BIBLE DOCTRINE 17
THE GREAT TRIBULATION
God’s Word
teaches:
That the Great
Tribulation will occur after the Rapture and will be a time of terrible
suffering on earth, it is also referred to as the time of
“Jacob’s
trouble”- Matthew 24:21, 22, 29; Revelation 9:16; Mark 13:19;
2 Thessalonians
2:3-12; Revelation 13. During this time, the Antichrist will take possession of
this world for a reign of terror. He will not be a system or organization but a
person - a supernatural, diabolical being, in the form of a man who will
blaspheme and proclaim himself to be God (Daniel 8:23-25; 2 Thessalonians
2:7-12; Revelation 13:1-10). The Marriage Supper of the Lamb will take place
above while the Tribulation continues on earth - Revelation 19:1-10.
The Great
Tribulation is described as the “... time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah
30:7) “... great tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the
world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24:21). “... The
day of the Lord” (Joel 1:15) “... A day of darkness and of gloominess, a
day of clouds and of thick darkness” (Joel 2: 2). “... a day of
wasteness and desolation" (Zephaniah 1:14, 15). “... a time of
trouble" (Daniel 12:1). The purpose of the great tribulation is to
make Israel suffer so that they can be ready to cry to the Messiah (the Lord
Jesus Christ whom they, at present, reject) to come back to them. It is also to
judge the unbelieving men and women of all ages (Zechariah 12:10, 11; 13:1-9;
14:12-13).
The
Bible shows that the great tribulation will take off after the rapture of the
church (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 4:1) and will last for seven years.
It will end at the second Advent of Jesus Christ when He alights on Mount
Olives (Zechariah 14:4; Matthew 25:31; Revelation 19:11,12; 2 Thessalonians
1:7-10; Jude 14,15; Acts 1:11) and settles on earth (Jerusalem) for a
thousand-year reign called the Millennial Reign (Revelation 20:4,5). This means that it is post-rapture and per-millennium
or, the 70th of Daniel’s 70 weeks (i.e. after the 69th week) Daniel 9:26, 27;
Revelation 19:11-19, 21; Matthew 24:15-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8). It is
post-rapture because God will not like His children to suffer the great
tribulation, its judgments and destructions. He saved Noah (a preacher of
righteousness) and his family before destroying the world with flood (Genesis
6:8-10; Genesis 7:1-13, 16-24; 8:15-22). He rescued Lot (who was vexed with the
filthy conversation of Sodom) and his family before destroying it with fire
(Genesis 19:10-29). So God will take away His children from the earth before
the great tribulation begins. The great tribulation reaches its peak of
destructions, judgments, terrors, frightening wars and desolation from the
middle of the seven-year duration and ends with Christ’s Second Advent. This is
when the anti-Christ breaks his seven-year peace covenant with Israel and
attacks Jerusalem (Revelation 19:15-19, 21;
Matthew 24:15-22; Daniel 12:1; Jeremiah 30:6-9).
The
great tribulation is described as being full of woes, judgments, famines,
bloody wars, explosions, plagues (incurable epidemics which become pandemic),
terror, anguish and earthquakes. It will
be a time men will be calling unto the mountain to fall upon them; burning
rocks falling from heaven upon the earth and scorching it, seas will be
polluted, cattle and vegetation will be destroyed and millions will be dying
from catastrophes, “as if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him
... leaned his hand on the wall, and
serpent bit him”. Beasts and men
will be in trouble even mighty men will weep. “Neither their gold and silver
(riches) will be able to deliver them”. Whole cities and nations will be
under great distress, perplexity, as the
seas and waves roaring, hypertension and confusion as the
powers of the heavens will be shaken by God (Amos 5:18,19; Isaiah 2:19;
24:1-3,6,19; Mark 13:24; Joel 1:15; Luke 21:25,26; Matthew 24:11-26; Revelation
19:1-3,11-19,21). The great tribulation opens with the rapture of the church (I
Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 14:1) then the rise of the Anti-Christ (2
Thessalonians 1:7, 8). He wins nations;
some by war while others concede authority to him (Daniel 7:8, 24-25;
Revelation 17:8-14). The False Prophet popularizes him, making men to worship
even his image. No one buys or sells without the mark or number (666) of the
beast. While these are going on, saints receive rewards in heaven (Revelation
2:17, 25-28; 3:12). There will be great apostasy, more of false religions and
increase in the power of the devil who will be driven down to the earth (2
Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 12:10-12; 13:2, 12-18). God’s planned judgments
will fall on men in a divine sequence, producing supernatural phenomena and
demonic creatures unknown to man. These will come as Christ opens seven seals
of a scroll on which they occur, then the blowing of seven trumpets each, a
harbinger of more woes. 144,000 Jews will be sealed and raptured as well as
countless tribulation saints from all over the world (Revelation 7:1-17).
