Introduction
If you found this page chances are you are already aware of the three items that pertain to eschatology that are not only controversial but are often emotionally defended. Those three are the Rapture, the Millennium, and the Tribulation. You also undoubtedly have already decided your position regarding them. If you believe that the tribulation period Jesus spoke about in His Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24:1-25:46; Mark 13:1-37; Luke 21:5-36) and later recorded by John in the book of Revelation chapters six through nineteen, is still yet future, then we need to determine if believers alive at that time will have to endure it or will they as a group be removed prior to it (aka raptured, see John 14:1-3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). If they are to be removed then the next question that needs to be answered is when. For many years there have been three classic answers: raptured before the start of the tribulation (aka Pre-Trib); raptured in the middle of the tribulation (after three and a half years, aka Mid-Trib); and raptured at the end of the tribulation (aka Post-Trib). But in recent years a fourth option has been popularized, that of the Pre-Wrath rapture theory.
The pre-wrath rapture theory says that the rapture will occur before the “great day of their wrath” (see Revelation 6:17). According to the pre-wrath view, believers will go through essentially three-quarters of the tribulation but not the time of “God's wrath” which they claim is just before the end of the tribulation (Matthew 24:21). Meaning Christians will endure what the proponents call “Satan’s fury” and “man’s persecution,” but will be removed and spared from “God’s wrath.”
The pre-wrath rapture theory views the trumpet and the bowl judgments (see Revelation chapters 7-16) as the “wrath of God,” from which believers are exempt (see 1 Thessalonians 5:9). However, the first six seal judgments (Revelation chapter 6) are not considered by proponents of the theory as being the ‘wrath’ of God; rather, they are thought as being “the wrath of Satan” or “the wrath of the antichrist.” This is because there is no direct mention of God’s wrath until after the sixth seal is broken (see Revelation 6:17). Thus, in their minds, the church will experience the judgment of the first six seals along with everyone else.
Somewhat Confusing
The name “Pre-Wrath” often leads to confusion as the alternate views of “Pre-Trib” and “Mid-Trib” are also technically before wrath. The name does not offer sufficient clarity or delineation. It also does not give the reader any clue when to expect the rapture in relation to the tribulation timeframe.
The “Pre-Wrath” theory does change somewhat the chronology of the end-time events. The book of Revelation portrays the “seal judgments” and the “trumpet judgments” occurring during the first half of the tribulation period, while the “Pre-Wrath” theory extends the “seal judgments” into the second half which then moves the “trumpet judgments” entirely into the second half as well. Which then forces the “bowl judgments” to occur in an ‘appended’ extra period extending the seven year period.
No Longer Imminent
One of the greatest promises of the Bible is that Jesus can (and will) return anytime, there is no event that needs to occur before He can return (see Matthew 24:44; 1 Corinthians 1:7; Philippians 3:20; 4:5; Colossians 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:6; Titus 2:13; Revelation 16:15). In order for Jesus to return per the “Pre-Wrath” theory, the beast known by theologians as the “Antichrist” must appear first, the Jewish temple rebuilt, and the people of the world have been tormented by Satan and humanity for approximately five years before Jesus can come.
What is and What is Not the Wrath of God
The proponents of the “Pre-Wrath” rapture theory differentiate what torment comes from the world’s political structure (from man), from Satan, and the wrath from God. They fail to understand that God’s judgments can come from Him directly (for example see Genesis 19:23-29) or indirectly (through a person, enemy, or other nation, for example see Isaiah 9:8-10:4). Regardless of how God brings judgment or wrath, the source is always God. Even though much of the wrath of God, as recorded in Revelation, will be sent indirectly through the “Antichrist,” it remains God’s judgment. The wrath that will be experienced in the seven-year period of the tribulation will come from God. Every one of the judgments including the “seal judgments” originate and are set into motion by God (see Revelation 6:16-17).
