The Great Tribulation

Be ready was the theme growing up. The Rapture could happen at any moment and if you have unrepented sin in your life, you will get left behind and suffer through the Great Tribulation for seven years... or so I was told. I grew up fascinated by the prophecies that I was taught pointed to end-times events. I bought the Prophecy Study Bible by Tim LaHaye and dove into it headfirst, but the more I read his comments, the more questions I had. This conflict disturbed me, so I did something I had never done before; I studied the book of Revelation for myself! I learned how to use a concordance, looked up words in Greek, and studied the context of the literature. I soaked up every book, audio book, chart, commentary, documentary video, and audio sermon possible.

I realized that there were three key elements of my end-times beliefs that were nowhere in Revelation: the Rapture, the Antichrist, and the 7-year tribulation. While there is much I would like to write concerning the Rapture and the Antichrist, I will restrict this lesson to the 7-year tribulation. It is not my goal to tell anyone what to believe, but to show what is in the Bible (and not in the Bible) and let readers decide their own eschatological views. I hope you will agree with me that, logically, if the 7-year tribulation theory falls apart, then the other two beliefs are harder to defend.

First, let's get our terms straight. There is no Biblical event entitled, "Great Tribulation." The word great is an adjective. It describes the type of tribulation. Therefore, if we read the combined words Great Tribulation in multiple places, it does not necessarily mean the same thing. If you don't believe me, consider the great plagues of Egypt. What comes to your mind? Probably the ten plaques of Moses. However, I might be referring to Genesis 12:17, "But the Lord struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife" (NASB). Feel free to disagree with me and interpret great tribulation according to how you believe is correct, but this is how I read it. Tribulation is defined by Webster's Dictionary as, "Distress or suffering resulting from oppression or persecution." Now that we have are terms down, let's get into the Bible!

There are only three times the combined words "great tribulation" are used in the Bible. They are as follows:

1. For then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will (Matt. 24:21, NASB).

2. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds (Rev. 2:22, NASB).

3. I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev. 7:14, NASB).

The second verse is part of Jesus' letter to the church at Thyatira. He teaches that the believers who live according to false doctrine will suffer the same "great tribulation" that He sends upon the false prophetess, Jezebel. This is a specific warning to certain people. The great tribulation described in the other two verses speak of a tribulation that appears to affect many. However, even if all three verses speak of the same great tribulation, it does not change its meaning for believers. I will focus on the first and third verses for understanding the great tribulation.

The first verse speaks of a great tribulation unlike any before or after it. If this is not referring to a future 7-year tribulation, what other option is there? According to Matthew 24:15-21, the great tribulation occurs after the Abomination of Desolation. The 7-year tribulation theory promotes the idea that the Abomination of Desolation will occur in the middle of the 7 year period. That would mean that the tribulation does not begin until the middle and will last for 3 1/2 years. The Post Temple Destruction Theory suggests that the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Jesus historically occurred two years prior to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans (70 AD). This temple destruction is the event immediately preceding the great tribulation. This second theory more adequately answers the disciples' question about the timing of the destruction of the temple buildings (Matt. 24:1-3).

The third verse explains that the great multitude worshipping the Lord in Revelation 7, "come out of the great tribulation." This phrase cannot mean that believers escaped or were caught up from the tribulation. Otherwise John would have used those words as other New Testament writers did. This phrase can only mean that the believers came out from being in the great tribulation. They did not avoid it, but suffered until death and are now with their shepherd.

Now let's break down the two theories into four possible ways that the great tribulation is like no other. By the way, if you have a theory different from either of these, that is great! I encourage you to test it with scripture, reason, and discussion.

1. Length of Time

2. Severity of persecution

3. Number of people persecuted

4. Number of places persecuted

(1) The 7-year tribulation theory, by definition, will not exceed 7 years, and if the tribulation does not occur until after the Abomination of Desolation (which occurs in the middle), then its length of time is only for 3 1/2 years. (2) The severity of persecution cannot be greater than it already is and has been for believers. There are believers around the world today who are facing psychological and physical tortures of all kinds. These include imprisonment in inhumane conditions and executions. (3) The number of people persecuted for faith in Jesus after all believers are raptured at the beginning of the 7 year period is supposed to be a great number. In his Prophecy Study Bible, Tim LaHaye believes that the number of Christian casualties is what makes this tribulation great. He wrote, "During that chaotic time... an innumerable host of people will be saved." This will be difficult because, by LaHaye's own admission, the Holy Spirit "will be 'taken out of the way' in the Rapture... The world will be plunged into lawlessness and chaos (Rev. 9:20-21), for the restrainer will be gone." It does not seem likely that more people will be persecuted (and martyred) than during the rest of Christian history. (4) The number of places where Christians are persecuted is the only explanation that might make sense, and that's only if the areas are persecuted at the same time. If the great tribulation is unlike any before or after because it hits nations where Christians live at once more than at any other time in history, then this theory could work.

