THE WRATH OF GOD

There seems to be some confusion about the Wrath of God: When does it happen? Who is on the earth when it happens? Which verses are about the Wrath and which ones about the Tribulation? Having read the book of Revelation umpteen times, it slowly came to me the order of events and also I realized that the time frames overlap, much like in a movie when the camera zooms in on one scene but there's something else happening at the same time so the camera goes to that a moment later. Except in the Bible, the chapters don't tell you: "Meanwhile"...

God willing, I'd like to help make this so simple a caveman can understand it. Also, just so you know, I'm NOT interpreting ANYTHING but simply showing you what the Bible already says. So, anyone who takes the time to read it word for word, prayerfully can come up with the same understanding. It's a bit tricky but, once you get it, it's laughably simple and the pieces fall into place themselves.

In the order that they are written, here are the verses covering the WRATH OF GOD:

Revelation 6:12-17

How do we know that this is talking about the wrath of God? Simple. It says so in verses 16 & 17.

 (Maybe I should mention here that, if you have the King James Version of the Bible, there will be no confusion because it reads: "wrath of the Lamb" and "his wrath". But if you have a different version of the Bible, it may change that word "wrath" to some other word.)

The Wrath of God continues into Chapter 7.

Verses 1 - 8 talk about pre-wrath sealing of the 144,000. MEANWHILE (before the throne) Verses 9 - 17 talk about what is going on with "they which came out of great tribulation".

So! This is Post Rapture IN HEAVEN and at the SAME TIME, the SEALING of the 144,000.

Do you want to know how I know that this is THE BEGINNING OF THE WRATH? Because, if you look at chapter 14:1, the 144,000 are on Mount Sion with the Lamb. And we KNOW that Jesus will come to Mount Zion with His army for the Battle of Armageddon and that this battle happens DURING THE WRATH OF GOD. (I will prove that to you as we go on.)

The Wrath of God continues into Chapter 8!
The SIXTH SEAL STARTS THE WRATH with a "great earthquake" which we will see again. (same earthquake talked about 3 times) The earthquake KICKS OFF the Wrath of God. Remember, this is happening shortly AFTER the RAPTURE.

In Chapter 8, the SEVENTH SEAL CONTINUES THE WRATH (although, there is silence for half an hour in heaven before God hands out the seven trumpets.)

OK? Chapter 8 = WRATH, Seventh Seal, Seven Trumpets.

The Wrath Continues right into Chapter 9 from verse 1 to the end!

In this chapter, the angels are asked not to hurt those men of Israel who have the seal of God in their foreheads and these are the same men who came down from Heaven with Jesus.

Chapter 10 is when time shall be no longer (verse 6) and John receives a book from the Seventh angel.

Chapter 11 goes backward in time to the Great Tribulation when the two prophets of God are prophecying in Jerusalem.

1-2 talk about the temple and and about the Holy City being trampled by the "Gentiles" (I would interpret the Gentiles as being Muslims. That is a personal interpretation if you will receive it. But, the temple will be built on Muslim territory and I think it's going to drive them nuts.)

3-8 talks about the two witnesses and their location being "Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified" which is, of course, Jerusalem. They rise from the dead in verse 11 and are called up to heaven in verse 12 and then....

THE WRATH!
13 And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand...

There's the "GREAT EARTHQUAKE" that kicks off the Wrath.

I always think of the "rapture" as the "ascension" because it says "they ascended up to heaven in a cloud" like Jesus did and I believe that this is happening AT THE SAME TIME that the rest of the believers are ASCENDING or getting "raptured".

Can we agree that a "woe" is indicative of the WRATH? I would couple it together with that terminology. Woes happen to OUR ENEMIES NOT TO US! Again, we will NOT BE HERE FOR THE WOE!

Woe comes from God! On our enemies! Tribulation comes from MAN and the DEVIL and the BEASTS. And the TRIBULATION LASTS FOR ONLY 3 1/2 YEARS.

Chapter 11:14 The second woe is past; and behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

In verse 19, we see two things, the temple of God "opened in heaven" and the "ark of his testament" which is the ark of the covenant (I assume this is the original one made by Solomon, not the one that the Jews plan to make for the new temple. I say that because, God never instructed the Jews to build the new temple, nor another ark, nor to sacrifice.)

Chapter 12 The TRIBULATION
Ok, so we get all the way up to the twelfth chapter before reading much about the Trib. There is also war going on in heaven: Michael and his angels fight against the dragon and his angels.
(Do you ever feel that there's a spiritual warfare going on over your head? Well, we probably will feel it very strongly during the Tribulation.)

Chapter 13 focuses on the KEY CHARACTERS of the TRIBULATION
16 - 18 talk about THE MARK OF THE BEAST

Chapter 14 THE WRATH OF GOD (again)
In verse 1, Jesus has come down to Mount Sion with his 144,000 who are the firsfruits and they're getting ready to do battle.

In verse 7 an angel is announcing the judgment.

In verse 8 another angel announced that Babylon (Jerusalem) is fallen.

In verse 9 - 20 the Wrath is poured out, finishing with blood coming out of the winepress of God to the horses bridles. THAT'S  a LOT of BLOOD.

Chapter 15: 1 - 5 We see the temple of the tabernacle right before in verse 6, seven angels come out of the temple with the seven plagues. So, verses 6 - 8 is THE WRATH.

Chapter 16 focuses on the details of the WRATH. The VIALS ARE THE WRATH.
(Any time you see angels pouring out stuff, you know it is NOT FOR BELIEVERS. It's for our enemies and the enemies of God.) Chapter 16 is when the Antichrist and his buddy get their dues!

Notice that in verse 18, the "great earthquake" shows up again! "so mighty an earthquake, and so great" and this is most-likely the same one that kicks off the Wrath of God or maybe it's another one that keeps going...

Also chapter 16 mentions the Battle of Armageddon.

Chapter 17 focuses on the fall of Babylon. First the ten horns or ten kings destroy Babylon and burn her and THEN they fight against Jesus and his army that come down during the WRATH.

Chapter 18 is a vivid description of Babylon, describing her in detail so that, any Bible-reader can identify her.

Chapter 19: 1 - 10 Victory Party! 11 - 21 Jesus and his army go down for the WRATH and the BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON.

To be clear on that the Battle of Armageddon happens DURING THE WRATH OF GOD.

Chapter 20 IT IS FINISHED
In verse 2, the Dragon, which is the Devil is bound 1,000 years and cast into the bottomless pit.

AFTER 1,000 years, is the Battle of Gog and Magog which doesn't really get off the ground because the fire of God devours Satan's army.

Chapter 21 A new heaven and a new earth! Holy Jerusalem descends from God out of heaven!

Chapter 22 More about heaven. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."