One of the most comforting promises in Scripture is that the regenerated child of God, because of the merits of The Lord Jesus Christ, will never face the wrath of God. Paul told the new saints at Thessalonica that they were delivered from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10). He would go on to tell them that “God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Thessalonians 5:9).
Not all saints in the body of Christ agree on eschatology (study of end times). Some make the distinction between eternal wrath, from which we are spared, and the time spoken of in Revelation 6:12-17 as the wrath of the Lamb, and in doing so, believe that the Church will be going through the great tribulation period. I see no reason to make such a distinction as pertaining to the saints of God. Scripture speaks about the final, eternal wrath that all unsaved, Christ-rejecting souls will face (Ephesians 5:6; Colossians 3:6). Scripture also speaks about the wrath that abides presently on those who have yet to turn to Christ as Lord and Savior (John 3:36). Yes, there is that wrath that is presently being visited upon those who defiantly reject the Creator (Romans 1:18-31). But no such language of impending doom is used when Scripture speaks about the born again child of The Living God.
This does not mean that the born again believer is guaranteed an easy and comfortable life. Jesus told the disciples in the upper room, “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). He even told them the world system would hate them for their devotion to Him and His truth (John 15:18,19). But having an eternal perspective allows us to face the hardship and sufferings of this present time (Romans 8:17,18) with hope and grace.
Our time on this earth as followers of The Lord Jesus is meant to be Kingdom-oriented (Matthew 6:33,34), not self-seeking and self-centered. We have been entrusted with the privilege of proclaiming this glorious gospel of reconciliation to a lost and dying world (2 Corinthians 5:17-21), which by and large considers the message of the cross foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18- 24). While we must live our present lives aware of the tension that exists with the world and our flesh, we should also be living in constant expectation of that heavenly call to go home (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). By doing so, our lives will be living proof of the saving grace of the God Who has saved us from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:6-10).