Saints in tribulation will be martyred (Revelation 6:9-11; 14:13; 20:4-6). A
mighty Angel appears with rainbow on his head, a little book opened and swears
that “there should be time no longer”, (Revelation 10:1-11). After this,
the high point of catastrophes called “the great tribulation” begins for
the remaining 3½ years (Revelation 11:1-19; Daniel 12:1,5-7; Jeremiah 30:6,7). Jerusalem falls to the
Anti-Christ and Israel is defeated (Matthew 24:15-22; Daniel 11:40-45). Israel
runs for refuge in old Edom (Revelation 12:6,13-17; Isaiah 16:1-5). There will
be more woes on earth through the pouring out on it of the content of seven
vials (Revelation 15:1-6; 16:21; 18:1-24). God’s two witnesses appear, are
killed and later resurrect (Revelation 11:7-12). The marriage supper of the
Lamb takes place (Revelation 19:1-10) and saints prepare to return to the earth
with Christ (Jude 14, 15; Revelation 19:11).
The
scope will cover Israel, the Middle East and the whole earth. The powers at
work will be (a) the Anti-Christ called the Beast, the King of the north, the
Syrian, the Assyrian, the king of Babylon, the extortioner, the man of sin, the
little horn, the Prince that shall come, a king of fierce countenance and
understanding dark saying, the spoiler, the son of perdition and that wicked
one empowered personally by Satan (2
Thessalonian 2:1-10; Daniel 7:8,24; 8:9,23; 9:26,27,36-45; Revelation 13:1-18;
14:9-11; Isaiah 10:31; 30:31; Micah 5:3-15; Isaiah 14:4; 16:4; Daniel 7:11).
(b) The false Prophet (Revelation 13:1-19; 14:9-11; 15:2-4; 16:2-12; 19:20;
Daniel 9:27; 11:35, 45; 12:7; Matthew 24:15). (c) God’s powerful judgments
(Joel 1:15; 2:11; Amos 5:18; Revelation 4-19:1-21). (d) The devil (Revelation
12:7-17; 20:1-2; 2 Thessalonian 2:9)
While
terrors are unleashed on the earth, saints will be (a) receiving rewards: crowns, mansions, new names, white stones, etc.,
at the judgment seat of Christ (Bema) (I Corinthians 3:11-15; Luke 14:14; I
Corinthians 9:24-27; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10-12; Matthew 16:27; John
14:1,2; 1Thessalonians 2:19; James 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:8; Revelation 2:17,25-28;
3:12,21; 22:12-16). The believers' time of judgment and reward only means the
evaluation of believers’ works for which they may receive rewards or loss of
reward. All raptured believers will be eternally saved. (b) Rejoicing and
feasting at the marriage supper in heaven (Revelation 19:6-9) (c) Worshiping God with the angels (Revelation
7:9-17; 14:1-5; 4:5,7) and (d) preparing for the second Advent with Christ upon
white horses (Jude 14,15; Revelation 19:11-14; Matthew 25:31).
The great tribulation ends when
Jerusalem is ravished by the Anti-Christ with two thirds of it captured at the
end of the seventh year, and the children of Israel will repent in great
mourning and tears, calling for the Messiah, Jesus Christ to come back to the
earth and establish the millennial reign all over humanity (Zechariah 14:4-8;
Micah 1:3,4; Zechariah 14:1-3; 13:1; 12:4-14; Zephaniah 3:8; Joel 3:13-16). All
Israel will be saved (Romans 11:25-27; Hebrews 8:8-12; 10:17; Zechariah 12:10;
13:1; Isaiah 66:7,8). Jesus then descends, destroys the anti-Christ, the false
prophet and casts them into the lake of fire together with his armies at the battle
of Armageddon (valley of Megiddo), then an angel, binds the devil and casts him
into the bottomless pit for 1000 years (Revelation 19:20; Ezekiel 38:3,9;
Revelation 20:1-3; Zechariah 14; Revelation 1-20; Revelation 19:11-21; Isaiah
34; Jude 14,15). Jesus Christ then builds a millennial temple at Jerusalem from
where He rules the whole world.
