That is the proper attitude to have. If we are truly rooted and established in Jesus, then one can honestly look forward to God's judgments! There is no fear, not even the fear of death.
But you point out something here that is crucial in understanding the difference between the pre-trib and post-trib position: the characteristics of the great tribulation. Will it be only "the wrath of God" as you say, or could the great tribulation speak to the unprecedented persecution of the church?
Now Alamo-Girl, I already know that niether you, nor anyone else who hold's the view of the pre-trib rapture as being true, actually believes that the great tribulation is only God's wrath and nothing more. How do I know this? Because everyone I know who holds the pre-trib position as being true also believes that there will be a "replacement church" after the rapture who has to bear the brunt of the wrath of the antichrist. So it's not only about God's wrath, is it? The great tribulation is primarily about satan's wrath against the church. I don't know any pre-trib teacher who teaches that our replacements, alive during the tribulation, are going to be subject to God's wrath. Well, if they are not subject to His wrath, then why do we need to be raptured in order to escape God's wrath???
But we alredy know from various scriptures that the great tribulation is about the persecution of believers, not God's wrath. It is important to note that "tribulation" is often used as a synonym for persecution or trials. ("distress" in the NIV) Notice this article from the NT Word Study Dictionary:
(IV) Christians are not exempt from tribulation, but rather they are especially subject to it. Their tribulation consists largely of persecution and the opposition their testimony meets in an unfriendly world. "The persecution that arose about Stephen" (Acts 11:19), was, of course, thlípsis. Paul speaks of all the "persecutions and tribulations" which the Thessalonians endured (2 Thess. 1:4). They received the word "with much tribulation" (a.t.), and Paul entreats them not to "be moved by these tribulations" (a.t. [1 Thess. 1:6; 3:3]). In 2 Cor. 8:2, we are told that the churches of Macedonia experienced much tribulation. Paul exhorts other converts to be "patient in tribulation" (a.t.), and to bless them that persecute them (Rom. 12:12, 14). In his work of evangelization, the apostle met with much tribulation. He told the elders of Ephesus that "tribulations" awaited him (Acts 20:23). He gloried in tribulations (Rom. 5:3), feeling that neither tribulation, nor anguish, nor persecution could separate him from the love of Christ (Rom. 8:35). In this passage he is referring to the difficulties and the dangers which he met with in his proclamation of the gospel. Tribulations are mentioned in the list he gives of his trials in 2 Cor. 6:4, 5. Bad experiences and news caused him tribulation (2 Cor. 1:8; 2:4; 4:8).(V) Tribulation, then, to the early Christians meant not so much ill health, poverty or loss of friends, but the sacrifices they had to make and the perils they had to meet from their proclamation or profession of Christ. In Hebrews, the writer says that after his readers were converted, they "endured a great conflict of sufferings; partly, being made a gazing stock, both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, becoming partakers with them that were so used" (a.t. [Heb. 10:33 {cf. 11:37}]). Tribulation is the appointed destiny of Christians. Paul reminds the Thessalonians that both he and they were appointed unto tribulation, and that he had told them before that they were to suffer tribulation (1 Thess. 3:3f.). John is also a partaker in the "tribulation and kingdom and patience which are in Jesus" (a.t. [Rev. 1:9]); and he tells the church of Smyrna that they shall suffer tribulation 10 days (Rev. 2:10). "Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God" (a.t. [Acts 14:22]). The Christian is presented in the Scriptures as being joyful in tribulation since there is a deeper experience of the presence of Christ and of the kingdom of God when tribulations come. In the face of much affliction the churches of Macedonia had an abundance of joy (2 Cor. 8:2). The Thessalonians received the word with much tribulation, with joy of the Holy Ghost (1 Thess. 1:6).
Zodhiates, Spiros. The Complete Word Study Dictionary : New Testament. electronic ed., G2347. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2000, c1992, c1993.
It is clear, from the above article, the Christians are not exempt from tribulation, no matter if it's a "great" one or not. It is also clear from the above article that "tribulation" cannot be linked soley to the wrath of God. God uses tribulation as a tool for our purification and our maturity. Perhaps the tribulation will be "great" before his final coming because the time for reaching maturity will be so very short, and there's nothing like a good does of tribulation to help someone mature more quickly!
But back to Matthew. Does Jesus tell us in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24 & 25) whether this "great tribulation" will be a persecuction of believers or will it be God's wrath against the world? He does tell us, and the answer to this question is crystal clear from the context of his warning:
"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. [Why warn us to "stand firm to the end" if we aren't going to be here to experience any of this???]
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
"So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.
Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!
Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.
For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.
If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. See, I have told you ahead of time.
- Matthew 24:9-25 NIV
It is clear from this context that Jesus is speaking of the great tribulation as a tremendous persecution of believers, not "God's wrath." As a matter of fact, he has nothing to say about God's wrath unitl nearly the end of chapter 24, when he starts to compare the end-times to the times of Noah. But there he is specifically speaking of God's wrath against wicked unbelievers, not against the world in general.
A very key point in this passage is that the great "distress" (as the NIV puts it) will not occur until after then antichrist is revealed: "the abombination that causes desolation." So it is the wrath of satan that Jesus is warning believers about, not the wrath of God. It is implicit in that the antichrist is revealed right before the great tribulation takes place.
So Alamo-Girl, another false belief concerning the pre-trib rapture is destroyed using nothing but scitpure, logic, and a little word study.
But here is something else to consider....
Just where in scritpure is it promised to us that the church of the end-times, or anyone alive in the church at the beginning of the end-times, will escape the tribulation through a rapture-like event? Remeber, this promise needs to be for the church in general, not to a specific body of believers at a specific point in history: i.e., the church in Philadelphia.
Are those who put their faith in a pre-trib rapture believing in a promise that simply does not exist in scripture? If so, then why do they believe it???
However – and this is a big however – these are the understandings I have received in the Spirit. They are how the living Word has brought the Scriptures alive within me.
I do not allow my own reasoning to override the Spirit. (Proverbs 3:5) Neither shall I allow yours to override Him. Trying to convince me to do so is pointless!
Truly, I cannot explain why He has given me a different understanding than yours, but that’s just the way it is and we shall have to agree to disagree.
But before I leave this conversation, concerning wrath….
God will not be causing Satan to persecute the believers to execute His wrath but rather He will establish His righteous, final judgment by taking away that which is preventing Satan from doing so even now, namely the Holy Spirit. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8) This is very much like He righteously judged the Egyptians by repeatedly hardening Pharoah’s heart. Pharoah was utterly exposed and vanquished as evil will be.
When the Holy Spirit is taken up, evil will move in power. Of course, evil will go after everything and everyone affiliated with God! That will include all the Christians who didn’t have the oil in their lamps, who weren’t prepared – and all the Jews. These are the martyrs we see coming out of the Great Tribulation.
The Christians who are prepared will be filled with the Holy Spirit (the "Philadelphians"). They are already dead to the flesh but alive in the Spirit. So when the Spirit is taken up, they will of a necessity go with Him. The ones who are not prepared won't be able to go.
I realize you vehemently disagree with this understanding, but that is what I have received in the Spirit so we shall have to agree to disagree.
Thanks for the engaging debate!