The Great TribulationWilliam Bell, Jr. Copyright (c) 2007. All Rights ReservedThe Great Tribulation, often used to scare the living daylights out of unsuspecting Christians is another sign of the times of the end. It is mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments. The tribulation comes about primarily for retribution to the ancient people responsible for crucifying Christ. No Christian today need fear it or expect to go through it. The tribulation was marked for ancient Israel, guilty of the blood and body of Christ's murder. It is now past history and therefore not a part of the Christian's future experience. Prediction"For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor every shall be.And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's salke those days will be shortened. Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not believe it. "For false christ's and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible , even the elect. "See, I have told you beforehand." Therefore if they say to you, 'Look, He is in the desert!" do not go out; or 'Look, He is in the inner rooms!' do not believe it. "For as the lightning come from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together." (Matthew 21:21-28) These verses all describe events related to the great tribulation. Note the emphasis on time, "then." This is spoken of in relation to the abomination of desolation. The tribulation follows it. Jesus quotes from Daniel, revealing the source of his tribulation teachings, (Daniel 12:1). It is also found in Jeremiah, styled as the time of Jacob's trouble. Alas! For that day is great, so that none is like it; and it is the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it. That this time refers to the last days can be seen from the verses which follow. God would also break the yoke of foreign dominion of his people, Israel and Judah so that they would never be enslaved again. This happens when they serve under God and David their new king. David here is the prophetic description of Christ, (Ezekiel 37:24, 25; Hosea 3:5; Jeremiah 30:7, 24). These are the days of the Messiah. Israel's Greatest CrimeIsrael is threatened and punished for committing the greatest crime of all history, that of crucifying Christ, (Deuteronomy 28:15-68) The tribulation is part of the curses mentioned in the law for the rebellion of Israel, ultimately reflected in their murder of Christ. It is God's wrath upon the ancient nation. (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16)
The Great Tribulation and A.D. 70Identifying the time for the tribulation is not a question of doubt. Jesus unequivocally says it would happen in his very own generation, and therefore in the lifetime of some of the first century disciples.Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place." According to Hendriksen, the Greek, amen, (Assuredly) "In every case...in which this word occurs in the New Testament it introduces a statement which not only expresses a truth or fact...but an important, a solemn fact, one that in many cases is at variance with popular opinion or expectation or at least causes some surprise." (William Hendriksen, Matthew, pp. 289-90) Thus, we have the Lord's emphatic statement (v. 44) that the great tribulation occurred in the past at Jerusalem's fall in A.D. 70.It occurs after the abomination of desolation of the Jewish temple but before the temple is finally destroyed, all within the first century. Christians and the Great TribulationIt is believed by some that Christians would not experience the tribulation of Matthew 24:21. Why not? We're told it's because of an alleged Rapture. Jack Van Empe, (The Great Escape, p. 12) believes that Revelation chapters 4-5, teaches that Christians are raptured before the great tribulation takes place. He bases this on Christ's statement that he would keep the saints from the hour of trial that would come upon all the earth, (land).On TGE, p. 14, he argues that since the elders have crowns, they are already resurrection, hence before the tribulation. Van Empe is a Pre [before]-Tribulation rapturist. The problem with this position besides it's contradiction with Jesus' prediction that the tribulation occurs in the first century, is that it's out of step with Revelation chapters 6 and 7. Both passages show Christians who experienced the great tribulation. Charles Ryrie (also a pre-tribulation Rapturist) Basic Theology, pp. 468-469attempts to address this problem. First, he states that the martyrs of Revelation chapter 6:9, are in heaven having been killed early on in the tribulation, (BT, p. 467). Secondly, due to Bible's left behind in the Rapture, thousands of Jews will be converted. Those on earth going through the tribulation will read them and be converted. They become the redeemed for Revelation 7:1-8, and per Ryrie, are the 144,000 who are sealed and in heaven per Revelation 14:1-6, and who are responsible for evangelizing during the millennium. Ryrie has unwittingly destroyed the whole idea of a future tribulation, Rapture and millennium. This 144,000 who are sealed out of every tribe is also said to be the firstfruits unto God who are before his throne. "Firstfruitssaints are first century saints, James 1:18, who had the firstfruits of the Spirit, Romans 8:17. There can never be another generation of first century saints! Therefore, there can never be another generation of firstfruits saints.This confirms by Ryrie's fatal admission and logic that the first century saints were responsible for worldwide evangelism. Tim LaHaye, is also a pre-tribulation rapturist, (The Rapture, Who Will Face the Tribulation) Walvoord, in his book, Prophecy, 14 Essentials,..., p. 19, writes, "Scripture also reveals there will be a future time of three and a half years of unprecedented trouble immediately preceding Christ's second coming. The details for this period are an important feature of prophecy, particularly in that they indicate the church will be removed from earth before the beginnings of this period and will not experience God's wrath. What each of these men have in common is their deviation from the Bible text that the church, i.e. firstfruits Christians experienced the tribulation while on earth, but were delivered through it. Then one of the elders answered saying to me," Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Revelation 7:13, 14). Further, this harmonizes with the "at hand, "soon to come to pass" message of Revelation.
Common Ground of Future Great Tribulation ViewsThe common ground on all views of a future tribulation whether pre-mid or post, is that they are future. That's is their Achilles hill. Jesus' words limiting the great tribulation to the first century generation, the identity of the first fruits, the prerequisite of the abomination of desolation in the Jewish temple, prior to A.D. 70 and the fall of Jerusalem immediately after the great tribulation all point to a first century fulfillment.Hence, the great tribulation is past. No Christian living today or at any time since the first century will go through it. As the Old Testament has been fulfilled, (Luke 21:20-22), it is a fulfilled event.
Other Prophecies Fulfilled During The Great Tribulation
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