The Tribulation: What is it? When is it?
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What is the Tribulation?
What is the Tribulation?
The tribulation is a period of time, generally though to last 7 years, that will happen immediately before the 2nd coming of Jesus.
We understand that this will be a time of wars and rumors of wars.
economic collapses, hyper inflation
famines, plagues
Government persecution of religion
the mark of the beast
forced to worship the beast
Christians to be martyred
Many people describe this as a time of unrestrained evil in the earth
The anti-Christ, and his followers, and system, will be given power to overcome the saints
many will be beheaded becasue they will not serve him
Jesus described the time leading up to the tribulation in Matthew 24:6-8
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
He said that these were the beginning of sorrows - this is not the tribulation, but the lead in to it.
As we discussed the four horsemen of the apocalypse we discussed both the lead in and the tribulation.
Later in his discourse in Matthew 24 Jesus said there would be “Great Tribulation” . He associated this with the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel. Generally considered the revealing of coming to total power of the anti-Christ. He said then shall be....
21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.
A good many people who believe in post millennial or Amillennial teachings, will argue that this is a reference to the destruction of Jerusalem, and the tribulation they suffered then.
However, this is not likely since Jesus said this would be a time of such tribulation that there has never been anything like it before, and never would be afterward.
As bad as their suffering was in 7- AD, the Jews, and the Christians have seen worse. The world has suffered worse.
Jesus also said of this tribulation that unless He intervened, no flesh would be saved.
This intervention is His second coming, and the establishment of His millennial kingdom. Since it has not yet occured, the great tribulation has not yet occured.
Seven Years of Tribulation?
Seven Years of Tribulation?
Most Evangelicals, like us believe that the tribulation will last for seven years, which correspond to the anti-Christ's power, and the great tribulation will last 3 1/2 years
We can be reasonably certain that the great tribulation will be 3 1/2 years, and this will correspond with the reign of the beasts of revelation 13
In Revelation 13 where we read of the 7 headed beast which comes up from the sea, John writes in vs. 5 “and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months”
In chapter 11:3 the two witnesses who are sent will prophesy for 3 1/2 years (1260 days), at which time the beast will overcome and kill them
This is likely to be the first half of the tribulation
In Revelation 12:14, the woman is driven into the wilderness where she is nourished a time, times and a half time. (she is helped 3 1/2 years) from the serpent
In Daniel 7:25, in speaking of anti-christ says that the saints will be given into his hand for a time, and times and a half time,
In Daniel 9:27 we see that the anti-christ will make a covenant for one week, and in the midst of that week he will break it, and bring the abomination of desolation that Jesus spoke of.
So, although it doe snot say exactly that the tribulation will last 7 years, we are given a great deal of information to put it together.
This anti-christ will last seven years. He will come in by flattery - he will be chosen
during this time there will be a great deal of trials or tribulation
at the midpoint, he will break his promises,
this is the point where he will be revealed, as Paul said in 2 Thes, declaring to himself that he is god.
It is likely that his coming into this place will correspond with his killing of the two witnesses - more on them in a later sermon.
So they are likely to minister during the first half of the tribulation -
So we can see from these brief passages that
As the anti-christ is coming to power, these two witnesses are also prophesying - and striking the earth as often as they wish - and holding back rain
So, God has not left Himself without a witness
Daniel says that he will be given power to wear out the saints - to make war with them and overcome them
So, there must still be saints in the earth
Revelation says that after the woman is helped in the wilderness the dragon is wroth and goes to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
So, they are still in the world also
no rapture
The woman is helped in the wilderness during the 3 1/2 years
This is significant - because even int he times of tribulation God is able to help us.
Revelation 3:10 - becasue you have kept the word of my patience - I will also keep you
not referring to the rapture
it is referring to guarding, protecting keeping us through this time.
we see the anti-Christ breaking the covenant as the beast is fully established in power- then continuing 3 1/2 years until the end
We do not know exactly when the tribulation begins
we also don’t know exactly when we transition from the “beginning of sorrows” to the tribulation
but we do know when the tribulation becomes the great tribulation
this is when the anti-christ is revealed
this is also when the church will withdraw from the world. - when Jesus said to go into the wilderness
I believe that God can sustain us there -The Church will never be powerless or irrelevant
Christians Are Not The Only Ones Who Suffer During the Tribulation
Christians Are Not The Only Ones Who Suffer During the Tribulation
There is so much talk about the mark of the beast, and not being able to buy or sell, that it may seem that devil is in complete control and happy
That is far from true. this will be a time of the pouring out of God’s wrath
there will be great earthquakes, droughts, meteors striking the earth, probably volcanoes and other cataclysmes
even as the devil strives to keep power, the people of the earth will face all kinds of suffering and destruction - more than ever before
Instead of repenting toward God, they will become angry at God
they still will not repent
They will gnaw their tongues for pain
they will cry out to the rocks fall on us and hide us from Him that sits on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb
This will certainly not be a time of comfort
During this time there will be a great many Christians who are sustained by miracles of God’s power and provision
like the people of God during the plagues of Egypt - Pharaoh's heart was hardened - but there were no flies in Goshen
Because God said He had put difference between His people and pharaoh's people.
These will be the ones He spoke of in Rev. 3:10, The ones who Daniel said “Do know their God”, the ones who have the Father’s seal in their forehead, the ones Ezekiel spoke of who do sigh at the sins and abominations…
These will not be all Christians - in fact, it will not be likely to be most Christians
Although God puts difference between His people and their people, many of us will not put difference between God’s ways and the world’s ways.
many of us are not willing to come out and be separate.
those world loving Christians will also partake in the world’s cup of wrath.
But there will be some who are sealed -
When is This Tribulation
When is This Tribulation
As I mentioned a moment ago, we do not know exactly when it begins. It is likely we will be well into it before that we understand that we are.
There are many things happening in the world which reveal that we are likely to be very close
But we are not yet there.
There will be the two witnesses
there will be the beginning of these worldwide troubles
Although we do not know when it starts, we will have clues, and we will know when the middles is - at least approximately
We know that when the beast is revealed and the mark of the beast fully implemented that there is no more than 3 1/2 years
Let Your Light Shine
Let Your Light Shine
Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:16 to redeem the time becasue the days are evil.
The tribulation is not something to be afraid of, or fear.
It is something to prepare for, like winter - but not to fear
Death in the tribulation is still death -
pain then will be no worse than pain today - hunger will still be hunger
I suppose the people who have the most to fear are us, becasue we have the most ease and prosperity - many people are already in tribulation
There is death very day in the world - and danger - and suffering - no with no certain endingtime
Then it will be no worse, just more frequent - but with a certain ending time.
There is also no special reward or opportunity to those who die of cancer, or in automobile accidents
but to those who face trials in these times there is both
although darkness may cover the earth and gross darkness the people...
1 Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
we need to arise and shine like never before -
we don’t know how long we have that we will still be able to preach freely
we don’t know how much longer we have that people will still listen at all
We don’t know how much longer we have until the sound doctrine of Christianity has been so diluted by selfianity that it will no longer even be called the gospel
But today, you can still make a difference
So, what is more important; your 401k or your family and community in Christ?
Is it your personal comfort and pleasure, or is it the recompense of reward that Moses sought?
Is it your popularity and acceptance more to be desired than the reproach of Christ?
Is the friendship with this world a closer ally than the Holy Spirit within you?
And if it should cost you everything, would that really be so much that you should hold back?
What will you be doing when Jesus comes?
Why, oh why will you wait to get started? The hour is now, the time is at hand.
45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.