50 Days to Understanding the End-Times More Accurately – Day 2 – The Tribulation
DAY 2 - The Tribulation
There is a common belief within much of Christianity that a “seven year tribulation period” will eventually come upon the entire world. This time period is commonly referred to as “The Tribulation”, and is believed to be a time when God’s wrath is poured out upon the earth.
If you’ve ever opened a Bible and attempted to learn more about “The Tribulation”, you may have found that God never refers to “The Tribulation”. This is an immediate obstacle which one must get around if one is going to gain understanding on this subject from the Bible.
The closest thing that the Bible ever actually says is recorded in the following verse, “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:” (Matthew 24:29).
This is the only occurrence of the phrase “the tribulation” in the entire Bible. If you have an exhaustive concordance, look up “tribulation” and see how many times the word “the” appears immediately prior to it, thus appearing as “the tribulation” within the pages of Scripture. You will quickly see that of all 22 times the word “tribulation” appears, only once is it ever found directly after the word “the”.
In the one place that we do find “the tribulation” in the Bible, a specific phrase immediately follows it; “of those days”. Obviously, this means that “the tribulation” mentioned is just one specific time of tribulation, of which there are others. There could not be a “tribulation of those days” unless there were also tribulations of other days. This is why we see the word “tribulation” used so often in so many other places in the Bible. Interestingly, within the pages of the New Testament, “tribulation” is used most often in association with believers. This is peculiar because many believe in a pretribulational rapture. Their belief is that true believers will be raptured (or taken) from the earth prior to “The Tribulation”.
Though the word “tribulation” occurs 19 times in the KJV New Testament, there are actually two words in the original Greek which are translated as “tribulation”. The more common is “thlipsis”, which is used 45 times, and the lesser used is “thlibo”, appearing 10 times. Thlipsis means “distress”, “trouble”, or “oppression” and thlibo means “to press upon or cause trouble, to be troubled, persecuted, or pressed”.
Of the 45 times thlipsis is used, 35 times it pertains only to believers (77.77777% of the time).
Of the 10 times that thlibo is used, 7 times it only pertains to believers (70% of the time).
This means that based on the New Testament, tribulation is mostly a Christian experience.
I will soon post an exhaustive listing of every occurrence of these words.
Obviously, Scripture clearly teaches that believers will experience tribulation upon this earth. In regard to “The Tribulation” though, the Bible is silent. Since God never uses that phrase the way that man does, God does not define it or specifically tell us anything about it. This is problematic.
We must be wary when men choose to use unbiblical phrases. Since God neither uses nor defines these phrases, man can then choose to define them as he sees fit, perhaps even to fit his theology or agenda.
Point #1: God never mentions “The Tribulation” in the way that many have grown accustomed to.
Point #2: God therefore does not define this phrase.
Point #3: Since God neither uses nor defines “The Tribulation”, we are unable to gain any insight simply by looking up “The Tribulation” in the Bible.
2+2=4
Thanks, @narrowminded
In case you missed them,
Yes, but it never says "Trinity" either, yet there are tons of passages that make it clear that Trinity is a true theological concept. It is the same way for the phrase "The Great Tribulation". It is a valid label to use for a specific event:
This particular passage from Matthew 24:21 seems to make it very clear that what we call The Great Tribulation is a very specific, unique period that will occur just before Jesus shows up to cut it short:
This is the same period Daniel talks about.
Any period of great tribulation to be unequalled in all history can reasonably be referred to as The Great Tribulation, don't you think?
So, since every one written in the book will be delivered, this can't be the 70 AD foreshadowing - it's the real thing at Jesus' return.
This delivery is, of course, the post-tribulation (pre-wrath) rapture where Jesus "gathers His elect from the four winds".
We know this because Jesus uses the words "Immediately after"
This matches what Paul said about the Rapture exactly:
I am definitely heading that direction, but am only one day two. This will most likely be difficult because a lot of people will most likely get of ahead of me, as I slowly progress through this. "Pre-wrath" is certainly the term that I like to use. Also, I like the last two verses you shared, which show that "the Rapture" will occur "after the tribulation of those days..."
