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.
Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mark 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
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 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).
Daniel 8:23 And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up. 8:24 And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. 8:25 And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
The marriage supper of the Lamb will take place above while the tribulation continues on earth (Revelation 19:1-10).
Revelation 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
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 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 2:1,2); “…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 (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; revelation 4:1) and will last seven (7) 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);
settles on earth (Jerusalem) for a thousand-year reign called the Millennium (Revelation 20:4,5).
This means that it is post-rapture and pre-millennium or the 70th of Daniel’s seventy weeks (i.e. after the 69th week, the last week, the 70th – Daniel 9:26,27; Revelation 4:1-19,21; Matthew 24:15-31; 1 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; 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 desolations from the middle of the 7-year duration and ends with Christ’s advent.
This is when the antichrist breaks his 7-year peace covenant with Israel and attacks Jerusalem (Revelation 11:15-19:21; 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, men calling for mountains to fall upon them, anguish, earthquakes, burning rocks falling from heaven upon the earth and scorching it,
seas polluted, cattle and vegetation destroyed, millions dying from catastrophes, “as if a man did flee from a lion and a bear met him…
leaned his hand on the wall and a serpent bit him.”
Beasts and men will be in trouble, even mighty men will weep.
“Neither their silver nor their gold (riches) shall be able to deliver them”.
Whole cities and nations will be under great distress, perplexities, seas and waves roaring, hypertension and confusion as the powers of heaven are 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 19:1-21).
The Great Tribulation opens with the rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 14:1)
then the rising of the antichrist (2 Thessalonians 2:7,8).
He wins nations, some by war while others concede authority to him (Daniel 7:8,24,25; Revelation 17:8-14).
The False Prophet popularize him, making men to worship even his image.
No one. buys or sells without the mark or number (666) of the beast.
Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
While these go on, saints receive rewards in heaven (Revelation 2:17,25-28; 3:12).
Revelation 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. 2:25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 2:28 And I will give him the morning star.
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 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).
Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
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 31/2 years (Revelation 11:1-19; Daniel 12:1-7; Jeremiah 30:6,7).
Jeremiah 30:6 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? 30:7 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.
Jerusalem falls to the antichrist 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 7 vials (Revelation 15:1-6; 16:21; 18:1-24).
God’s two witnesses appear, killed and later resurrects (Revelation 11:1,12).
The marriage supper of the Lamb takes place (Revelation 19:1-10).
Revelation 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 19:9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
And saints prepare to return to earth with Christ (Jude 14,15; Revelation 19:11). Matthew 25:31).
The Great tribulation ends when Jerusalem is ravished by the antichrist with two thirds of it capture at the end of the 7th year,
and the children of Israel repent in great mourning and tears, calling for the Messiah, Jesus Christ, to come back to earth and establish the millennial reign over all humanity (Zechariah 14:4-8; Micah 1:3,4; Zechariah 11:25-27; Hebrews 8:8-12; 10:17; Zechariah 12:10-13:1; Isaiah 66:7,8).
Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 12:11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. 12:12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;
Jesus then descends, destroys the antichrist, the false prophet and cast them into the Lake of fire and destroys his armies at the battle of Armageddon (valley of Megiddon),
Revelation 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
then an angel binds the devil and cast him into the bottomless pit for 1000 years (Revelation 19:20; Ezekiel 38 and 39; Revelation 20:1-3; Zechariah 14; Revelation 20:1-10; 19:11-21; Isaiah 34; Jude 14,15).
Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 20:3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
Jesus Christ then builds a millennial temple at Jerusalem from where He rules the whole world.
Leave a Reply