On one of my previous posts, we had some discussion of the tribulation, and there was a hint of semantics in some of the discussion. I wanted to take the time to give my take on the word “tribulation” and the event “tribulation”.
As pointed out by ZadokTM, the term “tribulation” is defined as:
Tribulation: An experience that tests one’s endurance, patience, or faith.
(The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
I agree with this as the definition of the word tribulation. We see this everyday in many countries where the people are not as accepting of Christianity as they are here in the United States. It is also, to a degree, experienced by believers in the United States, but mainly on personal levels in regards to the testing of faith.
My attempt with this post is to talk about the Tribulation event and the Great Tribulation that takes place as the Antichrist is revealed. This will all transpire while the raptured saints of God are in Heaven, enjoying the Splendor of that wonderful place. It is at this time that the Judgment seat of Christ will take place. The judgment of the Believer’s sins is already past and will never be brought to our account again. For more information on the Judgment Seat and the Heavenly rewards, read this post.
On earth and just prior to the Antichrist’s rise to power, the nations that presently exist inside the Old Roman Empire will be reduced to 10 separate kingdoms ruled by 10 separate kings (Dan. 7:7-8 , 19 , 25). The countries presently existing inside the Old Roman Empire include England, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Holland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Hungary, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco. Through wars, treaties, and/or alliances these nations will become 10 separate kingdoms with the separate leaders.
After the 10 kingdoms have existed for a short time independent of the Antichrist (Dan. 7:7, 23-24 ; Rev. 12:12 ; 17:10), he then will arise from the Syrian division. In the first 3-1/2 years of the Tribulation he will conquer Greece, Turkey, and Egypt, thus reviving the Old Grecian Empire into one empire. By this time the other six kingdoms of the 10 will give him their power without any further war (Rev. 17:8-17).
Antichrist’s Covenant With Israel
The Antichrist will make a seven year Covenant with the nation of Israel, who will receive him as her “messiah” (Dan. 9:27 ; Jn. 5:43). The Jewish Temple will be rebuilt in Jerusalem, either before or shortly after this time, and the re institution of the animal sacrifice will occur (Dan. 9:27 ; Mat. 24:15 ; Rev. 11:1-2).
Extent of the Antichrist’s Kingdom
While the Antichrist is continuing his conquest, the countries north and east of the 10 kingdoms, including Russia and Germany, will plan an attack against his military stragety (Ezek., Chpts. 38-39 ; Dan. 11:44). In the middle of the Tribulation war will be declared by the countries north and east of his kingdom (Dan. 11:44). The Antichrist will conquer Russia and her allies and then become the “prince of Meshech and Tubal” (Ezek., Chpts. 38-39).
This will be the fullest extent of the Antichrist’s kingdom. He will not be a worldwide dictator, for even a few of the countries bordering on his kingdom will not succumb to his power.
“He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: But these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon” (Dan. 11:41).
The Antichrist will rule over the entire world known to man during the days of the Old Roman Empire, but this was an area limited to the nations listed above.
Seal Judgments
The seven seal judgments mentiond in the book of Revelation will occur toward the beginning of the Great Tribulation:
- First Seal - Rise of the Antichrist
- Second Seal - War
- Third Seal - Famine
- Fourth Seal - death and Hell
- Fifth Seal - martyrdom of Saints
- Sixth Seal - wrath of God, and ;
- Seventh Seal - silence in Heaven for one-half hour.
Trumpet Judgments
These are followed by the seven Trumpet Judgments:
- First Trumpet - hail, fire, and blood
- Second Trumpet - one-third of the sea turned to blood
- Third Trumpet - drinking waters poisoned
- Fourth Trumpet - one-third of the planets darkened
- Fifth Trumpet - men tormented by demon locusts
- Sixth Trumpet - one-third of men killed
- Seventh Trumpet - Satan cast out of Heaven
Purpose of the Tribulation
Just prior to the Trumpet Judgments, God will seal 144,000 Jews, 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel, and will protect t hem from the Trumpet Judgments (Rev. 7:1-8 ; 9:4). The purpose of the Tribulation will be to purify Israel and bring them back to a place of Repentance where God can fulfill the Covenants He made with their fathers (Isa. 24:1-23 ; Ezek. 20:33-34 ; Rom. 11:25-29).
