Of Tribulation, Judgment, and Wrath

[Last Daze]

There seems to be a bit of confusion concerning these three terms especially as they relate to the end times.  I'd like to present how I see them and get others' scripturally based input as well.  It's a bit of a long read but I think that the distinctions are important to make.  It's not exhaustive by any means but should serve as a good starting point.

Tribulation - persecution, trouble, affliction.  The term seems to be generic as pertaining to its source.  People can experience tribulation from a variety of sources.  The Bible tells of one source that believers can expect persecution to come from:

• If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.  John 15:19
• Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  Matthew 5:11-12

There is a persecution or tribulation that is specific to believers.  It comes from those who are of the world, i.e. those who embrace its lusts, pride, greed, etc.  This tribulation has been going on since the fall of man and is promoted by the god of this world, Satan.  His spiritual kingdom, referred to as Babylon, or the destroying mountain, promotes ungodliness and the persecution of believers.

There is a specific time of tribulation that takes place during the last days.  Jesus described it like this:

• Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Whoever is on the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house. Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.  Matthew 24:15-21

Let the reader understand that when the abomination is in the holy place the resulting desolation will affect both natural Israel as well as spiritual Israel.  This can be seen here:

• And when the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child... So the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.  Revelation 12:13,17
• These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  Revelation 7:14b

Judgment - a decision or verdict that's made which may or may not contain an element of punishment.  Concerning God's judgment, the one that matters:

• This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.  For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.  John 3:19-21

Those who agree with God's judgment that the deeds of men are evil and chose to practice the truth by bringing forth fruit in keeping with repentance are not subjected to His judgment's consequences.

• He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  John 3:18

Wrath - anger, indignation.  God's anger or indignation is directed toward those who persist in rejecting His verdict or judgment that declares their deeds to be evil.  It is for those who have hardened their hearts beyond repentance.

• But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.  Romans 2:5-8

Summary - Pertaining to the end times, I see the following applications:

Tribulation - The great tribulation begins when the abomination of desolation is set up in the holy place.  It pertains to both natural Israel (the time of Jacob's trouble) and her spiritual offspring, those who hold to the testimony of Jesus.  The great tribulation (tribulation of those days) ends at the sixth seal per Matthew 24:29 when compared to Revelation 6:12-13.  Outside of the great tribulation, there are no other specified times of specific tribulation.

Judgment - The spreading of the gospel is essentially declaring to the world both God's verdict or judgment that men's deeds are evil along with the forgiveness of those evil deeds for those who will repent of them and walk in the Light.  The chastisement or discipline that is associated with God's judgment is for those who don't repent, who don't practice the truth, including the just as well as the unjust.  His chastisement is designed to convince people of their wrongdoing and to lead them to repentance.

God's judgment is contained in the seven trumpets.  They begin to sound after the great tribulation, after the time when everyone has had the chance to declare who it is that they worship, either God or the false prophet.  Those who chose to worship the false prophet by receiving his mark will be subjected to the chastisement associated with the trumpets.  These trumpets are for the purpose of convincing people that they have made an error in judgment in siding with the false prophet and that they should repent.  It's not until after the fourth trumpet that its mentioned that people's hearts are hardened beyond the point of repentance.

Wrath - God's anger at man's persistent rebellion is found in the seven bowls according to Revelation 15:7.  These are poured out after the judgments have had their effect, after all who are going to repent have done so.

 

[missmuffet]

1.The tribulation is going to be the seven years when God disciplines Israel and the unbelieving world.There will be the first 31/2 years and then the second 31/2 years which is called "The Great Tribulation" and will be more intense.

2.There will be two judgments.The born again believer will go through the Bema Seat judgment or The Judgment seat of Christ.This will occur after the rapture when our bodies are resurrected 2 Corinthians 5:10.This judgement will not determine salvation because that was determined by Christ's sacrifice on the cross.We will be judged for what we have done in these bodies while on earth.Rewards will be given or taken away.The rewards will include crowns and other rewards that we may not be aware of.

There will be a judgment for the unbelievers.This judgment is "The Great White Throne Judgment".This will occur at the end of the 1000 years millennium.These unbelievers will all go to hell but I do believe that there will be degrees of punishment in hell just as there is degrees of rewards in heaven because of Revelation 20:12.

3.Wrath is defined as "anger", "indignation"  and "irritation". There is a difference in the wrath of man and the wrath of God.God's wrath is holy and justified where man's wrath is never holy and is rarely justified.We are warned against God's wrath in Romans 2:5-6.

 

 

[WilliamL]

Summary

- Pertaining to the end times, I see the following applications:

Tribulation - The great tribulation begins when the abomination of desolation is set up in the holy place.  It pertains to both natural Israel (the time of Jacob's trouble) and her spiritual offspring, those who hold to the testimony of Jesus.  The great tribulation (tribulation of those days) ends at the sixth seal per Matthew 24:29 when compared to Revelation 6:12-13.  Outside of the great tribulation, there are no other specified times of specific tribulation.  I AGREE.

Judgment - The spreading of the gospel is essentially declaring to the world both God's verdict or judgment that men's deeds are evil along with the forgiveness of those evil deeds for those who will repent of them and walk in the Light.  The chastisement or discipline that is associated with God's judgment is for those who don't repent, who don't practice the truth, including the just as well as the unjust.  His chastisement is designed to convince people of their wrongdoing and to lead them to repentance.  I AGREE.

God's judgment is contained in the seven trumpets.  They begin to sound after the great tribulation, after the time when everyone has had the chance to declare who it is that they worship, either God or the false prophet.  Those who chose to worship the false prophet by receiving his mark will be subjected to the chastisement associated with the trumpets.  These trumpets are for the purpose of convincing people that they have made an error in judgment in siding with the false prophet and that they should repent.  It's not until after the fourth trumpet that its mentioned that people's hearts are hardened beyond the point of repentance.  I PARTLY AGREE. God's judgment begins in the spiritual world, when he judges the elohim, at the beginning of the Trib. The Trib will separate out who is and who ain't God's elect of his Church, which involves judgment. The Trumpets are the period of judgment of earthly Israel. The Bowls of wrath are the judgment of the nations.

Wrath - God's anger at man's persistent rebellion is found in the seven bowls according to Revelation 15:7.  These are poured out after the judgments have had their effect, after all who are going to repent have done so.  

Rev. 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come [aorist tense: literally, came and will continue]; and who shall be able to stand?

All of God's judgments from this point [6th Seal] on will involve his wrath. But he saves his greatest wrath for the most rebellious ones of the nations, during the period of the 7 Bowls.