"What is the Great Tribulation?"
The Tribulation is a future time period when the Lord will accomplish at least two aspects of His plan: 1) He will complete His discipline of the nation Israel (Daniel 9:24), and 2) He will judge the unbelieving, godless inhabitants of the earth (Revelation 6 - 18). The length of the Tribulation is seven years. This is determined by an understanding of the seventy weeks of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27.
The Great Tribulation is the last half of the Tribulation period, three and one-half years in length. It is distinguished from the Tribulation period because the Beast, or Antichrist, will be revealed, and the wrath of God will greatly intensify during this time. Thus, it is important at this point to emphasize that the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation are not synonymous terms. Within eschatology (the study of future things), the Tribulation refers to the full seven-year period while the “Great Tribulation” refers to the second half of the Tribulation as well as "JACOB'S TROUBLE referring specifically to Israel who is the main object of God's program for this time. SEE: Jeremiah 30:
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. 3 For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
4 And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5 For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. 8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: 9 but they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
10 Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel:
for, lo, I will save thee from afar,
and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet,
and none shall make him afraid.
11 For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
An understanding of Daniel 9:24-27 is necessary in order to understand the purpose and time of the tribulation. This passage speaks of 70 weeks that have been declared against “your people.” Daniel's people are the Jews, the nation of Israel, and Daniel 9:24 speaks of a period of time that God has given “to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.” God declares that “seventy sevens” will fulfill all these things. This is 70 sevens of years, or 490 years. (Some translations refer to 70 weeks of years.) This is confirmed by another part of this passage in Daniel. In verses 25 and 26, Daniel is told that the Messiah will be cut off after “seven sevens and sixty-two sevens” (69 total), beginning with the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. In other words, 69 sevens of years (483 years) after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem, the Messiah will be cut off. Biblical historians confirm that 483 years passed from the time of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the time when Jesus was crucified. Most Christian scholars, regardless of their view of eschatology (future things/events), have the above understanding of Daniel's 70 sevens.
It is Christ Himself who used the phrase "Great Tribulation" with reference to the last half of the Tribulation. In Matthew 24:21, Jesus says, "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall." In this verse Jesus is referring to the event of Matthew 24:15, which describes the revealing of the abomination of desolation, the man also known as the Antichrist. Also, Jesus in Matthew 24:29-30 states, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days . . . the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory." In this passage, Jesus defines the Great Tribulation (v.21) as beginning with the revealing of the abomination of desolation (v.15) and ending with Christ's second coming (v.30).
Other passages that refer to the Great Tribulation are Daniel 12:1, which says, "And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time." It seems that Jesus was quoting this verse when He spoke the words recorded in Matthew 24:21. Also referring to the Great Tribulation is Jeremiah 30:7, "Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it." The phrase “Jacob’s distress” refers to the nation of Israel, which will experience persecution and natural disasters such as have never before been seen.
Considering the information Christ gave us in Matthew 24:15-30, it is easy to conclude that the beginning of the Great Tribulation has much to do with the abomination of desolation, an action of the Antichrist. In Daniel 9:26-27, we find that this man will make a "covenant" (a peace pact) with the world for seven years (one “week”; again, see the article on the Tribulation). Halfway through the seven-year period—"in the middle of the week"—we are told this man will break the covenant he made, stopping sacrifice and grain offering, which specifically refers to his actions in the rebuilt temple of the future. Revelation 13:1-10 gives even more detail concerning the Beast's actions, and just as important, it also verifies the length of time he will be in power. Revelation 13:5 says he will be in power for 42 months, which is three and one-half years, the length of the Great Tribulation.
Revelation offers us the most information about the Great Tribulation. From Revelation 13 when the Beast is revealed until Christ returns in Revelation 19, we are given a picture of God's wrath on the earth because of unbelief and rebellion (Revelation 16-18). It is also a picture of how God disciplines and at the same time protects His people Israel (Revelation 14:1-5) until He keeps His promise to Israel by establishing an earthly kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6).
WHY PRE TRIB RAPTURE? BIBLE BASED REASONS.
THE RAPTURE IS FOR US!
It is our Lord's will that His bride, who is the true church, be comforted. (Titus 2:13-15; John 14:1-3). He will call us Home before the Great Tribulation (2 Th. 2:1-12)
A great division exists in the minds of Christians. Will the church go through any part of the "Great Tribulation" or will Christ call us out before that terrible time? This is readily made clear by the following issue IF understood!
