The TRIBULATION

 


The Worst Time in the History of the World


Future Events, Part 4 – “The Tribulation”


By Pastor Dan Kennedy

© February 20, 2011

www.pastorkennedy.com

(On the website above, click the link to “recent message notes” to view this message online.)


In presenting a Biblical understanding of the “Tribulation”, one faces a multitude of views and perceptions regarding topics such as this.  I could keep from controversies or misunderstandings by simply avoiding the subject.  When I asked you for topics of interest to study, some of you suggested more teaching about the “end times” (including the book of Revelation), so I am spending a few weeks on Biblical “end times”.  I am calling this series of messages “Future Events”.  All of my study notes are available online, or in hard copy if one simply requests them.  I want everyone to thoroughly study the Scripture on their own, as well as any sound Biblical notes or books you may have on the subject, so you can be discerning about what the Scripture teaches on “the last days”.  It is those who do not know God’s Word, who can be easily manipulated and deceived by cultic teaching – which often focus on end-time events.  Know what the Scripture teaches.


Each of us is accountable before the Lord for our understanding of His Word!  Remember that the Berean’s, in the New Testament, were more noble than some others because, “they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”  (Acts 17:10-12)


I am going to begin with objections that some may have on the whole subject of “end times” and particularly “the Tribulation”.  Though some of these objections may seem valid to begin with, they may not stand up to the teaching of Scripture.


Tribulation Naysayers


Overactive Imagination: 

There are those who say that “the Tribulation” is a figment of an overactive imagination from doomsday prophesiers, trying to use a form of scare tactics to stir up and manipulate stressful, doomsday emotions.  Truly modern-day, thinking people, they say, should not be concerned about antiquated, mystical and somewhat insane ideas, which cause undue stress in an already stressful world.


Enigma: 

There are those who say that we will never understand the Old Testament Prophets, or the Book of Revelation, and should not try to search out real-life meaning from mysterious Biblical images and words that are an enigma to the human mind.


“End Times” Concepts are Mainly “Spiritual”: 

There are those that say that references to a variety of end-time troubles are really speaking of events that are “spiritualized” – they are there because they only have spiritual meaning:  There will never be an actual “Tribulation”.


It has Already Happened: 

There are those who say that the Tribulation has already happened around the time of the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., during the time of the Roman Emperors, and is not a future event. 

[Problems for those believing that the Tribulation is already past, include: There is no historical record of the “two witnesses”, the worldwide “mark of the beast”, the great plagues of Revelation, etc., etc.  Are these facts of Revelation simply “spiritualized” away?]


Unnecessary to Think About: 

There are those who feel Christians should not be concerned on whether or not the Bible teaches about End Time events and whether or not there will be a “Tribulation”.  These may feel our focus instead should be only on real-life daily needs, and if we are living “Christianly” in today’s world.


I cannot agree with views of the tribulation naysayers seen above, based on the Scriptural contexts of a number of prophetic authors in Biblical books including the very words of Jesus Christ concerning “being ready” (Matt. 24:36-51; Luke 12:35-48; Matt. 25:1-13, etc.).  Let’s continue by seeing what the Bible says about the subject – and whether or not the Tribulation and “End Times” is worthy of our study.


There is Closure for Everything…Sometime!

Nothing in life lasts forever!


  Given time, new cars fall apart, rust out and turn into a junk heap.

  New houses get old and fall down.

  New appliances break down and stop working.

  A huge packet of coffee filters eventually runs out.

  Boxes of tea bags eventually are used up.

  Our favorite clothes, in time, become useless rags.

  Our bodies grow old, tired and helpless. 

  We all die sometime!

  The world will cease to exist, as we know it.

  Dominant nations will fall. 

  There will one day be “a time of trouble” never previously known in the history of the world.



Does God Expect His Children to Know

the “Signs of the Times”?


Remember the words of Paul?


1 Thessalonians 5:3–6

3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.


Remember what Jesus Said?


Christ rebuked the Pharisees by telling them that they could predict the weather but they were not aware of the “signs of the times” (Matt. 16:1-4; Luke 19:41-44).


Remember God’s words to Daniel the Prophet?


God told the Prophet Daniel that the prophecies given him would be sealed up until the time of the end when their meaning would be revealed – the “wise will understand” (Daniel 12:4,9-10).  Why else would God have given these end times prophecies to the prophet, had not God intended the prophecies to be revealed to give His people understanding of the “times”?


Daniel 12:9–10

9 He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.


One day, the earth will be in the greatest turmoil that the world has ever seen. 


Biblical Confirmations of the Tribulation


There are at least four confirmations in Scripture that I would like to present to you today and in the next couple of weeks that plainly tells us of this coming terrible event. 


1.  Most Old Testament Prophets clearly prophesy of a future, terrible “Day of the Lord” (which include Tribulation horrors as well as “Christ’s Glorious and Terrible Second Coming”).


2.  Jesus Christ tells His disciples specifically of the coming of this terrible period, referring to signs spoken of by Daniel the Prophet.