Daniel’s 70 Weeks
Most theologians agree that Daniel 9:24-27, also known as Daniel’s seventy weeks (of years), is about God and the people of Israel. The first 69 weeks (or 483 years) transpired just as the prophecy stated in the past, long before there was a church. The seventieth week (the last seven years) refers to the tribulation period. In Jeremiah we read where he warns of this coming time, “Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.” (Jeremiah 30:7, ESV) We can conclude that the entire 70 weeks involve the people of Israel only, and the church is not involved in these verses.
Jesus is More than Sufficient!
The Bible makes a strong case that the blood of Jesus is all that any believer needs for salvation (see Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 5:9; 7:14; 12:11). One proponent of the “Pre-Wrath” theory wrote that Christians during the end times perhaps need something more. This person wrote, “The purpose why the church will suffer greatly just before Christ’s second coming will be for purging and purifying, separating out those who claim to have faith from those who actually possess true faith.”[1] Either you are or you are not a believer, there is never a time when something more is needed than what Jesus offers to be saved. God does not need extra time to know who will or who will not accept His Son as their Savor. Besides why is this an issue only at the end?
Day of the Lord
The author of the book that made the “Pre-Wrath Rapture” theory popular notes in his book, titled “The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church,” on several occasions uses the Biblical phrase “the Day of the Lord” and refers to it as the starting point of God’s wrath.
But we see that “the Day of the Lord” is somewhat a curious phrase as it is used in Scripture in a variety of ways. For example it is used to describe Israel’s (aka the Northern Kingdom) destruction by Assyria (see Amos 5:18-20), when Judah (aka the Southern Kingdom) was destroyed by Babylon (see Lamentations 2:21-22; Ezekiel 13:5), and when Babylon fell (see Isaiah 13:6-13). But for most people they will likely only remember its use regarding judgment and the end times (see Ezekiel 30:2-3; Joel 2:28-32; Obadiah 1:15-16; Malachi 4:1-6; Acts 22:19-21; 1 Corinthians 5:5; 2 Peter 5:10-13). Zephaniah refers to the phrase to describe the entire tribulation period (see Zephaniah 1:14-18). It is also used to describe the return of Jesus at the end of the tribulation (see Isaiah 2:10-22; Joel 3:9-17; Zechariah 14:1-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).
The phrase “the Day of the Lord” when quickly read appears to be almost random in its application, but when examined carefully we see that these are periods when God intervenes to interact with people, primarily to punish, judge, or even restore.
One of the primary premises of the book is to identify when the God’s wrath begins, which is referred to as “the Day of the Lord” by this author, who claims that the wrath of God begins at the first verse of Revelation chapter 8. Prior to that time the first six “seal judgments” the author explains were not from God. But we see that it is Jesus who opens the seals (see Revelation 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12) and as a result of the sixth seal opening we read that the people want to hide from Jesus, “calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”(Revelation 6:16-17, ESV) The wrath is from Jesus (who is the Lamb). God’s wrath begins at the beginning of chapter six, not eight. Notice that the phrase “the Day of the Lord” does not appear in neither the Olivet Discourse nor the entire book of Revelation (but with the wording from Revelation 6:16 “the wrath of the Lamb,” it is clear the source is Jesus our Lord).
So it is interesting that the same author writes:
The basic theses of this book are simple:
1. The Rapture of the church will occur immediately prior to the beginning of the Day of the Lord.
2. The Day of the Lord commences sometime within the second half of the seventieth week.
3. The cosmic disturbances associated with the sixth seal will signal the approach of the Day of the Lord.
4. The Day of the Lord will begin with the opening of the seventh seal (Rev. 8:1).
Everything else will be presented as confirmation of those theses.[2]
Regarding the author’s point number one, due to the fact that we are not given the timing of the rapture in Scripture we can only speculate. Since the wrath of God appears to start when the first seal is opened (see Revelation 6:1) and if believers are not to experience God’s wrath (see Romans 5:9; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 5:9) then at some point before that seal is opened the rapture will occur. It could be immediate or several years.