The ISSUE is our failure to correctly identify the nation Israel and Jew's in God's program AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME PERIOD, who GO THROUGH The Great Tribulation under judgment, and the church, consisting of Jew's and Gentiles, who are the bride of Christ AND RETURN WITH HIM at the end of the Great Tribulation, at the last day called the the great and terrible day of the Lord at the Battle of Armageddon (Rev.19:11-16). NOT UNDER JUDGMENT.
Salvation comes to Jew's during the Tribulation (Rev.7:1-8).
They are NOT members of the church. If the true church were still on earth, they would become a part of His bride, the true church! But they are of a new Israel to be delivered by our Lord at Tribulations end (Joel 2:30-3:21; Rev.19:11-16). A nation formed in a day! (Isaiah 66:7-9).
Let us reason together and see why we will NOT enter into the"Great Tribulation".
THE CHURCH IS NOT APPOINTED TO WRATH!
Romans 5:8-9 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10" For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."
Clearly, we don't have to do anything to make ourselves worthy outside of praying for salvation. For somebody to have to "do" something, outside of making the decision to accept the free gift of salvation, would be "works". Our salvation is based on grace through faith; not works.
Ephesians 2:8-9" For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Nor are we appointed to Judgment.
"Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which will shall upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." Rev.3:10
WE WHO ARE SAVED LOOK FOR HIS COMING DAILY! WE WAIT, IN FAITH, FOR HIM. PATIENTLY! 2 Th.3:5
AND WE WILL INHERIT HIS PROMISES TO US. Heb.6:12
AND NO MAN WILL TAKE OUR CROWN AS WE AWAIT HIM AND NOT THE "TRIBULATION" OF 7 YEARS AND THE APPEARANCE OF anti- Christ. Rev.3:11;
Not before the church is removed from the earth can "The Day of the Lord" begin, which starts with this supernatural event, and is followed by the "Great Tribulation" of 7 years. Nor can "the man of sin", to be possessed by Satan, be revealed as on a white horse coming to deliver mankind from it's irresolvable perplexities, until believer's are gone. Satan's time will come for his make believe rule on earth through this man of sin called Antichrist, no longer having a place above, after being thrown out of Heaven by the archangel Michael (Rev.12:7-17).
The departure (Gr. apostasia) of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 will precede the revelation of the Man of Sin (the Antichrist). The rendering of "apostasia" as "rebellion", "apostasy" or "falling away" in most English Bibles is unfortunate since these are secondary or derived meanings of the word. Its primary meaning is "departure" which, in this verse, refers to the rapture of the church. In consequence of the rapture, great apostasy will occur on earth while the Antichrist institutes his lawless and utterly sinful reforms. That time will be characterized by a worldwide moral and spiritual falling away.
Contrary to the error of some who teach that the Holy Spirit will not be here during the Great Tribulation, HE WILL, to save, seal, comfort and empower Jewish and Gentile believers in this most dreadful time in earths history and convict of sin for salvation purposes.***HE WILL NOT RESTRAIN EVIL ANYMORE!!!
It is an Evil time of God's wrath and long awaited judgments on mankind for sin, especially Israel not in faith.
AFTER THE GREAT TRIBULATION
ISRAEL IS THE FOCUS OF GOD TO RE-ESTABLISH HER AS A NEW BORN AGAIN NATION "IN HIS FAITH"
After The Regathering Of Israel IN MESSIAH
Amos 9:
11 "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:"
15"And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God."
THE NEW COVENANT WITH ISRAEL
Jeremiah 31:
31 "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people."
The Tribulation is a future time period when the Lord will accomplish at least two aspects of His plan: 1) He will complete His discipline of the nation Israel (Daniel 9:24), and 2) He will judge the unbelieving, godless inhabitants of the earth (Revelation 6 - 18). The length of the Tribulation is seven years. This is determined by an understanding of the seventy weeks of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27.
The Great Tribulation is the last half of the Tribulation period, three and one-half years in length. It is distinguished from the Tribulation period because the Beast, or Antichrist, will be revealed, and the wrath of God will greatly intensify during this time. Thus, it is important at this point to emphasize that the Tribulation and the Great Tribulation are not synonymous terms. Within eschatology (the study of future things), the Tribulation refers to the full seven-year period while the “Great Tribulation” refers to the second half of the Tribulation as well as "JACOB'S TROUBLE referring specifically to Israel who is the main object of God's program for this time. SEE: Jeremiah 30:
The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. 3 For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
4 And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5 For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. 6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? 7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. 8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: 9 but they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
10 Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel:
for, lo, I will save thee from afar,
and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet,
and none shall make him afraid.
