2. Salvation before the tribulation is by faith in Jesus
John 3:16, in the tribulation it is by torment, martyrdom and rejecting the mark of the beast
Rev 2:10, Rev 20"4 amd
Rev 9:4.
3. In
Matt 24:21 Jesus explains how the great tribulation period (all seven years) is the greatest distress in human history. This means that from day 1 the antichrist will be 'distressing' good people and forcing the mark of the beast. There is no 'quiet' 3.5 years where people wonder who the antichrist is.
I think the "wrath" upon people comes from two different sources. All of the plagues, the seven trumpets, the seven seals, the seven bowls, all come from God. I believe these plagues will primarily be on/for the the un-saved. This is the wrath of God.
But there is another part for Christians to worry about, the beheading for your faith, and not being able to buy or sell, those things will be the wrath of Satan/the Beast, they will be targeting believers. This is NOT the wrath of God.
Rev 15:7; Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of
the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever.
Rev 16:1; Then I heard a loud voice from the temple, saying to the seven angels, "Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of
the wrath of God."
Rev 16:19; The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of
His fierce wrath.
the other half of this...
Rev 12:17; So
the dragon was enraged with the woman, and went off
to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Rev 13:7; It was also given to him
to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him.
Rev 20:4; Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been
beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
I think God will reward those who held onto their faith through it. But that doesn't mean He caused the affliction.
Rev 2:7; 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To
him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.'
Rev 2:11; 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
He who overcomes will not be hurt by the second death.'
Rev 2:17; 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To
him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.'
Rev 2:26; '
He who overcomes, and he who keeps My deeds
until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS;
Rev 3:5; '
He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Rev 3:12; '
He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
Rev 3:21; '
He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Rev 21:7;
"He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.