What is "The Great Tribulation?"

What is the Great Tribulation?

Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Introduction:?

Jesus’ disciples had asked: Tell us when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and the end of the world? In answering these questions, Jesus mentions a time of tremendous trouble called the great tribulation (Matthew 24:21), or the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jeremiah 30:7). This time, which is seven years long, is described in several sections of Scripture, but especially in Revelation chapters 6-18, after which the Lord returns with His angels and saints and establishes His rule on the earth for 1000 years, a time known as the millennium.?

A clarification – some things that are NOT true about the tribulation.?

1.?????The tribulation is not the end of the world, which we find in?2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.?Prior to this time, the Lord will return at the close of the time of tribulation with the battle of Armageddon, and He will set up a thousand-year rule. At the end of the millennium, Satan, who had been bound for the 1000 years, will be released and deceive the unsaved. God will destroy them and then set up a new heaven and a new earth. These events are outlined especially in Revelation chapters 20-22.?

2.?????The unsaved dead will not be judged during the time of tribulation. This judgment of the lost at the great white throne is described in Revelation 20:11-15, which is after the 1000-year millennium.?Revelation 20:5a But the rest of the dead lived not again until after the thousand years were finished.

3.?????The church will not go through the tribulation. This was outlined in a previous lesson.

What will happen at the time of the great tribulation?

The first event is the rapture of the church. The true believers will be raised to meet the Lord Jesus in the air. First, the dead in Christ will leave their graves and receive new bodies. Those that are living will be changed and also meet the Lord in the air.?1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. I Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. 52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye; at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

We need to remember that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer, and that we are sealed until the day of redemption by the same Spirit, who will never leave us nor forsake us. When the church is raptured and removed from the earth, the restraining of the Holy Spirit in the believers is also removed, and Satan now has a freedom to rule unfettered which he did not have previously. (Of course, since the Holy Spirit is God, and God is Spirit and exists everywhere, He is not totally absent – but His restraining influence is removed.) 2 Thessalonians 2 speaks of the coming of antichrist and of him setting up his image in the rebuilt temple (more about that some other time)?2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work, only he who now letteth (hinders) will let (old English word meaning hindering), untll he be taken out of the way; 8. And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

Thus, following the rapture, the antichrist will be revealed, and the time of tribulation will begin. It is a time of unprecedented problems. God’s punishment will be poured out in a series of judgments. The first judgments (the seven seal judgments) begin with war and famine claiming the lives of 25% of the world population. Natural disasters in the heavens and earthquakes are terrifying.?Revelation 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and the rocks of the mountains, 16. And said to the mountains and rocks, fall on?us, and hide us from the face that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.?

These are followed by seven trumpet judgments, with unbelievable natural disasters as well as demonic afflictions culminating in another third of the population dying. Men are desperate to die but unable to do so.?Revelation 9:6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.?And finally, even worse trials come with the seven vial judgments of Revelation 16. The forces of evil combine to fight against the return of Christ at the battle of Armageddon, but when Jesus returns in chapter 19, the fight is over in a few moments of time. Jesus then sets up His millennial reign with his saints.

What should our response be?

Because we know that the church will be raptured out of the tribulation, this is a strong encouragement for us to be certain that we are saved. If we know that we are lost and have not yet received Christ as savior, we should do that. If we are not certain, we should make certain.?2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, if ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

We should recognize the importance of preaching the word to others, that they might also receive Christ. Many individuals sense a form of apocalypse approaching. At least some may be more open to responding to the gospel. The Lord wants every person to be saved. He has been patient and given us time. The tribulation reveals the wrath of God, but also His love, as He is willing to save anyone who receives Christ and turns from his sins in repentance.