11 For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
An understanding of Daniel 9:24-27 is necessary in order to understand the purpose and time of the tribulation. This passage speaks of 70 weeks that have been declared against “your people.” Daniel's people are the Jews, the nation of Israel, and Daniel 9:24 speaks of a period of time that God has given “to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy.” God declares that “seventy sevens” will fulfill all these things. This is 70 sevens of years, or 490 years. (Some translations refer to 70 weeks of years.) This is confirmed by another part of this passage in Daniel. In verses 25 and 26, Daniel is told that the Messiah will be cut off after “seven sevens and sixty-two sevens” (69 total), beginning with the decree to rebuild Jerusalem. In other words, 69 sevens of years (483 years) after the decree to rebuild Jerusalem, the Messiah will be cut off. Biblical historians confirm that 483 years passed from the time of the decree to rebuild Jerusalem to the time when Jesus was crucified. Most Christian scholars, regardless of their view of eschatology (future things/events), have the above understanding of Daniel's 70 sevens.
It is Christ Himself who used the phrase "Great Tribulation" with reference to the last half of the Tribulation. In Matthew 24:21, Jesus says, "For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall." In this verse Jesus is referring to the event of Matthew 24:15, which describes the revealing of the abomination of desolation, the man also known as the Antichrist. Also, Jesus in Matthew 24:29-30 states, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days . . . the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory." In this passage, Jesus defines the Great Tribulation (v.21) as beginning with the revealing of the abomination of desolation (v.15) and ending with Christ's second coming (v.30).
Other passages that refer to the Great Tribulation are Daniel 12:1, which says, "And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time." It seems that Jesus was quoting this verse when He spoke the words recorded in Matthew 24:21. Also referring to the Great Tribulation is Jeremiah 30:7, "Alas! for that day is great, There is none like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s distress, But he will be saved from it." The phrase “Jacob’s distress” refers to the nation of Israel, which will experience persecution and natural disasters such as have never before been seen.
Considering the information Christ gave us in Matthew 24:15-30, it is easy to conclude that the beginning of the Great Tribulation has much to do with the abomination of desolation, an action of the Antichrist. In Daniel 9:26-27, we find that this man will make a "covenant" (a peace pact) with the world for seven years (one “week”; again, see the article on the Tribulation). Halfway through the seven-year period—"in the middle of the week"—we are told this man will break the covenant he made, stopping sacrifice and grain offering, which specifically refers to his actions in the rebuilt temple of the future. Revelation 13:1-10 gives even more detail concerning the Beast's actions, and just as important, it also verifies the length of time he will be in power. Revelation 13:5 says he will be in power for 42 months, which is three and one-half years, the length of the Great Tribulation.
Revelation offers us the most information about the Great Tribulation. From Revelation 13 when the Beast is revealed until Christ returns in Revelation 19, we are given a picture of God's wrath on the earth because of unbelief and rebellion (Revelation 16-18). It is also a picture of how God disciplines and at the same time protects His people Israel (Revelation 14:1-5) until He keeps His promise to Israel by establishing an earthly kingdom (Revelation 20:4-6).
WHY PRE TRIB RAPTURE? BIBLE BASED REASONS.
THE RAPTURE IS FOR US!
It is our Lord's will that His bride, who is the true church, be comforted. (Titus 2:13-15; John 14:1-3). He will call us Home before the Great Tribulation (2 Th. 2:1-12)
A great division exists in the minds of Christians. Will the church go through any part of the "Great Tribulation" or will Christ call us out before that terrible time? This is readily made clear by the following issue IF understood!
The ISSUE is our failure to correctly identify the nation Israel and Jew's in God's program AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME PERIOD, who GO THROUGH The Great Tribulation under judgment, and the church, consisting of Jew's and Gentiles, who are the bride of Christ AND RETURN WITH HIM at the end of the Great Tribulation, at the last day called the the great and terrible day of the Lord at the Battle of Armageddon (Rev.19:11-16). NOT UNDER JUDGMENT.
Salvation comes to Jew's during the Tribulation (Rev.7:1-8).