Very good. Here's a nice summary that clarified it for me:
The Tribulation is where Christians suffer everything Satan can dish out.
The Rapture cuts these days short.
The Wrath of God follows - where those left behind will suffer all that God will dish out.
I am very pleased that both you, and many other believers here understand this truth. I hope that you can all still enjoy this study, and in the end that we can all be edified and prepared for what we will soon face. I would not be surprised if we have to pay for our faith with our very lives before this is all over.
Revelation 7:13-14 - And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 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.
These are the believers that have been raptured after the great tribulation.
Matthew 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.
Mark 13:24 - But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
When the sun and moon go dark etc - this is the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. This is when the believers in Christ will be raptured - the God will pour out his wrath.
This is a really good video that everyone should see.
Hey, just thought I'd let you know that I finally published this book. So far it is only available on amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/1517698774 - but in another week or so, I'll be selling it for STEEM & SBD in our Homesteaders Co-op store. Figured I'd mention it since you commented here when I was first sharing it on steemit.
Thanks, and be blessed!
That is a great video to watch. There is still a lot to be covered in the upcoming days, and I look forward to hearing your insights along the way, @steemtruth.
The same thing is true of "great tribulation" it occurs only 3 times in the new testament and in the KJV it never says "the great tribulation" yet it is treated as a superlative in end times study.
Great point, I am about to post about every time that the two words translated as "tribulation" in the New Testament ("thlipsis" and "thlibo") are used.
Matthew 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.
Mark 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
If we compare the Matthew 24:21 verse in question with the corresponding verse in Mark 13:19.
While both verses do say there has not and will not ever be a time like this.
The words tribulation and affliction are the same Greek word “thlipsis” mentioned in the article but as we can see only Matthew uses the word “great”.
So those that say there’s no 7 year tribulation, there’s only a 3 ½ year great tribulation on the grounds of this Matthew verse haven’t taken into account that the same verse in Mark doesn’t go along with that argument.
If this phrase “great tribulation” is so important, I’d expect to see it in both the Matthew 24 and Mark 13 scriptures but maybe that’s just me.
I would also expect it to say “great tribulation” in Matthew 24:29 if this phrase is so critical to our understanding of “End Times” but doesn’t.
There is no corresponding verse in Luke 21 as that discourse deals with the events in 70AD that were mentioned.
I believe it’s possible that the word “For” which is gar in Greek could be render as “Because”.
So if we take Mark and add the preceding verse in;
Mark 13:18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
19 Because in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
The point I’m trying to make is this doesn’t necessary mean it’s the starting point of this “great tribulation” at the Mid-Point of Daniel 70th Week, it could already have started.
I believe the chronology of the Book of Revelation points out that the 6th Trumpet which is the 2nd Woe starts just before the Mid-Point and ends just after the Mid-Point.
So “The Day of The Lord” would have already started before the Mid-Point in this case.
I just don’t agree with the fitting of all the passages about the start of “The Day of The Lord” around this “Great Tribulation” verse.
"In regard to “The Tribulation” though, the Bible is silent. Since God never uses that phrase the way that man does, God does not define it or specifically tell us anything about it. This is problematic."
Actually this is not true. Christians will endure the effects of the first six seals up to the point that the resurrection/rapture takes place and those things are described. Also we are told that many will be overcome by the antichrist, as well as other things we are told in the scriptures.
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
There has been and will continue to be an abundance of prophecy regarding the times soon to come - maybe you you should start to listen to them.
Excellent points @scarecrow22! Please follow along as I share, as I think you will have much to agree with it on. Thank you.
It looks like you are even newer to steemit than I am. Welcome. I clicked "follow" on your blog, so it looks like I am your first follower. I'm interested to see what you will be up to.
You bring up a lot of good points @logos1. Hopefully you will enjoy the devotional as I release it.