Let’s face it, here is the main reason why many pretribs reject prewrath. . .
One of the main reasons, which is unstated, why many pretribulationists reject prewrath is an emotional one: they do not want to think that they may have to face the Antichrist.
“But Alan, you cannot read their hearts!” Actually, I have had ex-pretribbers tell me over the years that this was the reason why they believed pretrib and rejected prewrath.
Many pretribs want to be told that they will not have to face the Antichrist. In short, it is fear based.
“But Alan, you are looking for the Antichrist and I am looking for Jesus Christ.”
This cutesy slogan is intended to deflect away from the biblical reality. It is not my will, but God’s will. I do not like the thought that I or my wife or son may have to die for the Christian faith under the regime of the Antichrist. But it is God’s will that ultimately matters. He knows better than me, therefore I need to trust his will because it is all-wise, all-good, all-sovereign.
It may be God’s will that you confront the Antichrist or his minions. Would you not count it an honor to stand up in the day of your death and give glory to the true God of this universe being a witness in front of the Antichrist as he is blaspheming your God? Are you going to run away like a coward? Or are you going to stand up boldly to the Wicked One and confess Jesus Christ as Lord of the universe?
God may very well call you to be a Daniel and stand up to Nebuchadnezzar’s golden idol. Or to be a David and stand up to Goliath when he is mocking and blaspheming your God. Mr. pretribber, don’t dare say that God would never put you in those circumstances.
The vast majority of churches in America, including many ear-itching pretrib churches, are pleasing the will of their people by telling them what they want to hear, which is that they will never have to face the Antichrist.
Pretrib teachers reassure their flock with a host of rhetoric in order to avoid upsetting them with the prospects that they may have to face martyrdom from Antichrist.
It’s as if they think the Antichrist would be able to kill you more than you can be killed! They forget that Jesus said not to fear the one who can kill the body but fear the one who can kill both soul and body. Antichrist cannot kill your soul. I need to say this because sometimes I get the impression from pretrib teaching that the Antichrist has this power.
“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt 10:28)