They are NOT members of the church. If the true church were still on earth, they would become a part of His bride, the true church! But they are of a new Israel to be delivered by our Lord at Tribulations end (Joel 2:30-3:21; Rev.19:11-16). A nation formed in a day! (Isaiah 66:7-9).
Let us reason together and see why we will NOT enter into the"Great Tribulation".
THE CHURCH IS NOT APPOINTED TO WRATH!
Romans 5:8-9 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come."
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10" For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him."
Clearly, we don't have to do anything to make ourselves worthy outside of praying for salvation. For somebody to have to "do" something, outside of making the decision to accept the free gift of salvation, would be "works". Our salvation is based on grace through faith; not works.
Ephesians 2:8-9" For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Nor are we appointed to Judgment.
"Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which will shall upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." Rev.3:10
WE WHO ARE SAVED LOOK FOR HIS COMING DAILY! WE WAIT, IN FAITH, FOR HIM. PATIENTLY! 2 Th.3:5
AND WE WILL INHERIT HIS PROMISES TO US. Heb.6:12
AND NO MAN WILL TAKE OUR CROWN AS WE AWAIT HIM AND NOT THE "TRIBULATION" OF 7 YEARS AND THE APPEARANCE OF anti- Christ. Rev.3:11;
Not before the church is removed from the earth can "The Day of the Lord" begin, which starts with this supernatural event, and is followed by the "Great Tribulation" of 7 years. Nor can "the man of sin", to be possessed by Satan, be revealed as on a white horse coming to deliver mankind from it's irresolvable perplexities, until believer's are gone. Satan's time will come for his make believe rule on earth through this man of sin called Antichrist, no longer having a place above, after being thrown out of Heaven by the archangel Michael (Rev.12:7-17).
The departure (Gr. apostasia) of 2 Thessalonians 2:3 will precede the revelation of the Man of Sin (the Antichrist). The rendering of "apostasia" as "rebellion", "apostasy" or "falling away" in most English Bibles is unfortunate since these are secondary or derived meanings of the word. Its primary meaning is "departure" which, in this verse, refers to the rapture of the church. In consequence of the rapture, great apostasy will occur on earth while the Antichrist institutes his lawless and utterly sinful reforms. That time will be characterized by a worldwide moral and spiritual falling away.
Contrary to the error of some who teach that the Holy Spirit will not be here during the Great Tribulation, HE WILL, to save, seal, comfort and empower Jewish and Gentile believers in this most dreadful time in earths history and convict of sin for salvation purposes.***HE WILL NOT RESTRAIN EVIL ANYMORE!!!
It is an Evil time of God's wrath and long awaited judgments on mankind for sin, especially Israel not in faith.
AFTER THE GREAT TRIBULATION
ISRAEL IS THE FOCUS OF GOD TO RE-ESTABLISH HER AS A NEW BORN AGAIN NATION "IN HIS FAITH"
After The Regathering Of Israel IN MESSIAH
Amos 9:
11 "In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:"
15"And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God."
THE NEW COVENANT WITH ISRAEL
Jeremiah 31:
31 "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people."
AFTER GREAT TRIBULATION
***After the rapture of the church, after the seven-year long tribulation, after the war of Armageddon and the resurrection of the saints, Jesus will rule on the earth for one thousand years Revelation 20:4-6. The purpose of the Millennial Kingdom is to establish Christ as King in Jerusalem, sitting on the throne of David Luke 1:32-33 and to fulfill the promises God has made to Israel. They will bless the other nations, fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant Genesis 12:1-3. They will take control of the promised geographical borders, fulfilling the Palestinian covenant Deuteronomy 30:1-10. And they will experience forgiveness and a renewed relationship with God, fulfilling the Davidic covenant 2 Samuel 7:10-13.
***After the rapture of the church, after the seven-year long tribulation, after the war of Armageddon and the resurrection of the saints, Jesus will rule on the earth for one thousand years Revelation 20:4-6. The purpose of the Millennial Kingdom is to establish Christ as King in Jerusalem, sitting on the throne of David Luke 1:32-33 and to fulfill the promises God has made to Israel. They will bless the other nations, fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant Genesis 12:1-3. They will take control of the promised geographical borders, fulfilling the Palestinian covenant Deuteronomy 30:1-10. And they will experience forgiveness and a renewed relationship with God, fulfilling the Davidic covenant 2 Samuel 7:10-13.
SPREAD THE GOSPEL OF GRACE THROUGH CHRIST JESUS
First Corinthians 15:1-11
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