INTRODUCTION

A. Some definitions:

1. The word “great” means “of a size, amount, extent, or intensity considerably above the normal or average.” 

2. Tribulation means “great affliction or oppression.” 

3. “The word ‘tribulation’ is derived from the Latin tribulum, an agricultural implement employed for separating the husks from the corn by a rigorous process known as tribulatio…“ 

4. The Greek word used in Matthew 24 “is thlipsis which means literally ‘a pressing together.’  The word is translated variously in the A. V. by tribulation, afflicted, affliction, anguish, burdened, persecution, trouble.” 

B. The New Testament teaches that all Christians face tribulation, see Acts 14:22; Romans 8:35; 12:12, and most Premillennialists teach this in addition to the “Great Tribulation.”

C. The “Great Tribulation” is different from general tribulation experienced by all.

D. There are three distinct teachings concerning the timing of the Great Tribulation in connection with the Rapture.

1. Pre-tribulation rapture, the church will exit this world prior to the Great Tribulation.

2. Mid-tribulation rapture, the church will be taken away from the earth in the middle of the Great Tribulation.

3. Post-tribulation, where the church will remain on earth for the full seven year period, then be raptured just before the battle of Armageddon, and the end of the world.

4. Each position holds a different purpose for the Great Tribulation.  This lecture will focus on the most prominent, the tribulation which follows the rapture.

DISCUSSION

I. WHAT IS THE “GREAT TRIBULATION”?

A. The “Great Tribulation” is a period of intense persecution brought on by Satan’s earthly representative, the Beast of Revelation, which is to last seven years.

  
1.  “This is a short but intense period of distress and suffering at the end of time.  The exact phrase, the ‘great tribulation,’ is found only once in the Bible (Revelation 7:14).  The Great Tribulation is to be distinguished from the general tribulation believers face in the world (Matthew 13:21; John 16:33; Acts 14:22).  It is also to be distinguished from God’s specific wrath upon the unbelieving world at the end of the age  (Mark 13:24; Romans 2:5-10; 2 Thessalonians 1:6). 

2. “The precise expression, ‘great tribulation’ (Matthew 24:21; Revelation 2:22; 7:14–-Greek thlipsis megale), serves to identify the eschatological form of tribulation.  These words are Jesus’ description of a worldwide, unprecedented time of trouble that will usher in the parousia, Jesus’ return to the earth in great glory.  This period of time will be initiated by the ‘abomination of desolation’ (Matt. 24:15) predicted in Dan. 9:27, a desecration of the ‘holy place’ by one whom many scholars believe is the same as the ‘man of lawlessness’ of 2 Thessalonians 2:3,4.  Jesus gives specific instructions to the inhabitants of Judea for their escape and warns that the intensity of its calamities would almost decimate all of life (Matthew 24:15-22)” 

B.  The idea of seven years comes from Daniel’s prophecy of the 70 weeks in Daniel 9, the seven year period of the “Great Tribulation” coming from verse 27.

II. WHAT WILL THE GREAT TRIBULATION BE LIKE?

A. “The nature of the great tribulation.

1.   Unbelievably bloody wars (Matt. 24:6-7; Rev 6:2-4; 14:20).
2.   Drunkenness (Matt. 24:38; Luke 17:27).
3.   Illicit sex (Matt. 24:38; Luke 17:27; Rev. 9:21).
4.   Gross materialism (Luke 17:28; Rev. 18:12-14).
5.   Rise of false messiahs and prophets (Matt. 24:5, 11-24).
6.   Horrible persecution of believers (Matt. 24:10; Rev. 16:6; 17:6).
7. People hiding in the rocks of the caves in fear of God (Isa. 2:19-21; Rev. 
6:15-17).
8.  The pangs and sorrows of death similar to those of women in labor, to       seize people (Isa. 13:8; Jer. 30:6).
9.   Terrible worldwide famines (Rev. 6:5-6, 8).
10. Humans to be slaughtered by predatory wild beasts (Rev. 6:8).
11. Disastrous earthquakes (Rev. 6:12; 11:13; 16:18).
 