Events Of The Middle Of The Tribulation
In the middle of the seven years several events will take place. The Antichrist will break his Covenant with Israel, invade Jerusalem, defile the Temple, and set himself up to be worshiped. The Temple at Jerusalem will become the capital building for the Antichrist’s kingdom during the last 3-1/2 years of the Tribulation. Also at this time the two witnesses, Enoch and Elijah, will appear on the Earth. They will protect Israel against her enemies, and will preach the Gospel, until they are killed, resurrected, and received back into Heaven. God also will translate the 144,000 Jews, known as the manchild, in the middle of the Tribulation at the conclusion of their mission ( Rev. 7:1-8 ; 12:5 ; 14:1-5).
The Great Tribulation
It is at this point that the second half of the Tribulation, referred to as the Great Tribulation, will begin. Israel will flee into the countries of Edom and Moab for the last half of the Great Tribulation, where she will be protected from the Antichrist. When Israel flees, the armies of the Antichrist will attempt to retrieve her, but will be swallowed by the Earth (Rev. 12:13-16).
Mark of the Beast
When the Antichrist defiles the Jewish Temple, setting up his image to be worshiped, another man, known as the False Prophet, will institute this new religious worship (Rev. 13:11-18 ; 16:13-14). The citizens of the kingdom of the Antichrist who refuse to worship the beast, and receive his mark, name, and/or the number of his name will be beheaded. Those who do receive the mark, name, or number of the beast will be lost eternally (Rev. 14:9-11). We don’t know what the mark or name of the beast will be, but the number will be 666, and it will not be given until the second half of the Great Tribulation.
Salvation During The Tribulation
That people WILL be saved during the Tribulation is clear from several Scriptures (Rev. 7:9-17 ; 12:11 ; Zech 12:10). The Apostle Peter, quoting from the prophet Joel, stated:
“It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh….The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable Day of the Lord come: And it shall come to pass, that WHOSOEVER shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:17-21).
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would “abide” on the Earth “forever” (Jn. 14:16) and would be poured out during these last days. The Holy Spirit will anoint the two witnesses, and the Gospel shall be preached by them, the Tribulation Saints, and the MEssenger Angel (Rev. 14:6-7). Everyone who believes the Gospel message will be Born Again, although it will cost many their life. Although the Tribulation primarily will be a time of judgment, the Grace of God still will be manifested to His people, for this period will come at the close of the Dispensation of Grace.
Vial Judgments
When the seven Vial Judgments are poured out, the Great Tribulation will be swiftly closing:
- First Vial - malignant sores upon those who take the mark of the beast
- Second Vial - sea turned to blood
- Third Vial - rivers turned to blood
- Fourth Vial - men scorched by sun
- Fifth Vial - Antichrists kingdom covered by darkness
- Sixth Vial - Euphrates River dried up
- Seventh Vial - great earthquake and 100 pound hailstones
Jesus Said that “except those days should be shortened, ” no flesh would survive this horrible time, but “for the elect’s sake (Israel)” God will bring a halt to this persecution.
Battle of Armageddon
In the final days of the Great Tribulation, Israel will regain possession of Jerusalem, by the help of God and the two witnesses. The Antichrist then will return with the armies of his kingdom and the nations he has conquered, including Russia (Ezek., Chapters 38-39 ; Dan. 11:44). He will regain Jerusalem and take half of the city captive. Then Christ will appear suddenly from Heaven with all His raptured Saints and His Angels, and will defeat the Antichrist and all of his armies in one day of battle - the Battle of Armageddon (Ezek scripture ; Zech. 14:1-9 ; Rev. 19:11-21). This is the Second Coming of Christ (Mat. 24:29-31), when the Nation of Israel will be saved in a single day (Isa. 66:7-8 ; Zech. 12:10 ; Mat. 23-37-39 ; Rom. 11:25-29).
The Battle of Armageddon will end and the Antichrist and the False Prophet will be killed in battle, then resurrected to be cast into the Lake of Fire forever. Satan then will be bound and cast into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years. Thus ends the Tribulation event.
I’m sure there will be comments, so, let’s get the conversation started!!!!
The Tribulation
DO YOU KNOW GOD?
