There’s a common misunderstanding that since God has not “appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation” (1 Thess 5:9) that we are safe from God’s judgment. God did not intend for us to taste His wrath but it is certain, if we are unfaithful Christians, that we will have to go through it. Even verse 6 warns the Thessalonian Christians not to sleep as others do, which implies that it’s possible for us to sleep. If we do and go back to walking in darkness, then the Day of the Lord, the Day of God’s Wrath, will overtake us as a thief (1 Thess 5:4) and surprise us.
There are numerous warnings to Christians, showing us that, although we are safe from ETERNAL condemnation in the lake of fire, we are NOT guaranteed to be safe from enduring God’s wrath when the world is judged during the 3.5 year rule of the Antichrist and/or during the time of the Millennial Kingdom.
Matt 24:51 – The evil servant is “cut in two” and appointed his portion with the hypocrites where there’s weeping and gnashing of teeth. A non-Christian would not be called a “servant” or waiting for his master, or be made a rule over the master’s goods. Therefore, this is speaking to Christians.
Matt 25:30 – The unprofitable servant being cast into the outer darkness where there’s weeping and gnashing of teeth. A non-Christian would not be a servant and given money to invest, therefore, this is speaking to Christians.
1 Cor 3:15 – Paul, speaking to the Christians in Corinth, warns that our works as Christians must endure the coming fire: “The Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.” If our works do not stand up to the test, then they will be burned up and we will need to endure a salvation through “fire”.
Heb 2:1-3 – We must give more earnest heed to the things we’ve heard, lest we drift away. Every transgression and disobedience received a just reward. How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? The writer, again is speaking to Christians. It is possible for us to drift away from God and become disobedient. If we do, we will not be able to escape His punishment since we neglected and turned down something so great from Him.
The intention of unfaithful Christians going through “wrath” is for our salvation; it’s to chasten and discipline us in order for us to be perfected and transformed into Christ’s image. Romans 8:29 says we were predestined to be conformed to the image of God’s Son. This conforming takes time, pressure, training, and discipline. If Christ Himself had to be perfected through sufferings (Heb 2:10), then how can we be exempt? The difference is we can make our lives easier if we learn obedience and cooperate with God in this present age of God’s grace.
“My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him. For whom the Lord loves, He chastens…” (Heb 12:5-6)
“Let us serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. (Heb 12:28-29).
Why would the Bible warn us punishment if we are “not appointed to wrath”? Is there no consequence if we as Christians disobey God and go back to living like the people of this world? That would be unjust of a righteous God.
We should not think that since we are “saved” that we can live any way we want. We are not our own, and we must learn to submit to God’s authority in our life and pursue holiness.
“Pursue … holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” (Heb 12:14)