Yes — in Psalms 2:5 the word 'then' is a time word that signals the next step in God's prophetic program: after rejection and derision, God speaks in wrath (the tribulation), and then sets His King on Zion.
Les Feldick explains that the previous verses depict Jew and Gentile rejecting the Anointed One and God holding the nations in derision. The word 'then' marks the point at which God's patience turns to wrath, His wrath being the tribulation. It does not mean the wrath came right after Christ's first coming, because Les places a parenthesis — the church age — between verses 3 and 5. Psalm 2:6 then follows with the King on Zion.
Psalm 2:5 — The verse directly answers the question: the word 'then' introduces God's wrathful speech after the derision of the nations.
In Psalm 2 the rebellion of the nations and rulers is described first: 'Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.' God's response is then given in verse 4: 'He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.' Then verse 5 opens with the word 'Then': 'Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.' The sequence is clear: the raging of the nations, the divine laughter and derision, and only then the wrathful speech. Immediately afterward, Psalm 2:6 declares, 'Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.' Thus, in the text itself, 'then' stands at the turning point from derision to wrath, and the following verse immediately moves to the King established on Zion.
Les Feldick calls 'then' in Psalms 2:5 a time word: 'these are all time words, one thing right after another.' He ties the earlier verses to the rejection and crucifixion of Christ by Jew and Gentile together. Only after they have repeatedly rejected Him and reached complete confusion while still thinking they have all the answers does God speak to them in His wrath. The wrath and vexation of verse 5, Les says, is the tribulation. He also shows that this sequence was not fulfilled at Christ's first coming; a parenthesis — the church age — stands between verses 3 and 5, and Psalms 2 resumes with the wrath and vexation still future. After the wrath, Psalm 2:6 immediately brings in the Kingdom: God's King set on Zion.
Psalm 2:5 follows verse 4, where God laughs and holds the nations in derision. The word 'then' marks the next event: God will speak in wrath and vex them. Les Feldick emphasizes that the early verses show Jew and Gentile rejecting the Anointed One, and only after that rejection and derision does God speak in wrath. Verses 5 and 6 then move directly from wrath to the King on Zion.
Les says no. He places a parenthesis between verse 3 and verse 5, explaining that the Old Testament program is interrupted. The wrath and vengeance and vexation did not happen at Christ's first coming. Instead, after the Messiah's rejection and ascension, the Holy Spirit came down — the church age — and Psalm 2 resumes with the wrath and vexation still future.
Les identifies it as the tribulation. In Clip 2 he says verse 5 'is the tribulation,' and in Clip 5 he says Psalm 2:5 'is taking us into the tribulation.' He explains God's love and grace are withdrawn and He speaks in wrath, 'vexing' or tormenting the people of the world righteously because they have continued in unbelief despite His patience.
The very next verse, Psalm 2:6, says, 'Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.' Les points out that after the rejection, derision, and wrath, the next part of the outline is the Kingdom centered in Jerusalem. So 'then' helps set the order: rejection, derision, wrath/tribulation, then the King on Zion.
Why the Apostles Stayed in Jerusalem: Israel vs. The Church
Welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick, a 30-minute walk through the Scriptures, teaching in-depth Bible truths that change people's lives. Now, here's your host, Les Feldick. And once again, we'll turn right into Psalms chapter 2, where we left off.
God Speaks in Wrath After Total Confusion
Les shows that 'then' comes after the nations have rejected Christ again and again and reached complete confusion while still thinking they have answers; at that point God speaks in wrath.
Wrath Is the Tribulation; Kingdom Follows
Les connects verse 5 to the tribulation and verse 6 to the Kingdom on Zion, showing 'then' leads from one to the other.
Events Up to the Midpoint of the Seven Years
Les places the wrath and vexation of Psalm 2:5 among the events leading to the midpoint of the seven-year tribulation, after Antichrist appears and Israel returns to temple worship.
'Then' Is a Time Word in a Sequence
Les explicitly says 'then' is a time word — one thing right after another — connecting rejection, derision, wrath, and then God's King on Zion.
From Grace to Wrath: Vexation as Torment
Les teaches that by Psalm 2:5 God's patience has ended; He speaks in wrath rather than love, and vexing means tormenting the people of the world righteously because of their unbelief.
Parenthesis: The Church Age Between Verses 3 and 5
Les explains that a parenthesis — the interrupted Old Testament program — fits between verses 3 and 5, so the wrath of verse 5 did not happen at Christ's first coming.
Psalm 2 Skips the Church Age
Les says Psalm 2 goes from rejection to wrath and vexation, while other references tell us the Holy Spirit came down in between; the church age is hidden from this Old Testament outline.
Psalm 2:1: Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Sets the scene of nations in turmoil before God speaks.
Psalm 2:2: The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Shows Jew and Gentile rulers uniting against the Lord's Anointed.
Psalm 2:3: Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
The rejection of Christ's rule, which Les places before the parenthesis.
Psalm 2:4: He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
God's response of laughter and derision before the 'then' of verse 5.
Psalm 2:5: Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
The central verse: 'then' marks the moment wrath replaces patience.
Psalm 2:6: Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Shows what comes after the wrath — the King established on Zion.
Yes. Les Feldick explicitly says 'then' is a time word in the sequence: rejection, derision, wrath, Kingdom. It shows one thing right after another in the prophetic outline.
Because the Old Testament program was interrupted. Les teaches that a parenthesis, the church age, stands between verses 3 and 5; the wrath and vexation did not occur at Christ's first coming.
Les connects it to the tribulation. God will speak to the people of the world in wrath rather than love and will vex or torment them righteously because they persisted in unbelief.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Apostles Stayed in Jerusalem: Israel vs. The Church