The Great Tribulation

November 5, 2023

FBC Baxley

am service

Thank Fall Festival workers, Tom’s message last Sunday,___________________________________________________________________

Welcome radio and online guests…

*It’s ok if you’re broken, unfaithful, lost, we are too and we are here seeking God’s will and way and plan.

We are all prodigals here…

Some rescued….Some Not..

All Loved…

*Acts 4:12 (repeat)

*John 3:16

Sermon Title: The Great Tribulation

Scripture Passage: Matthew 24:3-14, 29-31, 43-51

3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray.

5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.

10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another.

11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

PRAY

Introduction: Why Study or look at the great Tribulation…

First and foremost let me say, Church we need the motivation only God can provide to 1st be prepared ourselves to meet Jesus and secondly, to help others be prepared!

Sometimes I wonder… What is it going to take…

Eschatology, the study of future things, or the study of end times…

It is important that we take a strong look at what is on the way in the future…

Timeline/Chart:

We are now in the Church Age:

Romans 11:25,”Lest you be wise in your own sight, I do not want you to be unaware of this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”

Rapture: I Thess 4:13-18,

Tribulation: Revelation/Four Horsemen

Second Coming of Christ:

Millennium:

Great White Throne Judgement:

Eternity-Future: Revelation 21& 22

Matthew 24:21

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.”

Some of the most terrifying words to ever come from Jesus are those in Matthew 24:21.

The Lord Jesus Christ is truth in the flesh, not exaggerated.

But, He speaks of a time so terrifying, so horrible, that nothing compares to it.

He is not speaking of general “trials and tribulations” all of us have.

This is a unique time, seven years of hell, turmoil, horror on earth.

There is nothing like it in all of our history—secular or biblical. Think about that…not the holocaust, not 9/11,

Revelation chapters 6-19 describe that terrible time.

What is its purpose? Why would there be such a thing as a “great tribulation”? And will the Church (believers alive on earth at that time) be made to go through it?

Purpose:

God has more than one purpose for the period we know as the “Great Tribulation.”

1. It is the last seven years of God's dealing with the nation of Israel before they are brought to a final crisis—and prepared for receiving their Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know it because of the Scriptures connecting the Great Tribulation to the nation of Israel.

In Deuteronomy 4:39, the dawn of God's history with Israel, Moses prophesies that in the latter days, because of this tribulation, the Jews will turn to Him and seek Him with all their heart.

Jeremiah 30, describing this period, says: “Alas, for that day is great so that none is like it; it is even the time of Jacob's trouble” (v. 7).

This chapter, makes shows us in a very clear way that the Tribulation is a time to prepare the Jewish people to receive the Lord Jesus Christ and that God will save Israel out of it.

Adrian Rogers: “When the Bible uses the word “Jacob,” it always refers to fleshly Israel, natural Israel, the Jews as we know them. It is not speaking of “spiritual Israel”—the Church—the Body of Christ.”

Jeremiah 30:10 ‘Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,’ says the Lord,

‘Nor be dismayed, O Israel;

For behold, I will save you from afar,

And your seed from the land of their captivity.

Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet,

And no one shall make him afraid.

11 For I am with you,’ says the Lord, ‘to save you;

Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you,

Yet I will not make a complete end of you.

But I will correct you in justice,

And will not let you go altogether unpunished.’

Daniel 12:1 says, “At that time Michael shall stand up,

The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people;

And there shall be a time of trouble,

Such as never was since there was a nation,

Even to that time.

And at that time your people shall be delivered,

Everyone who is found written in the book.”

Whose people? Daniel's people, the Jews.

God is speaking of the elect among the Jews who will be delivered from the Great Tribulation. This is what Jesus meant when He said,

22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. Matthew 24:22

So, will the Church—the Body of Christ—go through the Tribulation too? Let’s keep looking together...

2. Another purpose of the Tribulation is to punish the Gentiles for their arrogance, rebellion and godlessness. Isaiah 24 and Jeremiah 25 beginning with verse 30 describe the Great Tribulation coming upon the Gentiles.

God will pour out His wrath upon a world that has spurned Him, that has laughed at and ridiculed His precepts and principles and said, “We don't want any God to rule over us” (Psalm 2:3).

So who will be going through this great tribulation?

Clearly, Israel, for it is “the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.”

And the unsaved.

Take notice that in all of the scriptures that deal with the Great Tribulation, not one scripture mentions the Church—the Body of Christ—as being present during that time, not even the book of Revelation.

Closing: Matthew 24:5-13

5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

David Jeremiah: Ten Signs Tribulation is Drawing Neaar…

1.Deception by False Teachers…v.5

2. Dissension Among Nations, v.6-7

3. Devastation of the Food Supply, v.7

4. Disease in various places, v.7

5. Disasters around the world, v.7

6. Death for the sake of Christ, v.9

7. Disloyalty among friends, v.10

8. Delusion associated with false religions and drug use, v.11, Rev. word translated “sorceries”, John uses “pharmakos”,

9. Defection from the faith and goodness, v.12

10. Declaration of the Gospel, v.14

What do we do??

Prepare ourselves

Prepare others

PRAY

Invitation

“Are you born again?”

Is your name written in the Lambs Book of Life?

“Have you surrendered/repented to Jesus?