Where False Doctrine and Heresy in the Modern Church World Get PWND
Written with excerpts from God’s Plan for the Ages and The Expositors Study Bible.
15 Comments, Comment or Ping
Travis Seitler
“This will all transpire while the raptured saints of God are in Heaven”
You lost me there.
I’m teasing, but admittedly I’m an historicist: I believe the end-times prophecies in Jesus’ revelations to John and Daniel unfold over the entire course of the Church’s history, rather than picking up at the end of a long gap of silence between AD70 and the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
Most of my life I was a futurist (holding that “end-times prophecies” deal only with future events), but I’ve come to see that the historicist interpretations of these prophecies just make more sense. I’ve also learned more of the history behind futurism (ha ha) and its growing prominence over the past few centuries:
“In 1590, [Jesuit priest Francisco] Ribera published a commentary on the Revelation as a counter-interpretation to the prevailing view among Protestants which identified the Papacy with the Antichrist. Ribera applied all of Revelation but the earliest chapters, to the end of time rather than to the history of the Church. Antichrist would be a single evil person who would be received by the Jews and would rebuild Jerusalem.” (George Eldon Ladd, The Blessed Hope: A Biblical Study of the Second Advent and the Rapture. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1956, pp. 37-38.)
“Ribera denied the Protestant Scriptural Antichrist (see 2 Thessalonians 2) as seated in the church of God—asserted by Augustine, Jerome, Luther and many reformers. He set on an infidel Antichrist, outside the church of God.” (Ralph Thompson, Champions of Christianity in Search of Truth, p. 89.)
Anyway, you’ve obviously put a lot of work into these posts, and I don’t want to belittle that at all. You asked us over on Facebook to leave comments, though, so here you are.
Oct 27th, 2008
Tony
Travis,
. Hopefully if there are others with your views reading this, they can add more to the discussion.
Hey, thanks for posting, man! I have actually ran across a few other people in my conversing about end times, who hold similar views as you. My writing is just the way I understand and believe things to be, according to the Bible. I appreciate you taking the time to share your views on futurism/history
Tony
Tonys last blog post..Investigating The Tribulation
Oct 27th, 2008
Travis Seitler
Agreed! Because regardless how these events play out, we’ll be spending eternity not only with the Lord, but with each other, too! It’d be nice if we could start getting along with each other now, right?
Here’s to more deep, engaging dialog and fewer flame wars!
Oct 27th, 2008
Tony
Amen, Travis!
Oct 27th, 2008
Matt Oxley
flame wars are alot more fun
JK JK
Matt Oxleys last blog post..Issues
Oct 28th, 2008
ZadokTM
I was reading 1 Corinthians 15:50-53. It says this (the rapture) will happen at the last trumpet. I’m pretty sure its clear about the rapture happening at the last trumpet. If the rapture was before the Tribulation wouldn’t that mean there are 2 last trumpets and 2 risings of the dead. Revelation 11:18 (dead being judged=resurrection?) Just needed some clarification. In order for one to be open to truth one must be open to ideas other than his/her own.
Oct 28th, 2008
Tony
This is what I believe of the 1 Corinthians passage:
50. Now this I say, Brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (this pertains to our present physical bodies as they are now) neither does corruption inherit incorruption.(”Flesh and blood” comes under “corruption” while “the Kingdom of God” comes under “Incorruption)
51. Behold, I show you a mystery (a new revelation given by the Holy Spirit to Paul concerning the Resurrection, i.e. the Rapture); We shall not all sleep ( at the time of the Resurrection, or rapture, many Christians will be alive), but we shall all be changed (both those who are dead and those who are alive).
52. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye (proclaims how long it will take for this change to take place), at the last trump (does not denote by the use of the word “last” that there will be successive trumpet blasts, but rather denotes that this is the close of things, referring to the Church Age) : for the trumpet shall sound (it is the “Trump of God” as in I Thess. 4:16), and the dead shall be raised incorruptible (the Sainted Dead, with no sin nature) and we shall be changed (put on the Glorified Body).
53. For this corruptible (sin nature) must put on incorruption (a glorified body with no sin nature), and this mortal (subject to death) must put on immortality (will never die).
