What is the Great Tribulation?
There will come a time of great distress such as the world has never seen nor will ever see again. It will be worse than the Holocaust of World War II. It will be worse than anything that has ever happened. This time of severe trial is known as the Great Tribulation.
A Time of Great Distress
21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24: 21-22)
A Time of Chastening God’s People
20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. (Isaiah 5: 20)
35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end, for it will still come at the appointed time. (Daniel 11: 35)
10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. (Daniel 12: 10)
7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty. (Malachi 3: 7)
17 “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not. (Malachi 3: 17-18)
As the end of this age draws near, the world is becoming increasingly wicked. During the Great Tribulation, the wickedness of this world will reach its climax. God desires that no one should perish but if they continue in their wickedness and do not turn to God, perish they will.
During times of great distress, no one’s heart remains lukewarm. People will either draw close to God or they will harden their hearts against Him. The Great Tribulation is a final opportunity for people to heed God’s call.
Since the beginning of humankind, God has restrained Satan from doing the full amount of harm that Satan desires to do. God has protected His children from the one who wants to destroy them. During the final 3-1/2 years of this age, God will remove Satan’s restraints. People will see what it is like to live in a world without God’s protection. Even so, God is still capable of protecting whomever He chooses to protect.
God disciplines those He loves. He gives His people multiple opportunities and warnings to turn back to Him. Because God loves His children, He will do whatever it takes to get their attention before it is too late. The time is quickly approaching when it will be too late to turn to God.
A 7-Year Treaty
27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him. (Daniel 9: 27)
14 “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. (Mark 13: 14-16)
The final 7 years of this age will begin with a 7-year peace treaty between Israel and her enemies. The Antichrist will be involved in the treaty. During the first 3-1/2 years of the peace treaty, the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt and animal sacrifice will be resumed.
Halfway through the 7-year peace treaty, the Antichrist will put an end to animal sacrifice. Next, he will set up the “abomination that causes desolation.” When that happens, God’s people must immediately flee Judea – because it will be the beginning of the Great Tribulation.
A Time of Great Distress
20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.
22 For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people.
24 They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21: 20-24)
12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13 Everyone will hate you because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. (Mark 13: 12-13)
The Great Tribulation takes place during the second half of the 7-year peace treaty. It is a period of 3-1/2 years in which the Antichrist is allowed to war against the saints and defeat them. (Daniel 7:25) (Revelation 13:7)
After the Antichrist puts an end to animal sacrifice, the “abomination that causes desolation” will be set up. An army will gather outside Jerusalem just before the Great Tribulation begins. While it is not certain, there may be a window of about 30 days between the time that animal sacrifice is ended and the time that the abomination is set up. (Revelation 11: 2) (Daniel 12: 11)
Also see: What is the 6th Trumpet?
The Rebellion
7 Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. 8 But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. 9 The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. (Revelation 12: 7-9)
At the beginning of the Great Tribulation, there will be a war in heaven. Satan and his angels will be cast out. Satan will no longer be allowed to approach the throne of God or accuse God’s people. He will be hurled to the earth.
Extreme Persecution of the Jews
12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.13 When the dragon saw that he had been hurled to the earth, he pursued the woman [Israel] who had given birth to the male child [Jesus]. (Revelation 12: 12-13)
When Satan realizes that he has been permanently cast out of heaven, he will be furious. He will know that his time is short. Satan’s wrath will be directed against the people God loves. Satan will attempt to annihilate God’s chosen people: the Jews.
God Protects a Remnant of Jews
12 “I will surely gather all of you, Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people. (Micah 2:12)
6 The woman [Israel] fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. (Revelation 12: 6)
14 The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the wilderness, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. (Revelation 12: 13-14)
15 Then from his mouth the serpent [Satan] spewed water like a river, to overtake the woman and sweep her away with the torrent. 16 But the earth helped the woman by opening its mouth and swallowing the river that the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. (Revelation 12: 15-16)
God will protect a remnant of Israel. Satan will be able to destroy many Jews but he will be prevented from destroying the remnant.
Extreme Persecution of Christians
17 Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war against the rest of her offspring—those who keep God’s commands and hold fast their testimony about Jesus. (Revelation 12: 17)
22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. (Matthew 24: 22)
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb….13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?” 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7: 9, 13-14)
9 Whoever has ears, let them hear. 10 “If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed.” This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of God’s people. (Revelation 13: 9-10)
35 For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21: 35-36)
When Satan realizes that he won’t be allowed to destroy the remnant of Israel that God is protecting, Satan will turn his fury toward Christians. God will allow Satan, the Antichrist, and the False Prophet to succeed in their persecution of God’s holy people.
Vast numbers of Christians will be taken captive or killed by the sword (Revelation 13: 9-10). But some Christians will be spared (Luke 21: 35-36).
Also see: What is the Great Multitude in White Robes?
The Antichrist & False Prophet
25 He will speak against the Most High and oppress his holy people and try to change the set times and the laws. The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time. (Daniel 7: 25)
5 The beast was given a mouth to utter proud words and blasphemies and to exercise its authority for forty-two months. 6 It opened its mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place and those who live in heaven. (Revelation 13: 5-6)
7 It was given power to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And it was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation. (Revelation 13: 7)
8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. (Revelation 13: 8)
During the Great Tribulation, Satan will attempt to corrupt humanity via the Antichrist (Revelation 13: 2-4). Satan will give his power and authority to the Antichrist and False Prophet so that they can perform signs and wonders (2 Thessalonians 2: 9) (Revelation 13: 2, 13). The False Prophet will lead the world astray: away from the truth about God.
The Antichrist will attempt to change the set times (e.g. calendars, holidays). In addition, he will attempt to change the laws (e.g. something not based on God’s commands or local forms of government).
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The 2 Witnesses
During the Great Tribulation, God will appoint 2 Witnesses to testify to the truth about God and to prophesy. They will witness for 1,260 days. (Revelation 11: 3)
Also see: What are the 2 Witnesses?
The Image of the Beast
The False Prophet will encourage the world to worship the beast. He will set up an image of the beast that can speak and kill anyone who will not bow down to worship it.
Anyone who worships the beast will be forever damned. (Revelation 14: 9-11)
The Mark of the Beast
The False Prophet will encourage people to take the mark of the beast. Anyone who will not take the mark of the beast will not be able to buy or sell. (Revelation 13: 16-17)
Anyone who worships the beast or takes its mark will forever be damned. They will be forever sealed with the Satan. They will ultimately share the same fate as the Antichrist and False Prophet: cast into a lake of fire (hell). Eventually, Satan will also be cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 14: 9-11) (Revelation 19: 20) (Revelation 20: 10)
Also see: What is the Mark of the Beast?
God’s Wrath
At the end of the Great Tribulation, God will pour out His wrath onto the world. (see the 7 golden bowls) (Revelation 16)
Also see: What are the 7 Golden Bowls?
Faithfulness & Patient Endurance
Jesus Christ has said that these things will come to pass, that we need to know the signs of the times, and that this will be a time that requires faithfulness and patient endurance. (Revelation 13: 10) (Revelation 14: 12)
God’s people have always faced Satan’s wrath. The story of Job provides an example of how humans suffer at the hands of Satan – and why God sometimes allows it. Satan challenges Job’s devotion to God and so God puts Job to the test by allowing Satan to persecute Job. Despite Satan doing the most evil he could do, Job remained faithful to God. Because of his faithfulness, God blessed Job even more than he had in the beginning.
God has a purpose in everything that he allows and God can make something good come from our challenges:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
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