On point two, the wrath of God begins when the opening of the seals during the first half of the tribulation, not the second half. The author proclaims that the cosmic disturbances of the sixth seal (a reference to a great earthquake, the sun going dark, the moon becomes like blood, the stars falling on the earth, a gale wind, the sky rolls up, and every mountain and island removed) is an immediate precursor to God’s wrath as he connects Revelation 6:1-13 to Matthew 24:5-29; Mark 13:24-25; and Luke 21:25 (noted as a precursor). Even a quarter of earth’s population was killed (see Revelation 6:8). How can these not be categorized as God’s wrath? It should be noted that many premillennialists consider much of Revelation chapter six as an ‘inset’ containing a summary of future events (much like how creation is first reported in Genesis chapter one and then repeated in chapter two in greater detail. Therefore, regarding the fourth point, the opening of the seventh seal (in Revelation chapter 8) is not the start of the Day of the Lord.
How Many Times Will Jesus Appear?
Perhaps belonging more under the earlier section titled ‘Confusion’ the author of the book that popularized the pre-wrath theory seems to present multiple comings of Jesus. Dr. David Reagan (a well-respected premillennialist) wrote the following in his review of the book:
At the end of Daniel’s 70th Week, Jesus returns to earth to save Israel from annihilation, after which He returns to Heaven. Then, at the end of the “30 days of Reclamation” Jesus returns again to defeat Satan at the Battle of Armageddon. Following the “45 days of Restoration,” Jesus returns to Heaven, gathers His Church, and returns to begin His thousand year reign. So, Rosenthal has a total of four “comings” of Jesus, yet he has the audacity to assert there is only one “coming” of the Lord and he condemns the Pre-Trib view for having two![3]
It is Important to Remember
That there is a difference between “persecution” and “wrath.” There is no question that Christians will face persecution, as Jesus Himself warned (see Matthew 5:10-12; Luke 21:12; John 15:20; 16:33), and Paul wrote that it was inevitable (see 1 Corinthians 4:12; 2 Corinthians 4:9; 2 Timothy 3:12, see also Acts 14:22). The Greek noun ‘diōgmos’ and verb ‘diōkō’ are the primary words most often translated as ‘persecution’ in the New Testament, they imply the application of pressure, or to pursue. In like manner, the Greek words, ’thlipsis’ (noun) and ’thlibō’ (verb) are often their synonyms as they also imply a pressure, to compress, squeeze, crush, etc. These are most often translated as ‘tribulation’ and ‘affliction’. Many believe that whenever ’thlipsis’ is used that the writer is referring to the affliction or tribulation a Christian faces due to persecution as a believer. But often fail to see that the difference in the affliction and tribulation due to judgment of non-believers (namely, God’s wrath, like that sent by God during the tribulation period), which is not to be shared with believers. We see that there are several examples from the Bible that show God removing His people before His wrath (for example, Lot’s family out of Sodom, and Noah’s family protected on the ark). God has not and will not destine His believers for His wrath and will remove them in the coming rapture before the Tribulation begins.
Conclusion
As several critics have reported in the past, the “Pre-Wrath” rapture theory simply does not “pass the test” of the Bible. Just based on the single point alone that the events of Revelation chapter six are not to be categorized as being part of God’s wrath, the theory looses credibility.
Bibliography
Kurschner, A. (2013). Prewrath - What Is It? Retrieved from https://www.alankurschner.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Prewrath.pdf
Reagan, D. (2015). Is There Any Validity To The “Pre-Wrath Rapture” Concept? Retrieved from https://lamblion.com/xfiles/publications/magazines/Lamplighter_JanFeb15_US-Israel-Relations.pdf
Rosenthal, M. (1990). The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, Tennessee.
Van Kampen, R. D. (1997). The Rapture Question Answered: Plain and Simple. Revell.
[1] Kurschner, A. (2013). Prewrath - What Is It? (p.12) Retrieved from https://www.alankurschner.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Prewrath.pdf
[2] Rosenthal, M. (1990). The Pre-Wrath Rapture of the Church. (p. 60) Thomas Nelson. Nashville, Tennessee.
[3] Reagan, D. (2015, February). Is There Any Validity To The “Pre-Wrath Rapture” [Review of The “Pre-Wrath Rapture”]. Lamplighter, 36(1), 9–12. Lamb and Lion Minstries. lionlamb.com