There’s a good amount of controversy surrounding the Tribulation and the Church. Some believe the Church will be absent, having been raptured in advance (a.k.a. pre-tribulation rapture). Others believe that the Church will endure for a period of time, and then will be raptured (a.k.a. mid- or post-tribulation rapture). And some even believe that the whole of Revelation was already fulfilled in the 1st Century (preterist non-rapture)! Remarkably, upon examination of the Scriptures it becomes evident that the Church does not have a role in the Tribulation or Wrath, and will therefore be removed beforehand. Hopeful news if you’re a born-again believer!

†

God’s “wrath” is for the the ungodly (ref verses below), and the “tribulation” will be the Jews’ (Dt 4:30, Mt 24:21)

Throughout the Bible the term “wrath” is referenced specifically with the Tribulation period, where God’s wrath is poured out upon the unbelieving world, while the Jews are undergoing tribulation and testing (anti-semitism as never before – Dt 4:30, Mt 24:21). The terms, Wrath and Tribulation, can be essentially regarded as synonymous timeframes, with “wrath” being associated with the Seal, Trumpet, and Bowl events. It’s also worth noting that neither the Tribulation nor the Wrath should be confused with the Judgment (Re 20:11-15 White Throne Judgment), which will occur after the 1000 year reign of Jesus Christ (ref Chronology).

“Wrath” is referenced early in the Tribulation [6th Seal]

Re 6:15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains,
16 and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17 “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

“Wrath” is referenced later in the Tribulation [7th Trumpet = Bowls]

Re 11:18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth.”

Re 15:1 ¶ Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.

“Wrath” is referenced at the end of the Tribulation [after 7th Bowl]

Re 19:15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Additional references to “wrath”, pertaining specifically to the Tribulation period: Isa 9:19, 13:13, Jer 10:10, 50:13, Zep 1:15, Re 14:8, 14:10, 14:19, 15:1, 15:7, 16:1, 16:19, 18:3, 19:15.

The ungodly are appointed to wrath

Job 21:30 For the wicked are reserved for the day of doom; They shall be brought out on the day of wrath.

Ro 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

Eph 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Lots of additional references: Ps 79:6, Pr 11:23, Isa 13:9, Eze 7:12, 7:14, 7:19, 13:15, 21:31, 22:21, 22:31, 38:19, Na 1:2, Zep 1:18, Mt 3:7, Lu 3:7, Joh 3:36, Ro 2:5, 9:22, 1Th 1:10

The Church is not appointed to wrath

1Th 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Precedent: God doesn’t destroy the righteous with the wicked

Ge 18:23 ¶ And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

Ge 18:25 “Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

The church will be saved and delivered from the wrath to come

Ro 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

1Th 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Enoch is a “type” of the faithful church, having been removed prior to the Flood. Noah and his family, who prepared for and endured the Flood, are a “type” for the 144,000 Jews and Saints who will survive the time Tribulation.

Heb 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

†

Conclusion: The Church is not appointed to the wrath; therefore, born-again believers can live in hopeful anticipation of the Rapture preceding the Tribulation. And, knowing that the time is short, believers can be all-the-more inspired to boldly share the Gospel in order to save as many as possible from the coming Tribulation and final Judgment.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up [raptured] together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.