50 - THE TRIBULATION
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. Matthew 24:21
INTRODUCTION In no other period of time in the past or future history of the world will there be so much suffering and universal destruction as in the last half of the seven years, called the Great Tribulation. This period of time will unleash more torture and misery than occurred during the Second World War that ended with an atomic holocaust. Most of the final book of the New Testament is devoted to a recounting of the events of those years. Portions of Daniel, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel also speak to the events. Among Christians, even non-Christians, great interest exists in what will happen to the world during the Great Tribulation. The prophet Daniel prophesied concerning the seventy weeks in which God would be dealing with the nation Israel. As in the case of other Old Testament writers, the mystery of the, church was kept hidden. Daniel did accurately predict the death of the Messiah and the destruction of the city of Jerusalem; after the sixty-ninth week, "shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary" (Daniel 9:26).
Most historians agree Jesus was crucified about A.D. 30, and the Romans destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70. This ended the sixty-nine weeks that were predicted by Daniel. Then the prophet describes a gap between that time and the beginning of the Tribulation. The church age fits into that gap and has lasted almost two millennia. There is no indication of the length of the church age, also called the "age of grace." At the end of this age, "he [Antichrist] shall confirm the covenant with many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate" (Daniel 9:27).
God has still a future for Israel. There is coming a period of about seven years when Israel will once again be the chief focus of God’s activity. Unfortunately, much of that "week" will be devoted to judgment and the world will be in a continual state of chaos. But the period is coming. It is certain as the promises of God (Daniel 9:24-27). The Great Tribulation is as certain as the return of Christ himself (2 Thessalonians 2:2-4). THE CHARACTER OF THE TRIBULATION
If the Christian did not realize he would be taken out of the world before the Tribulation begins, he could become very discouraged looking; forward to those three-and-a-half years. They will be characterized by distress, judgment, darkness, suffering, and sorrow. There is no way to brighten the picture that the Bible paints concerning life in those years. Understanding what lies ahead for unbelievers who are alive at the time of the rapture has caused many people to reconsider the claims of Christ on their life.
Distress. Writing seven centuries before the birth of Christ, the prophet Zephaniah vividly described the character of the Great Tribulation. "That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness" (Zephaniah 1:15). What was true in Judah during the invasion of Nebuchadnezzar will be multiplied in all the world during the Great Tribulation.
Judgment. Judgment characterizes much of the Great Tribulation. John saw an angel flying in heaven, "Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of water" (Revelation 14:7). The judgments of God upon the world that are manifested during the Great Tribulation will be a message to the world to repent and worship God (Revelation 15:4). Those who will not recognize the claims of Christ before the rapture will continually witness the ;power of God manifest in judgment throughout the Tribulation.
Darkness. Amos declared, "The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.. . . Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? even, very dark, and no brightness in it?" (Amos 5:18, Amos 5:20). Darkness is often used in the Bible to portray the state of unregenerate man, lost in the darkness of his sin until the light of the gospel shines through. As the Tribulation begins with the departure of the church (a candlestick- Revelation 1:20), the world. will be placed in even greater spiritual darkness than now exists.
Suffering. One of the chief consequences of sin in the world is the problem of pain and suffering. During the Great Tribulation when sin is no longer restrained, pain and suffering will be greatly multiplied. Jesus, speaking of this period, said, "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matthew 24:21). Those living in the midst of this chaos will call for the rocks to fall on them and destroy them, "For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Revelation 6:17). Jesus accurately described this period as "the beginning of sorrows" (Matthew 24:8). THE COURSE OF THE TRIBULATION The Tribulation will begin with the rapture of the church and the revelation of the man of sin. At first, anti-Semitism will be minimal and a covenant will be made between the beast (Antichrist) and Israel (Daniel 9:27). The peace, that is promised by Antichrist will not last. The world begins to experience three series of seven judgments of God. The chaos created by the evil forces that govern the world at that time will result in a breaking of the covenant with Israel and a threat to the very existence of the nation. As the final "week" of Daniel’s vision begins, a gigantic universal state church is in control as the dominant religious movement. Israel is in the Promised Land, yet still is not regenerate, and God is about to judge the world.
Seals. The first of three series of judgments described in Revelation accompanies the breaking of the seals. As each seal on a scroll is broken, a specific judgment takes place on earth. With the breaking of the first seal, a white horseman goes forth to conquer, meaning war (Revelation 6:1-2). The second seal brings a rider on a red horse taking peace from the earth’ (Revelation 6:3-4). A black horse representing famine accompanies the third seal (Revelation 6:5-6) and a final pale horse takes the life of a fourth of the world’s population as the fourth seal is broken (Revelation 6:7-8). The fifth seal is broken revealing martyred saints in heaven praying for vengeance (Revelation 6:9-11). With the breaking of the sixth seal, various natural phenomena occur, creating great fear in the people who remain (Revelation 6:12-17). The final seal is broken, bringing about an awesome silence in heaven for about half an hour while seven angels prepare to blow their trumpets.
