MAJOR BRICKS OF THE PRE-WRATH POSITION CONTINUED:
7. BELIEVERS WILL NOT SUFFER GOD’S WRATH
The Apostle Paul commends the Thessalonians for their sincere faith in Jesus and their faith to (among other things):
“wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead–Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” 1 Thessalonians 1:10 Paul had spent considerable time teaching them about end time events. That is why he could mention that Jesus “rescues us from the coming wrath”.
Jesus tells the faithful church at Philadelphia:
“Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.” Revelation 3:10 “Those who live on the earth” refers to unbelievers. The ‘hour of trial” is coming to test them, not those who are God’s children.
The Son of Man will appear in the clouds to rescue His saints and then God will pour out His wrath.
8. MICHAEL AS THE ONE WHO HOLDS BACK
Something/someone who is restraining the “secret power of lawlessness” will be removed:
“And now you know what is holding him (Antichrist) back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth (the Word of God–Hebrews 4:12 Revelation 19:15) and destroy by the splendor of his coming.” 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 What is holding the Antichrist back? When the one who now holds “the secret power of lawlessness” back, the Antichrist (“lawless one”) will be “revealed” (“revealed” is explained in 2 Thessalonians 2:4).
Most people who believe in the Pre-Wrath position see Michael the Archangel has the one who holds back the “secret power of lawlessness” and the revealing of the Antichrist:
"At that time MICHAEL, THE GREAT PRINCE WHO PROTECTS YOUR PEOPLE, will ARISE. There will be a time of DISTRESS such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then (Matthew 24:21). But at that time your people–everyone whose name is found written in the book–will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake (rapture): some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.” Daniel 12:1-2
Michael protects Israel (the people of Daniel). At the time of the end he will be greatly involved. Michael “will arise”.
“Arise" (stand up KJV)–Amad—means stand still or fast. Michael stands still at the time of the end.
The time that Michael stands still is called “a time of trouble for Jacob”: “How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.” Jeremiah 30:7
Jesus said: "So when you see standing in the holy place `the ABOMINATION THAT CAUSES DESOLATION,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel…For then there will be GREAT DISTRESS, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now–and never to be equaled again.” Matthew 24:15, 21
Michael will take his hand of protection off Israel when the Antichrist turns against Israel and sets up “the abomination of desolation”. Israel will suffer a time of “great distress”, a time of “trouble for Jacob”, because they have made a “covenant with death”.
The angel Gabriel tells Daniel who Michael is: “Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then MICHAEL, ONE OF THE CHIEF PRINCES, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come." Daniel 10:12-14
Michael restrains evil against the Jewish people:
“So he said, "Do you know why I have come to you? Soon I will return to fight against the prince of Persia, and when I go, the prince of Greece will come; but first I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. (No one supports me against them except MICHAEL, YOUR PRINCE.” Daniel 10:20-21 Michael is the prince of Daniel’s people, the Jewish people. Michael RESTRAINS evil in this passage.
Michael has always worked in the interests of the Jewish people:
“But even the ARCHANGEL MICHAEL, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!” Jude 9
Michael always was and always will be greatly involved with fighting for the Jewish people:
“And there was war in heaven. MICHAEL and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down–that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.” Revelation12:7-9
Michael is the major angelic leader in the last days.
9. RAPTURED SAINTS IN HEAVEN
The book of Revelation shows the saints in heaven just after the rapture during the sixth seal:
“After this I looked and there before me was a GREAT MULTITUDE that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."…
Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes–who are they, and where did they come from?"
I answered, "Sir, you know."
And he said, "These are they who have COME OUT OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:9-10, 13-17
The multitude in Revelation 7:9-17 is the church that comes out of the great tribulation. The church will be raptured just before God’s wrath begins at the blowing of the trumpets.