In Revelation, these are the trumpet judgments which are sounded by Angels.
There are 2 Judgments though. The verse you quote is about what The raptured/saints will go through, which is the Judgment seat of Christ which the saints receive reward, etc / / / / and the Sinful/evil/satan, etc will go through the Great White Throne Judgment. Every unredeemed person that has ever lived will go through this begining with Revelation 20:11
I believe one must be open to other ideas about things such as this, but at the same time, one must stand by what they believe, and not be swayed by every differeing opinion or idea. This is just what I have grasped and hold on to.
Bottom line, I know we are in the last days and look to His return, whenever that may be. I will not be shaken even if I am wrong and have to endure the Tribulation.
Thanks for commenting back!!!
Tonys last blog post..Investigating The Tribulation
Oct 28th, 2008
Matt Oxley
“Bottom line, I know we are in the last days and look to His return”
for 2000 years now, we have been in the last days. Jesus is getting a tardy notice when he finally makes it here.
Matt Oxleys last blog post..We’ve been outed!
Oct 28th, 2008
ZadokTM
The rapture is the closing of the church age not the trumpet. The trumpet ushers in the rapture. It signifies that the rapture is taking place. A last trumpet is a last trumpet. You can’t take that out of scriptures. Last means that there is something before. So according to pre-trib, there is a last trumpet for the rapture -> tribulation -> 7th(last) trumpet. That doesn’t work logically. Also I was reading in Matthew 24:29-31 and it says, “But immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then the sign of 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. And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather His elect from the four winds from one end of the sky to the other.” It looks to me that the rapture doesn’t happen until the sun is darkened and moon won’t give light. If I recall correctly, that happens during some of the judgment events.
Glad we are having this discussion. Very few people are actually studying out this subject. I like hearing that other people enjoy this subject also. It is important that one keeps a balance of openness and firmness in their belief. Example: One must be hard headed about the fact that grace and faith alone, but one must be open to the subject about new earth vs. old earth. In the matter of tribulation one must be open to ideas.
Oct 28th, 2008
Tony
@Matt,
Now Now Matt…you know he has been taking his time waiting for you to come back….
ZadokTM
I agree with you 100 percent. Not about the timeframe issue, but about the importance of eschotology and creation as it regards to our faith. We can have differing opinions on things like this, but we do have to never waiver on matters such as Salvation.
Thanks for challenging me. I know most who read this either didn’t care or really haven’t researched the subject for themselves. I just find this stuff interesting.
Take Care
Tony
Oct 28th, 2008
Matt Oxley
and what makes you think you wont come over to the dark side tony?
Matt Oxleys last blog post..We’ve been outed!
Oct 28th, 2008
Tony
To Quote Luke Skywalker:
“I’ll Never Join You, Darth Oxley!!!!”
Oct 28th, 2008
Matt Oxley
to quote Darth “IM your daddy”
jk
Matt Oxleys last blog post..We’ve been outed!
Oct 28th, 2008
Gene
I’m utterly convinced that the modern acceptance of “Unconditional Eternal Security” and the “Pre-Trib Rapture”, neither of which was taught by the Apostolic or early Post-Apostolic Church, will be major contributors to the coming end-time falling away.
For what it’s worth, check out this page:
http://endtimepilgrim.org/hammerlock.htm
It convincingly proves that the resurrection of the saints (1st resurrection) is immediately followed by the rapture, and the 1st resurrection happens at the very end of the age.
Genes last blog post..Pre-Trib Rapture? Unconditional Security?
Nov 3rd, 2008
John
For some post-Halloween shocks Google “America’s Pretrib Rapture Traffickers,” “Pretrib Rapture Diehards,” “Pretrib Rapture Desperados,” “X-Raying Margaret,” “Thomas Ice (Bloopers),” “Hal Lindsey’s Many Divorces,” “LaHaye’s Temperament,” “The Rapture Index (Mad Theology),” “Pretrib Hypocrisy,” “Roots of (Warlike) Christian Zionism,” and “Deceiving and Being Deceived.” And the best and most documented book on pretrib rapture’s 178-year-old history is THE RAPTURE PLOT (see Armageddon Books online). Many of these articles are on the “Powered by Christ Ministries” site. John
Dec 4th, 2008
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