SEVEN SEALS OF JUDGMENT
1. White horse conquering Revelation 6:1-17. Red horse taking peace Revelation 6:3-17. Black horse bringing famine Revelation 6:5-17. Pale horse bringing death Revelation 6:7-17. Martyred saints prayingRevelation 6:9-17. Heavenly phenomena Revelation 6:12-17. Silence Revelation 8:1 The 144,000. The appearance of 144,000 Jews occurs early in the Seventieth Week. These are especially marked off by God for the special task of world evangelization (Revelation 7:1-8). As a result of their commitment and effectiveness in accomplishing this task, the Bible identifies an innumerable group of persons from every social, ethnic, and linguistic group who are saved during the Great Tribulation (Revelation 7:9-17). The prophecy concerning the success of these men should challenge us to a greater commitment to and involvement in world evangelization during this present age.
Two witnesses. During the first half of the Tribulation, two special witnesses begin to preach. Although they are not clearly identified, they do have the power of God to perform miracles similar to those of Moses and Elijah (Revelation 11:6). Some have speculated that these witnesses may be Enoch and Elijah as they have not yet died and every man has an appointment with death (Hebrews 9:27). These men are killed by the beast, and their bodies are left lying in the streets of Jerusalem (Revelation 11:7). For three-and-a-half days their bodies will lie on the streets while the world celebrates their death. Then they will be resurrected and raptured into heaven (Revelation 11:8-12). Despite the evangelistic efforts of these witnesses and the 144,000 Jews, the world will continue in its sin. Many will be saved but apparently many more will choose to follow the beast.
Trumpets. As seven angels blow their trumpets in heaven to announce the transfer of ownership of the world to Christ, additional plagues occur on earth. At the blowing of the first trumpet, a third of nature is destroyed (Revelation 8:1-7). The second trumpet marks the destruction of a third of the sea (Revelation 8:8-9). The next plague is the pollution of one third of all the earth’s fresh water (Revelation 8:10-11). This is followed by a fourth trumpet, causing the destruction of one third of the heavens (stars, etc.- Revelation 8:12-13). The fifth trumpet is accompanied by a locust:-scorpion like creature bringing with it pain (Revelation 9:1-12). One third of the remaining population of the world is destroyed at the blowing of the sixth trumpet (Revelation 9:13-21). The great announcement is made at the blowing of the seventh trumpet but it is not yet realized. "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever" (Revelation 11:15).
SEVEN TRUMPETS
1. Nature smitten Revelation 8:1-13. Sea turned to blood Revelation 8:8-13. Pollution of fresh water Revelation 8:10-13. Destruction in heavens Revelation 8:12-13. Locust-scorpions Revelation 9:1-12 6. 1/3 population destroyed Revelation 9:13-21. Great announcement Revelation 10:15-19
Battle of Gog and Magog. During the latter half of the Tribulation, an alliance between Gog and his allies will invade Israel from the north. These nations will fail in great confusion in their attempt to destroy Israel. It will take seven months to bury the dead (Ezekiel 38:1-19, Ezekiel 38:25). The geographic regions included in Ezekiel’s vision of the allies is today occupied by the Russian and the Soviet-bloc countries in eastern Europe. This battle may be fought with allies attacking from the east (Revelation 16:12-16). Today, mainland China is the only nation in the world with an army or militia the size of that identified by John.
Bowl judgments. A final series of judgments precede the Battle of Armageddon. These are pictured as angels pouring out bowls or vials of judgment upon the world. As the first angel acts, people are covered with boils and sores (Revelation 16:1-2). The destruction of all remaining sea life is contained in the second bowl (Revelation 16:5). The third bowl will turn all fresh water to blood (Revelation 16:4-7). The fourth angel will intensify the sun’s heat to unbearable proportions (Revelation 16:8-9). This will be followed with darkness and pain, perhaps as a result of sunburn and other complications of the former judgment (Revelation 16:10-11). The sixth act here performed will effect the drying up of the Euphrates River (Revelation 16:12-16). The final bowl of judgment includes destruction caused by 125-pound hailstones (Revelation 16:17-21).
Battle of Armageddon. The world will be unable to handle the problems caused by these judgments. Many other minor SEVEN BOWLS OF JUDGMENT
1. Sores Revelation 16:1-21. Sea life destroyed Revelation 16:3 3. Fresh water to blood Revelation 16:4-21. Sunk heat intensified Revelation 16:8-21. Dartmess and pain Revelation 16:10-21. Drying of Euphrates River Revelation 16:12-21. Hail stones Revelation 16:17-21 events will take place in these years as anti-Semitism continues to grow. Finally, demons will influence world leaders to assemble for their final battle in an attempt to destroy Israel and God (Revelation 16:14-16). While demons are identified as a source inspiring this battle, the Bible clearly identifies these leaders as responsible for their decision to organize for this battle (Revelation 19:19). Even in this great anti-God struggle, God is iii control (Revelation 19:11-16). The Battle of Armageddon and the triumphant return of Christ mark the conclusion of the Great Tribulation.
CONCLUSION
Throughout the darkest days this world has yet to experience, God is still on the throne to accomplish his will. Today many Christians talk about the economic, social, and moral problems of our world as if to suggest the work of God cannot be accomplished. If God has worked in the dark days of the past, and will save people and accomplish his will in future dark days, there is no valid reason for doubting his effectiveness today. The key message to remember in any study of the Great Tribulation is clearly this: "God is still on the throne."
DAILY READINGS Monday: Revelation 6:1-17 Tuesday: Revelation 7:1-17 Wednesday: Revelation 8:1-13 Thursday: Revelation 9:1-21 Friday: Revelation 11:1-19 Saturday: Revelation 16:1-21 Sunday: Revelation 19:1-21