THESE THINGS I HAVE SPOKEN UNTO YOU, THAT IN ME YOU MIGHT HAVE PEACE. IN THE WORLD YOU SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION: BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER, FOR I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD. John, Chapter 16, Verse 33.
The word “tribulation” is derived from the Greek word “thlipsis” which means burdened, troubled, tribulation and persecuted. Jesus warned His disciples as long as they were in this World they would be burdened, persecuted and troubled. Man who is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. (Job ch. 14, vs. 1) No person is exempt from the trials and tribulations of this World. However, Jesus told us we could be at peace in Him during the troubled times we would experience during our journey here on Earth. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and an ever present help in the time of trouble.
At the birth of Christ the Angel Gabriel appeared to Shepherds attending their flocks in the field and announced “Peace on earth and goodwill to men.” Gabriel was talking about Christ coming to dwell in the hearts of men. There never has been, and never will be “peace on earth (in people’s hearts)” without Christ. We overcome the World when the Peace of God which surpasses understanding dwells richly in our hearts by Christ Jesus.
As Disciples of Christ we may be troubled on every hand, persecuted and burdened with the cares of this world, but in Christ we are more than conquerors. Although the storms of life may come, we can be assured that Christ is an “ever present help in the time of need—and an ever present port in the time of a storm.”
Tribulations and trials are designed to lead us to a closer walked with Christ. When we seek our Lord in the time of trouble He will cause our hearts and minds to dwell in PERFECT PEACE. We know that “all things work together for good for those who love Christ and are called according to His purpose.” Romans Chapter 8, Verse 38.
THE GREAT 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, Chapter 24, Verse 21.
The Great Tribulation will be a time of great trouble which will come upon the earth which will be GREATER than any other time of trouble since the beginning of time. Natural disasters, storms, wars and epidemics will define the times during the Great Tribulation. These times are designed to separate the sheep from the goats. True believers draw closer to God through great trials and tribulations. Trials and tribulations have always defined the life of true Christians. It is how we endure trouble and persecution which makes us stronger.
The Great tribulation is also a time when God will judge the Nations and the SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST for their sins through cataclysmic events. No nation will be spared from the terrible events which will result in the deaths of over one billion individuals.
AND THE LORD SHALL SCATTER YOU AMONG THE NATIONS (the dispersion), AND YOU SHALL BE LEFT FEW IN NUMBER AMONG THE HEATHEN, WHITHER THE LORD SHALL LEAD YOU. AND THERE YOU SHALL SERVE GODS, THE WORKS OF MEN’S HANDS, WOOD AND STONE, WHICH NEITHER SEE, NOR HEAR, NOR EAT, NOR SMELL. BUT IF FROM THENCE YOU SHALL SEEK THE LORD YOUR GOD, YOU SHALL FIND HIM, IF YOU SEEK HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL. WHEN YOU ARE IN TRIBULATION, AND ALL THESE THINGS ARE COME UPON YOU, EVEN IN THE LATTER DAYS (end times), IF YOU TURN TO THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND BE OBEDIENT TO HIS VOICE. Deuteronomy, Chapter 4, Verses 27-30.
The first mention of the Great Tribulation is found in the above Scriptures. The Book of Deuteronomy was written after the Children of Israel had wandered in the WILDERNESS for forty years. God was preparing to lead them out of the WILDERNESS into the LAND OF PROMISE. He warned them of the perils of disobedience and that future generations would be scattered or dispersed among the nations because of their sins and the Great Tribulation of the last days.
The Great Tribulation is also mentioned in Daniel Chapter 12, and also in Jerimiah, Chapter 30, as well as other places in the Bible. Tribulation came upon the Children of Israel over the centuries because of their sins and disobedience. Rejecting God and His Word will always result in judgment. God expects the world to be sinful, but He does not look too kindly upon sin when His chosen people, the ones who call themselves by His name, become like the rest of the World. There will always be a warning from God to His people to WALK UPRIGHTLY and love Him with all their heart. There will always be a CRY IN THE WILDERNESS for people to REPENT of their sins or they will face the judgment which follows.
PROPHECY
I began studying Bible Prophecy for myself over 35 years ago. There were too many discrepancies in the teachings of those who proclaimed to understand eschatology. Everybody had a different interpretation of Bible Prophecy which was, and is, confusing to say the least. After months and later years of studying the scripture for myself, I learned that men were just teaching what somebody else had written or taught them. Everyone had a great REVELATION about the end times and the Book of Revelation, but somebody had to be wrong because many of their REVELATIONS conflicted with one another.
God is not the AUTHOR of confusion. When people are confused about scripture it is because men, even well-meaning men, THINK they have the mind of God. The scripture was not given to one man to interpret privately. Only the Holy Spirit can teach us the true meaning of the revelatory meanings of Prophecy and prophetic events.
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 HEAVENS SHALL BE SHAKEN: AND THEN SHALL APPEAR THE SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN IN HEAVEN: AND THEN SHALL ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH MOURN, AND THEY SHALL SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY. AND HE SHALL SEND HIS ANGELS WITH THE GREAT SOUND OF A TRUMPET, AND THEY SHALL GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT FROM THE FOUR WINDS, FROM ONE END OF HEAVEN TO THE OTHER. Matthew, Chapter 24, Verse 29-31.
Jesus, IMMEDIATELY AFTER the tribulation the Son of Man, will appear in the sky to gather the ELECT from the four winds (north, south, east and west). Some people say the ELECT are the people of Israel and not the Church because the Church is raptured before the Tribulation. I have read commentaries of some of these same people, prominent men of God, who are calling the ELECT the Church. They only use the argument about the Jews being the ELECT when it suits their doctrine. Paul called the Collosians the ELECT. Peter called the Church the ELECT in His writings.
BEHOLD I SHOW YOU A MYSTERY; WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED, IN A MOMENT IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, AT THE LAST TRUMP: FOR THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND, AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL BE RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE, AND WE SHALL BE CHANGED. 1 Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 51-52.
According to the pre-tribulation rapture theologians the above scripture is speaking about the rapture. The above scripture says the rapture takes place at the sound of the last trumpet. We saw in Matthew ch. 24 vs. 31 a trumpet sounds to call the ELECT from the four winds, or north, south, east and west. If this trumpet sounds IMMEDIATELY AFTER the tribulation how can the last trumpet call be before the tribulation? I rest my case.