Not Appointed to Wrath 1 Thessalonians 5:9

Since the Thessalonian church members were aware of the “times and seasons”, Paul reminded them of the imminence of the Lord Jesus' return. They were “children of the light and children of the day” and they were not to be surprised by the sudden return of Jesus whose coming is promised to be as abrupt as “a thief in the night”. In chapter five and verse nine of his letter, Paul made sure the Thessalonians knew they were not “appointed to wrath” as unbelievers who will be surprised by the Lord's return. We read:

For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

The verse begins, “For God has not appointed us to wrath,...” Paul began with the word “For” which means “because, since and that” “God” who is “the Godhead and trinity comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “has not appointed” which in Greek is the phrase “tithēmi ou tithēmi” which means “has not set down, placed, put down, laid down, set aside, established, ordained or set forth” “us” which refers to “Paul, his companions, the Thessalonians and believers in Jesus Christ” “to wrath” or “anger, temper, movement or agitation of the soul, indignation or anger exhibited in punishment”. Paul wanted the Thessalonian church members to know that God has not ordained that they experience His anger and punishment.

The verse goes on to say, “...but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” Paul continued with the word “but” which is a disassociation conjunction and means “nevertheless, notwithstanding, in objection and exception” “to obtain” or “preserve, possess, and acquire” “salvation” which means “deliverance, preservation and safety with the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God” “by our Lord” which means “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God, the Messiah” “Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind, God incarnate” “Christ” which means “anointed one, the Messiah and the Son of God”. Rather than being appointed to “wrath”, Christians are to be “delivered and preserved” by our Lord Jesus Christ.

As we meditate upon Paul's words, we should take great comfort in his idea. The appointed time for judgment will fall upon the Earth, but those who have “relied upon, trusted in and clung to” Jesus Christ will not experience it. Believers in Jesus will be removed from the scene before this horrific time of punishment comes, and the most favored position is to align ourselves with the Savior now before it is too late. Let us be certain, the “wrath” of God will come, and the way to avoid and not be appointed unto it is to put our trust and faith in the Savior Jesus. If we do this, we are promised, we will be preserved from God's “wrath”, but if not, woe be to those who reject Him.

Next time Paul tells the Thessalonian church members about living with Jesus, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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