12. Fearful heavenly signs and disturbances (Luke 21:25; Rev. 6:12-13; 
      8:12).
13. Universal tidal waves and ocean disasters (Luke 21:25; Rev. 8:8-9;16:3).
14. The stars, moon, and sun to be darkened (Isa. 13:10; Joel 2:10, 30-31; 
      3:15).
15. The moon to be turned to blood (Joel 2:31; Rev. 6:12).
16. The heavens to be rolled together like a scroll (Isa. 34:4; Rev. 6:14).
17. Massive hailstones composed of fire and blood to fall upon the earth
      (Rev. 8:7; 16:21).
18. Huge meteorites to fall upon the earth (Rev. 8:8-11).
19. Stars to fall upon the earth (Rev. 6:13).
20. Salt and fresh waters to become totally polluted (Rev. 8:8-11; 11:6; 16:3-
      4).
21. Universal disaster of land ecology (Rev. 8:7).
22. Events to go steadily from bad to worse (Amos 5:19).
23. A time of thick darkness and utter depression (Joel 2:2).
24. No period in history to compare with it (Jer. 30:7; Dan. 12:1; Matt. 24:21,
      22).
25. A time of famine of the word of God (Amos 8:11-12).
26. A time of absolutely no escape from God’s fierce judgment  (Amos 9:2-3).
27. Worldwide drug usage (Rev. 9:21).
28. Universal idolatry and devil worship (Rev. 9:20; 13:11-17).
29. Murderous demonic invasions (Rev. 9:3-20).
30. Subterranean eruptions (Rev. 9:1-2).
31. Scorching solar heat (Rev. 16:8-9).
32. Terrifying periods of total darkness (Rev. 16:10).
33. Unchecked citywide fires (Rev. 18:8-9, 18).
34. A plague of cancerous sores (Rev. 16:2).
35. The total destruction of the earth’s religious, political, and economic          systems (Rev. 17-18).
36. A universal dictatorial rule by the Antichrist (Rev. 13).
37. An all-out, no holds barred attempt to destroy Israel (Rev. 12).
38. Survivors of this period to be more rare than gold (Isa. 13:12).
39. Human blood to be poured out like dust and their flesh like dung (Zeph.       1:17). 
40. The slain to remain unburied and the mountains to be covered with their                   blood (Isa. 34:3; 66:24).
41. The earth to be removed out of its orbit (Isa. 13:13).
42. The earth to be turned upside down (Isa. 24:1, 9).
43. The earth to reel to and fro like a drunkard (Isa. 24:20).
44. The most frightful physical plague in all history (Isa. 14:20).
45. A 200-mile river of human blood to flow (Rev. 14:20).
46. Scavenger birds to eat the rotted flesh of entire armies (Matt. 24:28; Rev.
      19:17-19.” 

B. “Events Occurring With The Great Tribulation.

1.   Formal organization of the harlot church (1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-5;          Rev. 17).
2.   Appearance of the Antichrist and his prophet (Rev. 13).
3.   Revival of the Roman Empire (Dan. 2:41; 7:7; Rev. 13:1; 17:12).
4.   The Antichrist’s seven-year covenant with Israel (Isa. 28:18; Dan. 9:27).
5.   Pouring out of the first six seals (Matt. 24:4-8; Rev. 6).
6.   Mass return of the Jews to Palestine (Isa. 43:5-6; Ezek. 34:11-31; 36:24; 
      37:1-14).
7.   Conversion and call of the 144,000 (Matt. 24:14; Rev. 7:1-4).
8.   Abomination of desolation (Dan. 9:27; 12:11; Matt. 24:15; 2 Thess. 2:4;              Rev. 11:2).
9.   Ministry of the two witnesses (Rev. 11:3-13).
10. Gog and Magog invade Palestine (Ezek. 38-39).
11. Martyrdom of the two witnesses (Rev. 11:7).
12. Martyrdom of the 144,000 (Rev. 14:1-5).
13. The casting out of Satan from heaven (Rev. 12:3-15).
14. The destruction of the false church (Rev. 17:16).
15. The full manifestation of Antichrist (Rev. 13:16-18).
16. Worldwide persecution of Israel (Dan. 12:1; Zech. 11:16; Matt. 24:21; 
      Rev. 12:13).
17. Pouring out of the last seal of judgment (Rev. 8-9; 11:15-19).
18. Message of three special angels (Rev. 14:6-12).
19. The pouring out of the seven vials of judgment (Rev. 16).               
20. The sudden destruction of economic and political Babylon (Rev. 18).
21. The battle of Armageddon (Ps. 2:1-5; Isa. 34:1-6; 63:3-4,6; Joel 3:2,9-16; 
      Zech. 12:2; 14:2-3,12; Rev. 14:14-20; 16:16; 19:11-21).”     

III. PURPOSE OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION. 

A. Time for the preparation of Israel for restoration.

1. Ice wrote, “The major purpose for the Tribulation Period (i. e., the seven-year, 70th week of Daniel) is primarily a time of preparation for Israel’s restoration (Deut. 4:29,30; Jer. 30:4-11). 

