Is God a 'wife beater?' The most epic straw man ever!

By Mike Shoesmith

In the in-house debate between the pre-tribbers (those who believe the saints will not go through tribulation) and those who believe God's people will go through tribulation (even Jesus confirms this) there is one argument made by those who believe the rapture happens in Rev 4:1 - that the church is the bride of Christ and why would God allow his bride to go through a period of time when he pours out all manner of wrath on the earth?

It's a straw man question.

Etymology:
"Straw man" is one of the best-named fallacies, because it is memorable and vividly illustrates the nature of the fallacy. Imagine a fight in which one of the combatants sets up a man of straw, attacks it, then proclaims victory. All the while, the real opponent stands by untouched.

 So the pre-tribber makes his or her case that the church must be gone before the 'tribulation' events which follow Rev 4:1 and which God himself is doing, they believe. And since God is doing it (they believe) he must be a wife-beater since we are his bride... unless he yanks us out at Rev 4:1. By the way, if you are not capable of following this so far then the entire concept here is above you and you will need a beginners course in eschatology.

However...

The terrible parts of the book of Revelation for which God is responsible do not even begin until after the seventh trumpet of Rev 11. Up until that point we have a descriptive narrative. The revelation shown to John by Jesus of the 'End Time.' This is not the wrath of God. It is simply a timeline of events which have clearly been fulfilled in stunning detail all the way up to and beyond the fifth trumpet.

At Revelation 11:15 we see the seventh trumpet event, what Paul refers to as the last trump, when the mystery of God is revealed... that rapture. Following that we see the mention of the wrath of God... after the church is gone.

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.
Revelation 11:18

In Rev 16 the bowls/vials of God's wrath are poured out on the earth at a rapid pace. The church, bride of Christ is gone. And now we see clearly from the text that God's wrath begins on the earth.

¶And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Revelation 16:1

Grievous sores, death on the high seas, sun scorched masses, all done at the request of the almighty on those who took the mark and refused to repent. Great natural calamities will sweep the earth.

Until then people who suggest the church will not go through tribulation (great or otherwise) are simply what we refer to as 'low-information Christians.' They have believed lies, half-truths, and cliche's. In fact, Jesus himself rebukes them with with his own words to the church, his BRIDE!

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33 (emphasis mine)

 So even Jesus rebukes the 'pre-tribber.' It is also a rather horrific atrocity to claim that those who belong to Jesus will not go through 'great' tribulation. It really must be a N. American phenomenon to even suggest such a ridiculous view of the world. Especially when so MUCH 'tribulation' is happening to the bride of Christ already.




I am reminded of a recent event in my life. A bird made a nest in a basketball backboard in my back yard. The bird had three chicks. The mamma then began coaxing them out by placing food on the ground below the nest. One by one they fell out of the nest, around 8 feet, to the ground. They hopped around for a while and eventually flew away... except one.

 That bird stayed in the nest for days. The mama-bird did all it knew to get it to jump out but alas it wouldn't. The nest was beginning to decay from the rains but the young chick refused. It stubbornly clung to the decaying mess. So finally I went out and scared it out of the nest. Guess what, it landed on the ground, hopped around for a while, and flew away. The mama-bird couldn't thank me but I think if she could... she would. 

Is it time for you to hit the reset button on your theology? Especially your endtime beliefs? Are you clinging to a decaying mess of eschatalogical teachings which no longer have any substance? Please think about this. I considered Preterism but it simply didn't line up with actual events on the ground. Then I was a staunch pre-tribber but as I examined the prophecies in light of real-time realities happening in the news every day I simply had to abandon that nest. And all I needed was permission to hit the reset button. So give yourself permission to do likewise. I dare ya!

-Mike Shoesmith