The Wrath of God is Not Prepared for the Believer: Then Why Do Christians Suffer So Much in this World

(God’s Wrath or Righteous Judgment for Sin and Sinners must be distinguished from Persecution and disciplining that God permits to transform His people and restore them.)

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, note especially verse 9

Paul says unequivocally in 1 Thessalonians 5:9 “That God did not appoint us to suffer [His] wrath or (righteous judgment) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” This righteous judgment must be distinguished from certain types of discipline that God directs toward us to correct and restore us (see 1 Peter 1:6-9).

Even persecutions are permitted in the middle of our witnessing efforts as the devil’s resistance to the spread of the gospel: for example, Jesus words to Saul at his radical conversion “Saul, by persecuting my people you are persecuting me.” (Acts 9:1-6)

In fact, in many cases, the church has grown more in times of persecution than in more peaceful environments. Therefore, discipline and persecution that God permits, is meant to restore and prosper while God’s righteous judgments (or wrath) has as its purpose to fairly punish God’s opponents. Therefore, Paul’s admonition in 1 Thessalonians 5:9 helps to distinguish these difficult experiences. Christians never experience God’s wrath because of the Atoning Sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus Christ; Therefore, what is meant by the term “tribulation(s),” especially when used in context of the last days (promised especially in Daniel 9:24-27?)

Some Christians believe in a literal 7-year tribulation period in the last days: they divide it into 2 parts of 3-½ years. The second part is referred to “the great tribulation.” This is a time of great persecution in which the Antichrist and his minions persecute God’s people, especially in Jerusalem. This persecution will be interrupted by the Risen Christ, the ultimate dispenser of God’s righteous judgment. Christians will be protected from this, how?

The Christian church is divided on this answer.

Some believe that Christ will return to do Holy War at the beginning of the 7-year tribulation period by The Rapture of the Church: both the dead in Christ first, then those Christians alive, that are transformed (1 Thessalonians 4:5-17). Others believe that this will occur mid-tribulation. Still others see the Rapturing of the Church and the Second Coming as One Event combining 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 with Revelation 19. It gets really complicated!

There is unity in the belief that the tribulations that Christians are allowed to go through in life are persecutions, tests, and trials to benefit His children, but divine righteous judgment of God have a whole different purpose: They don’t restore, they mete out just punishments, while “tests and trials,” aim to restore and redeem. (Romans 8:28, James 1:2-4)

The difference is important according to Paul in 1Thessalonians 5:9. We will always remain in God’s hove, even though He might discipline us. Even in the last days and its tribulations, Christ will make sure that His believers are raptured or protected somehow from His righteous judgment. Paul is adamant concerning this point, here (verse 9) and at other passages: e.g., Romans 5:9-11 (read)