The Great Tribulation

           Having recently posted blogs on the topics of the Abomination of Desolation and the Day of the Lord I feel the next and closely related subject is the great tribulation.  Following shortly I will consolidate all three topics into   a comprehensive overview of the eschatology of the end times as revealed in the Scriptures.  This coming blog will tie all of the relevant events together and provide the reader with an accurate chronology of the manner in which they will unfold in time. I do recommend my title These Prophets and the Revelation if you desire to obtain a complete narrative of these unfolding and future events on the horizon and their interface with developments in the secular world of today.

            The Great Tribulation is a vast topic and we can only deal with the major elements of its

content in this short space, but can provide a significant amount of understanding. I think to introduce the subject it can be best addressed by beginning with the Old Testament prophet Daniel. A major portion of the closing revelations of Daniel beginning at Daniel 11:30 and continuing to the end of that chapter and then all of the twelfth chapter of Daniel can provide a

very helpful foundation before we move into the New Testament.

            What we are seeing beginning at Daniel 11:30 is a narrative of the emergence of the son of perdition, i.e the Antichrist. Revealed here first is his setting himself forth as he assumes the place of God. He shall ’have indignation (great wrath, the highest detestation) against the holy covenant’ and have ‘intelligence (understanding) with them that forsake the holy covenant’ (vs.30). He ‘shall take away the daily (constant, continuing) sacrifice(this word was added-not in the original text) and shall place the abomination that maketh desolate’(vs.31). It must be understood that a sacrifice of animals on an alter in a physical temple is not in view here. While many would interpret it in that manner; you will need to go to IIThes. 2 for a clearer understanding or read my previous blog on the abomination of desolation for clarification. Thirty days after the abomination is established the great tribulation will commence. This is verified at Daniel 12:11. The length of the tribulation is established at Daniel 12:7 as ‘a time, times and an half’ (1260 days or 3 ½ years). This is confirmed several times in Revelation 11 and 12. The tribulation is not seven years in length but only half of that time

            All of the remainder of chapter eleven provides us with the actions of and responses to the Antichrist who has set himself forward to be worshipped. ‘And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people who do know their God Shall be strong and do exploits. (vs.32) He can be shown in the text following to be of Jewish decent. ’Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers (shows him to be a Jew) nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.(vs.36-37). In the end of his campaigns and conquests ‘he shall plant the tabernacle of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet shall he come to his end and none shall help him.’ (vs.45). Jerusalem is located between the seas (the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea). The glorious holy mountain in Daniel’s time would be understood to mean Mount Zion.

            Moving now to the New Testament and the testimony of Jesus: At Matthew 24:15 Jesus

speaks as a prophet warning us that when we see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet we will know that the time is nigh. He describes it as one standing in the holy place and admonishes us to understand. Note that He says nothing about the sacrifice of an animal in a physical temple. He introduces this warning sign as an onset to the tribulation. ‘For then shall be great tribulation, which was not since the beginning of the world to this tie ,no or ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened there should no flesh be saved…..’(vss.21-22). He explains it as a time of great deception with signs and wonders to deceive people that it is he himself who has returned , but not so and he warns people to not be deceived that Christ has come again to the earth.  Later in the chapter at Matthew 24:29-31 we see him coming in the clouds with power and great glory to gather together his elect from the four corners of the earth and heaven.  This is the resurrection is after the tribulation and this passage is explained further at I Thes. 4:13-17. (not a rapture as proclaimed by dispensationalists).

            We need to move now to the book of Revelation and consolidate some of the relative truths from the Revelations of the Apostle John. First it is important to identify those texts in Revelation which are actually concerned with the tribulation for many have taught that the majority of the entire book deals with the subject. This is not true. Relevant are chapters 6, chapter 11:1-12, chapter 12 and chapter 13.

            Beginning with chapter 6 and the opening of the six seals spoken of in the text we will briefly state the essence of each of the seals. The first seal personifies a white horse and he that sat upon it with weaponry and a crown. This is the Antichrist moving forward to accomplish conquest. The second seal reveals a red horse with power to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another. The third horse is black and he that is upon it has a pair of balances in his hand to in effect measure the oil and the wine. This speaks of widespread famine and the scarcity of food. The fourth horse was pale and his name that sat upon him was  Death and Hell followed him. This is the consequence of all that is transpiring bringing pestilence and disease and widespread death.  The fifth seal reveals the souls of those who have been martyred for the testimony of the gospel of Christ asking the Lord when will their deaths be avenged? The sixth seal is a darkening of the sun and the moon and the Lord intervening to signal his coming judgment—the Day of the Lord-- upon the earth and the wicked men who are yet dwelling there. Indeed, as the Lord has said this is great tribulation and its duration is three and one-half years.

            Let us look briefly at the first portion of chapter eleven (vss. 1-12). The temple representing God’s place of swelling in his people—not a physical building is first measured. Some are found to be worshipping in truth while others are in the outer places away from the alter and they are given unto the Gentiles to be trodden under foot for the 42 months (3 1/2 years) of the tribulation.  Those worshipping in truth at the alter are to be caught up to heaven precipitating a great war in heaven in which the Dragon Satan is cast out.  This is recounted in chapter 12 and can only be understood when the metaphors used are rightly interpreted. The vast body of what we call the church represented by the woman (12:1) is in travail bringing forth a remnant of faithful believers who are to taken to the throne and become the instrument of the Lord to cast Satan out of heaven. The gospel is carried by many who are awakened to the reality of the time and are prepared to carry that message throughout the world before the end which will come as Jesus prophesied at Mathew 24:13. But their testimony will be given at the cost of their lives as many will be martyred by the enemies of God and Christ.

            Chapter thirteen of the Revelation reveals the geopolitical configuration of the world at the time of the end with the ten horned and seven headed beast. It reveals the great power given to the beast by Lucifer and those who he has spiritually captured. It reveals that a mark will be required to buy and sell and to take that mark is most certain to lead to the spiritual destruction of all who are participating.

            This is at best only a summary of the texts revealing the great tribulation.  To gain full understanding and complete exposition you could profit by obtaining my book These Prophets and the Revelation.  Go to my website given below and search it out including the link to numerous blogs which I have written covering many biblical topics and developing world events.

David Lance Dean                                         website:   author davidlancedean.com