2.  Note this is for Israel, not the church.

B. Ice offers two other reasons for the seven-year period:

1. An interval is necessary for all in the church age to appear before the judgment seat in heaven as discussed in 2 Corinthians 5:10.

 2.  Secondly, “an interval allows for the translation of all believers on earth (Pre-Trib Rapture) at a point in time to occur and yet have time for millions of new believers during the Tribulation who are in non-resurrection bodies at the Second Coming to provide initial population base for the Millennium (Isa. 65:20-25), and a basis for the sheep and goat judgment at the Second Advent (Matt. 25:31-46).” 

IV. FOUNDATION UPON WHICH THE GREAT TRIBULATION IS BUILT.

A. Every doctrine has a foundation, and the idea of the great tribulation is no different.

B.  The great tribulation has four: “(1) consistent literal interpretation, (2) Premillennialism,   (3) Futurism, and (4) a distinction between Israel and the church.” 

       C.  These four explained.

1. Concerning literal interpretation, Thomas Ice comments, “Literal interpretation recognizes that a word or phrase can be used either plainly (denotatively) or figuratively  (connotatively)…An important point to be noted is that even though we may use a figure of speech to refer to (an event) we are using that figure to refer to an event that literally happened…” 

2. On Premillennialism Ice wrote, “Premillennialism teaches that the Second Advent will occur before Christ’s thousand-year reign from Jerusalem upon earth.”

 
3. Futurism, says Ice, involves the belief “that virtually all prophetic events will not occur in the current Church age, but will happen in the future Tribulation, Second Coming, or Millennium.” 

4. The distinction between Israel and the church.  Ice commented one must understand “that God’s single program includes two peoples, Israel and the church.  This view is often known as dispensationalism. While the basis of salvation is always the same for Jew and Gentile, this does not mean that God’s prophetic program does not have two aspects to it.  God’s plan for Israel is on hold until He completes His current purpose, or the church, and Raptures His Bride to heaven.  After the Rapture, God will then complete His unfinished business with Israel during the seven-year Tribulation period.  Therefore, if one does not distinguish between passages which God intends for Israel from those intended for the church, then there results an improper merging of the two programs.  Such a merger cannot support the Pre-Trib rapture since the Bible teaches that the church and Israel have in many ways different programs within the plan of God.” 
 

  V. THE GREAT TRIBULATION REFUTED.

A. Consider the four foundations: Consistent literal interpretation; Premillennialism; futurism; the distinction between Israel and the church.

        B.  Literal interpretation.

1. Requires passages such as Isaiah 11:6-8, “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.”

2. They teach this must actually happen exactly as described by Isaiah.

 3.  Creates problems for them with the prophesy of Daniel 2:44: “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”
      
  a.  The days of these kings refer to the Roman Empire.

 
b. Because the Roman Empire is not now ruling the world, the Roman Empire must be restored to power.

        C.  Premillennialism.

1. The kingdom was not, and is not, designed by God for a physical, earthly existence.

 2. Jesus prevented the people from making Him king on earth (John 6:15).

3. He told Pilate He was king, but it was not a kingdom of this world, for if it were His disciples would fight (John 18:33-37; remember also John 18:10,11).

        D.  Futurism.

1. This idea is a result of literal interpretation, Jesus is coming back to restore an earthly kingdom, and thus all prophecies of the kingdom are future, not present.

2. Also violates clear Bible teaching such as Joel 2 which is used for the great tribulation period, yet Peter applies it to the church age (Acts 2:16-21).

 3.  Several other examples could be given.

E. Distinction between Israel and the church.

1. Makes the mistake of thinking God has two plans in action.

  2. God has only one covenant people today, those who submit to the new covenant (Hebrews 8:7-13).

CONCLUSION

A. The idea of the great tribulation is a false idea.
   
B. The 4 foundation principles of interpretation are flawed, and thus lead to a flawed            conclusion.
 

ENDNOTES

1 The Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus, p. 642.
2 The Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus, p. 1632.
3Baker Dictionary of Theology, s. v. “Tribulation,” by Lawrence Duff-Forbes.
4Ibid.
5Dictionary of Biblical Literacy, s. v. “Eschatology (The Last Things).” 
6 The Concise Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, s. v. “Tribulation,” by W. E. Ward..
7 Dictionary of Biblical Literacy.
8 Ibid.
9 Thomas Ice, available at, http//www.acording2prophecy.org/pretribr.html
10 Ibid.
11 Ibid.
12 Ibid.
13 Ibid.
14 Ibid.

Denton Landon
8998 Lasater Road
        Clemmons, NC  27012