, John addresses the seven churches from exile on the isle of Patmos “because of his testimony”, he identifies himself with their plight - “I, John, your brother and fellow-participant in the tribulation and the kingdom and the perseverance in Jesus” - (Revelation 1:9).
THE TRIBULATION
In John’s declaration, the Greek term rendered “tribulation” has the definite article - he is a participant in “THE tribulation.” And the article signifies it refers to something that is known. Even at this early stage, the churches were experiencing “the tribulation.”
To the church at Smyrna, Jesus declared, “I know YOUR TRIBULATION and the things you are going to suffer,” and he encouraged the congregation “not to fear what you are about to suffer.” And he stated that they will “have TRIBULATION FOR TEN DAYS.”
The Risen Christ summons the church to “become faithful unto death” even when that means martyrdom. And it is in this very way that faithful saints will “overcome” and escape something far worse than persecution – the “Second Death.”
Later, John sees an innumerable multitude of believers from every nation standing before the “Throne” and the “Lamb.” They “are coming out of THE GREAT TRIBULATION.” And in the passage, the term refers to the SAME TRIBULATION in which John and the seven churches are “FELLOW PARTICIPANTS” - (Revelation 1:9, 7:9-17).
The term “wrath” first appears in Revelation when the sixth seal is opened. This results in the final day which is characterized by celestial and terrestrial upheaval, and the arrival of the “wrath of the Lamb” – (Revelation 6:12-17).
Similarly, “wrath” occurs when the seventh trumpet sounds. It signifies the time for the righteous “dead to be vindicated, and to give their reward to God’s servants the prophets and to the saints,” but also for God’s “wrath and the time for the dead to be judged” - (Revelation 11:15-19).
THE FINAL HOUR
The final “hour” to reap the harvest of the earth is declared in Chapter 14 of Revelation. All men who rebel against Jesus will drink “the wine of God's wrath, poured out unmixed into the cup of his anger.”
This image presents the same event as that of the rider on a white horse who “treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty” after the overthrow of the “Beast and False Prophet” - (Revelation 14:14-20, 19:11-21).
Thus, in Revelation, “wrath” refers to the final judgment and punishment of the enemies of God. Tribulation is what the “saints” endure at the hands of the “Dragon” and his earthly agents - (Revelation 12:17, 13:7, 14:12).
When Paul writes that “God did not appoint us to wrath,” and that “we are appointed for tribulation,” there is no contradiction. For him, the terms refer to two different things. “Wrath” is God’s judicial sentence and punishment on the wicked, and “tribulation” is what the world inflicts on the disciples of Jesus.
And so, enduring “tribulation” for his sake is part of what it means to follow the “Lamb wherever he goes.” Suffering for the gospel is not punishment or aberration, but GROUNDS FOR REJOICING. Being accounted “worthy” to suffer for him is the highest honor for his disciple, and in his kingdom.