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How can we know when the great tribulation begins?
In studying the Great Tribulation over the years, I have come to the conclusion that most of what is taught about it is false. First there is no mention of " The Great Tribulation" of any certain time length. There is mention in scripture of great tribulation and much tribulation. I see no scripture connecting the time periods of 3 1/2 or 7 years or 1260 days to a specific, just before the end of the world, Great Tribulation (big G & T).
Another thing taught is that the tribulation mentioned in Matt. 24 is still future at the very end of time just before Jesus returns. However, how can that be when the verse states that there will never be such tribulation again. ("...nor ever shall be." ) Doesn't that mean this tribulation is not the final tribulation before Jesus returns; but that there will be others? "M't:24:21: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."
Another misconception that is taught is that of the Antichrist or Anti-Christ. The antichrist (small a) is only mentioned in scripture in 1 and 2 John.
1 John 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2 John 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
It is obvious there are many antichrists. It is a spirit of antichrist. It is all deceivers and all who do not confess that Jesus is come in the flesh. (Notice "is come" in the flesh. Many admit he came; but deny that he "is" come.) Many believe, even the demons; but few know he "is" come and few have him in them. Thus why do so many continue to look for "the Antichrist"? We are told to look for Christ!
As for those who came out of great tribulation in Rev. 7, notice these are those who" have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
Rev. 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Who is cleansed in the blood of the lamb? Is this not all saints?
Rev. 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Hebrews 9:13-14 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: [14] How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Mark 14:24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
Hebrews 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Hebrews 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; [19] But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
We know that what happened in 70 AD was a tribulation against the unbelieving Jews allowed by God to destroy the physical temple building & ritualistic system they refused to abandon. They were almost completely destroyed, thus this maybe the worst time for the Jews worldwide.
We know that the early church had much tribulation from the beginning. Their tribulation worsened during the reign of the RCC over the world empire. This was the longest persecution of all true believers worldwide recorded in history to my knowledge.
Today, many are still suffering persecution in various countries. According to various scriptures, it seems that persecution and tribulation of the saints will continue until the return of Christ. Some may be martyred as Rev. 6 implies.
Rev. 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
There is much tribulation in the world. There was destruction and desolation on the Jews. There was tribulation (war of Satan) against the church. There is tribulation on the earth as in war, famine, pestilence, earthquakes, etc. Which one is Matt. 24 referring too? It seems to be referring to the time that the temple was destroyed, as they are told to flee Judah. It also refers to the time that Christians are persecuted as Mark 13 states:
Mark 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
Interestingly, Luke refers to this time against Jerusalem as the "days of vengeance," This was referring to God's vengeance on those unbelieving Jews who rejected Jesus.
Luke 21:20-22 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. [21] Then let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. [22] For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
It also refers to a time in the present or future as the signs in the sky occur just before Christ returns and God's wrath is poured out. However, with God time is irrelevant, so it's hard to pinpoint. Maybe that is the purpose so that we can't know the exact day or hour; but rather we know the season. If we knew exactly when the tribulation began and just how long it would be, then we could know when Christ would return. Scripture says no man knows that.
Rev. 6:12-17 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; [13] And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. [14] And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. [15] And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; [16] And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: [17] For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Matthew 24:29-31 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 the heavens shall be shaken: [30] 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. [31] And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Another false teaching I have seen regarding the Lord's return states the tribulation and wrath are the same thing. That is how they justify the pre-trib rapture. However, scripture is quite clear we are not to receive God's wrath; but we do endure tribulations.
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Ephes. 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Col. 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Rev. 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev. 14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Rev. 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
Rev. 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Rev. 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.
Wrath is for the ungodly. I believe the seven golden vials full of the wrath of God are the punishment of the ungodly who will be destroyed in the lake of fire.
John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
1 Thes. 3:4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.
Rev. 2:9-10 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. [10] Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Rev. 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Tribulation occurs to the believers, to all believers of all times, thus no certain time period.
We don't have to have to understand every detail; but rather be able to see the beast and whore in all of man's systems. They are all related and all working for the same thing, to replace God with men. There are many antichrists. We need to come out of these systems in our beliefs and look to God only to rule our lives. We don't have to determine if this nation or that, this church or that, this person or that are the antichrist. All these things are. Many of the things that were prophesied to happen have already happened. We have seen enough to know that Jesus will return soon. We are to watch these things and look up for Jesus.
Mark 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
Luke 21:25-28 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; [26] Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. [27] And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Luke 21:31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
Another lie tied to the tribulation of 7 years is that we go to heaven for 7 years then back to this earth for 1,000. Notice what scripture says about the second coming of Jesus.
1 Cor. 15:22-26 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. [23] But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. [24] Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. [25] For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. [26] The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
We in his kingdom are delivered up!!!! All enemies of God are destroyed!
-------------------- 1 Thes. 5:21 (KJV) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
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I'm not a scholar about end times by any means. And if you hear what is on the interenet about it, you will hear everything under the sun.
I can only take what the bible says and believe it.
Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
This verse speaks of a "hour of temptation" that is coming upon the world and it also says that those who have kept the word of His patience will be kept from it.
I guess one problem I have with debating about the end times it that it soon gets over my head and I feel like I'm swimming. Some people want to spiritualize everything and then some people want to take everything literally. Maybe we have to do alittle bit of both.
This is my opinion. Daniel was told that it would be 70 weeks for the captivity of Israel to be fulfilled and in II Chron. 36:21 it tells us that they were. II Chron. 36:21 To fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfill threescore and ten years. Threescore and ten is 70. But I also believe that has the Lord often did there was another prophecy, a future one that He showed to Daniel. Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. I believe this to be an event in the future at the end. I don't what all that verse means but I do know that I have read the Old Testament a lot and I do know that Israel and Judah had committed great desolates and abominations many times over and over again. God indeed had been very patient with them and had it not been for His Name's sake probably would have left them in Babylon. And so today we also see this great desolation and abominations in the ICs again. It almost seems as if it is man's nature to move in this direction because it has happened many times throughout history.
I know a lot of people would disagree with me. But I have found, for myself, that not all that we heard in the ICs were lies. The ICs had bits and pieces in them of truth to confuse some of those that would come out of her. So I do not make the assumption that everything I heard in the IC is necessarily untruth, as some do. But rather I search everything out myself in every way to know the real truth.
I've heard people totally spiritualize Revelations. If it is totally spiritualized why are we seeing actual events happening that the bible says will happen. Why do we see 10 kings in the EU? I think it is quite possible that this last month when France, the Netherlands, and Britain reject or basically reject the EU constitution that perhaps we are starting to see the 3 kings plucked up start to happen. We also see the 10 kings pass a law called Recommendation 666 that says in case of a crisis in the EU one man will be able to declare marshall law. We are seeing people given 100% permission to look for the lost ark of the covenant in Israel at the same time that the crisis in the EU is happening, no matter where they need to look. Even if it is in the Temple Mount or underneath it. The one person looking for the ark, it is quite evident that he does not serve God, so evidently the devil is looking for the ark. Why? Why would he want it to be found? Perhaps for the antichrist? We are seeing Israel just give back land to the PLOs for the new state of Palestine. And all this is happening now, all at the same time? Why? Has God determined that now is the time? Have God's people gone through enough? It appears that that is what it looks like.
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