Those who scoff at the concept of the Creator of all things displaying His justified wrath against an unbelieving world think that things will just continue as they always have, even if the pesky Christians are gone via what is known as the Rapture. (This period of the Wrath of the Lord is also known as the Tribulation. [Matthew 24:21]) Similarly, Christians who believe the Church must go through the Tribulation believe they can deal with it as the Final Trial.
There are Scriptural indications that the time of the Wrath of God will be more than an unpleasant trial, it will be deadly. Prophecy says that men will call on the mountains to fall on them to hide them from the Wrath of Jesus. (Revelation 6:15-17) This is a picture of Jesus that we do not often think of. (See Luke 4:16-19 and Isaiah 61:2 for the completion of the prophecy.) Luke says that men will faint from terror, because of what is going on around them. (Luke 21:25-26) I cannot imagine anyone not taking this seriously, or literally because there are no words in these references that allow for spiritualizing this time of wrath.
But I also cannot imagine the Heavenly Father requiring His children to endure this level of wrath. Here is what Scripture says, “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” (Romans 5:9) “ . . . Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” (I Thessalonians 1:10) “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (I Thessalonians 5:9) Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” (Revelation 3:10)
The Apostle Paul says that the appearing of Jesus, when we meet Him in the air (I Thessalonians 4:17), is the Blessed Hope of the Church. (Titus 2:13) How sad for those who do not have that wonderful hope.
Besides the disturbance of the oceans and great astronomical sights, there is a further major change that will occur. This is particularly true when the Church is removed, as I personally believe it will. Paul tells us that the “Lawless One” will be revealed after the Restrainer is taken out of the way. (II Thessalonians 2:7-8) The Restrainer is believed to be the Holy Spirit. The Church cannot be here if the Holy Spirit is gone. If this is correct, there will be no restraint on evil.
There is a lot of spiritual activity going on in our world today. When the Restrainer is removed it will get much, much worse. The evil beings and demons that we see in advertisements for movies and video games will be considered as simple parodies of the real thing that will appear here on earth. Jesus said that the last days would be like the days of Noah. (Matthew 24:37) He was noting that the people in that day were surprised by the Flood. But also consider what was going on in the days of Noah. There was so much evil spiritual activity that the Lord grieved that He had made man on the earth. (Genesis 6:6)
The Revelation describes an evil army that has as its “king” a fallen angel that was released from the Abyss. (Revelation 9:11) His name is Abaddon in Hebrew or Apollyon in Greek. Both mean “destroyer.”
The level of demonic activity will far surpass anything modern man has seen. Evil will prevail. Justice will disappear. Our gracious Heavenly Father will spare the Church from this time of wrath. Praise His name!
Pray for, and witness to those who are not saved. Whenever this all occurs, and I think the time is near, no one wants to be here to experience it. Praise the Lord for His mercy and undeserved Grace to the Church.