WRATHS & SAFETY~~~~>>>
WRATHS & SAFETY~~~~>>>
Webster says that wrath is: 1. intense anger; rage; fury
2. any action of
vengeance, and that tribulation is: great misery or distress, or the cause of
it.
Therefore, when the Bible speaks of tribulations it is great misery caused by man's sins, and Satan's wish to destroy man. When it speaks of wraths it is generally a form of vengeance or judgment by God and His Son.
There are four wraths or tribulations in the Bible:
1. Man’s wrath, the great tribulation: Man against
man, primarily in war, which could destroy all mankind. Not hard to
realize in this age of atomic weapons, biological weapons, and the disastrous results of war. see
Revelation 6:1-8 the 2 seals which release
the White, and Red horses. & Matthew 24:6-22
where Jesus tells of this.
God has warned that if man does not follow His commandments he will have much
tribulation. This is spelled out in the blessings and curses of Deuteronomy
28.
Everyone goes through this tribulation so that they will know that man's ways will not work, causing annihilation, but that God's way DOES work.
2. Satan’s wrath. Satan, the prince of this world,(John12:31) who has the power of the air, (Ephesians 2:2) and who is a liar and a murderer set on the destruction of mankind, (John 8:44) has caused much of man's tribulation in the present, but will be even more wrathful when he is cast out of heaven. Revelation 12:9 His destruction is primarily by deceit. He is the beast of Revelation 13 and Daniel 7 in the end times. He shows such great miracles that even the elect are almost deceived. (Matthew 24:24)
He is vengeful because this world will be taken away from him, (Revelation 20:2) and mankind will become children of God, and rule in his place.
3. God’s wrath, Revelation 14:9-10 to 18:24, seven bowls pour out the seven last plagues. His destruction is primarily destroying Babylon, and things that people worship, to show that He is the one true God. It is a judgment.
4. The Lamb’s wrath. His destruction is the elimination of Satan, his demons, and followers to prepare for His millennial reign. This is at Christ’s return to earth. Revelation 19:11-21
Is there a place of safety from these wraths and tribulations?
Yes! At different times. God does not allow Satan to destroy everyone on earth, only a third of mankind is destroyed. (Revelation 9:18) In Isaiah 1:9 it says, "Unless the LORD of hosts had left to us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been made like Gomorrah."
*1.The elect are safe in heaven when the trumpets sound the sorrows of Revelation. They are the great multitude in white robes in Revelation 7:9-16.
*2. The elect sent to a safe place in heaven when Satan in his wrath goes after them there. (Revelation 12:1-7) He is angry that the elect were brought to heaven. He knows his time is short, and he will be put away and they will soon come to earth with Christ. He goes to heaven (he is still allowed there, as in (Job chapter 2). There he tries to destroy them. They are in a place of safety protected from that war in heaven. Satan is put out of heaven permanently in Revelation 12:9, and in verse 12 the heavens rejoice. Satan is furious when he returns to earth and seeks to destroy the rest of God's people there.
*3. He goes after the 144,000 in Revelation 7:1-8 that were earthbound and are sealed on their foreheads to protect them, and those that were converted by the Two Witnesses. (Revelation 11:13) They come through the troubles of the opening of the seals, and the blowing of the trumpets. They flee Jerusalem. They are sent to a place of safety on earth. This is possibly The Valley of Anchor, a door of hope. (Hosea 2:15)
Later they, and the 144,000, are redeemed and taken to heaven (Revelation 14:1-5). They are also firstfruits, as Christ has not yet returned to earth, and it is still the period of firstfruits. They do not endure the wraths of God and the Lamb, for they are safely with Him, ready for His return.