(1) The post temple destruction tribulation theory means that persecution has persisted for 1,947 years. It's length of time far outweighs 3 1/2 years. Keep in mind, this is true whether we are discussing persecution of the Jews or the Christians. (2) The severity of persecution over this length of time is unimaginable. A little research into Christian persecution should convince anyone of the severity. (3) The number of people persecuted cannot be matched by either percentage or in total number to any conceivable future 3 1/2 period. The idea that removing all believers and the Holy Spirit for a 7 year period will somehow enable "A great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and people and tongues" to put their faith in Christ within 7 years because 144,000 chosen people witnessed to them is not as reasonable as a 1,947 year ministry. Furthermore, the known role of the 144,000 is to stand with the Lamb and sing a new song. There is nothing in Revelation about them being evangelists. Steve Wholberg, in his book, End Time Delusions, wrote, "Some popular teachers liken this group to '144,000 Jewish Billy Grahams' who will evangelize the world during the tribulation after the rapture." This does not appear to be the case. (4) Also, there can be no greater number of places where Christians are persecuted than have already been. When Christianity was introduced to each nation throughout history, there were those who rejected it with hostility and violence in nearly every case.

Is it reasonable that the tribulation described by Jesus and the angel in Revelation is one that has existed since Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD? Or is it more likely that this tribulation, unlike any other in which a countless multitude of believers come out of, will take place in a future 3 1/2 year period? Do your research and look for truth; not looking to support what you already believe.

The last area of scripture that I wish to examine is a key pillar in the theory that the tribulation is seven years in duration. The 70th week found in Daniel 9:24-27 is this pillar, but is it a reliable one? First, be aware that there is no passage in the entire Bible that mentions a 7-year tribulation. Where believers draw their 7-year reference from is from this one week of years (7 years) in Daniel. Daniel wrote about the coming Messiah, but it is presumed without evidence that the person described in verse 27 is the Antichrist. It is also presumed that the 70 weeks prophecy is interrupted between weeks 69 and 70, which is not done in any other sequence of Bible prophecies. Also, the Antichrist will make this described covenant for one week in the future, and, it is taught, he will rebuild the Jewish temple. Although many believe and defend this interpretation, there is absolutely nothing about a 7-year tribulation, a future antichrist, or a rebuilt Jewish temple in Daniel 9.

Teachers will attempt to link this 70th week and the tribulation and antichrist in several other passages that mention a 3 1/2 year period. Daniel 7:23-27 refers to a beast that has authority over the saints for 3 1/2 times (years). This is a perfect fit for the 7-year tribulation theory. However, this beast was not likely the one referred to in Revelation because there is no evidence to link them other than they are both called beasts. There is also a reference to the beast of sea persecuting the saints for 42 months (3 1/2 years) in Revelation 13:5-7. This fails to mention the tribulation at all; which makes sense if it is the final days of a multi-millennial tribulation that everyone should already knows exists. The final reference to a 1,260 day period (3 1/2 years by the Jewish calendar) is in Revelation 11:1-13. The court outside the temple will be tread underfoot and God's two witnesses will prophecy and be martyred and resurrected in Jerusalem. Again, there is no mention of the great tribulation.

Tim LaHaye wrote, in his book, No Fear of the Storm, "No single verse specifically states, 'Christ will come before the Tribulation.' On the other hand, no single passage teaches He will not come before the Tribulation, or that He will come in the middle or at the end of the Tribulation. Any such explicit declaration would end the debate immediately." I disagree. Jesus Himself said, “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" (Matt. 24:29-30, NASB). Jesus just said that He will most certainly return after the tribulation. I have learned to apply study habits to all of the Bible through the lessons I learned in studying Revelation. The growth in my understanding and faith has increased in accordance with my desire to know God.

Got a question regarding this blog or any blog? Email me on the CONTACT tab. All emails are subject to being posted in part or in full on future blogs for the benefit of others.

6 August 2017