3.  Multiple verses throughout Scripture point to a seven-year Tribulation.


4.  John the Apostle in the final book of the Bible, Revelation, tells us of specific events that will happen during this catastrophic Tribulation which concur with all the prophesies from Jesus and the Prophets.


Accountability:  Another Reason for Sharing about the Tribulation 


The practical outcome of knowing of “The Day of the Lord” is the very real accountability that will be coming for those who do not fear God and submit to His Authority and Salvation.  This should prompt those sinning against God, to repent.


Remember also that the Scriptures are Inspiration by God


These prophecies were written down, inspired by the Spirit of God, for our instruction!


2 Peter 1:21

21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.


1.Many Old Testament Prophets prophesy of the coming terrible “Day of the Lord”


Take note of consistent characteristics in the Scriptures we will be reading.


  “The Day of the Lord”, including when Jesus Christ returns, is spoken of in Scripture as a time of great and serious trouble…a time of “Jacob’s Trouble”.


  Take note that in these prophesies of “The Day of the LORD” involves a plurality of “nations”: all the nations of the world.


  Also note that there is a continuing reference to a Day of the Vengeance of God, of Doom and Darkness – such as the sun becoming dark and the moon, if visible, only strangely visible as “being covered in blood”.


Let’s look at these Prophetic Scriptures to Determine for ourselves about this coming catastrophic event in the world’s history.


“The Day of the Lord”


Prophesied by the Prophet Isaiah


Isaiah 13:6–13

6 Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.7 Because of this, all hands will go limp, every man’s heart will melt.

8 Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame.

9 See, the day of the Lord is coming

a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger— to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. 10 The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light. 11 I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. 12 I will make man scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir. 13 Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the Lord Almighty, in the day of his burning anger.


The Prophet Jeremiah prophesies of a coming “Day of the Lord”/“Time of Jacob’s Trouble”


Jeremiah 46:10

10 But that day belongs to the Lord, the Lord Almighty— a day of vengeance, for vengeance on his foes. The sword will devour till it is satisfied, till it has quenched its thirst with blood. For the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will offer sacrifice in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.


Jeremiah 30:7

7 How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.


Ezekiel prophesies of the “Day of the Lord”


Ezekiel 30:3

3 For the day is near, the day of the Lord is near— a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations.


The Prophet Joel tells of the “Day of the Lord”


Joel 1:15

15 Alas for that day! For the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.


Joel 2:1–2

2 Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand— 2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness.


Joel 2:10–11

10 Before them the earth shakes, the sky trembles, the sun and moon are darkened,

and the stars no longer shine. 11 The Lord thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty are those who obey his command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?


Joel 2:30–31

30 I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.


See how the Apostle John in Revelation confirms this Prophecy


Revelation 6:12–14

12 I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.


The Prophet Joel Continues…

Joel 3:11–15

11 Come quickly, all you nations from every side, and assemble there. Bring down your warriors, O Lord! 12Let the nations be roused; let them advance into the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge all the nations on every side.

13 Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow— so great is their wickedness!” 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and moon will be darkened, and the stars no longer shine.


The Apostle John affirms the “winepress of wrath”


Revelation 14:18–20

18 Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the altar and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, “Take your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.” 19 The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. 20 They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as the horses’ bridles for a distance of 1,600 stadia.


Revelation 19:15

15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.


The Prophet Zechariah


Zechariah 14:1–5

14 A day of the Lord is coming when your plunder will be divided among you.

2 I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city.

3 Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights in the day of battle. 4 On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. 5 You will flee by my mountain valley, for it will extend to Azel. You will flee as you fled from the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all the holy ones with him.


o  The Vicious Armies of the world surrounding Jerusalem,

o  Christ’s Coming,

o  The great Earthquake,

o  The Earthquake Valley (God’s Mountain Valley)

o  The Escape, and

o  [The Winepress]


There could be a great similarity with the “winepress” mentioned by the Prophets, to when Israel was fleeing from the army of Egypt and the Red Sea opened up for Israel’s escape, but ominously also insured the destruction of all of Egypt’s army.  The “winepress” here, from which blood flows up to the horses bridle, could parallel the Red Sea experience.  This cavernous earthquake valley, newly broken open by Christ’s Return – called God’s “mountain valley” could be used by the ravenous armies of the world to follow the fleeing Jewish people as they escape.  As the Red Sea catastrophically sealed the doom of Egypt’s army, so God’s “mountain valley” could become the “winepress” for the armies of the world.


The Prophet Amos predicts the coming “Day of the Lord”


Amos 5:18–20

18 Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord! Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light. 19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. 20 Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light— pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?

(Does this remind you of the ninth plague of darkness on Egypt prior to the Israelites being released from bondage? Exodus 10:21-23 - Another parallel?)


Obadiah, God’s Prophet prophesies the “Day of the Lord”


Obadiah 15–18

15“The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head. 16 Just as you drank on my holy hill, so all the nations will drink continually; they will drink and drink and be as if they had never been.


The Prophet Zephaniah prophesies of the coming “Day of the Lord”


Zephaniah 1:7–18

7 Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited.


14 “The great day of the Lord is near— near and coming quickly. Listen! The cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter, the shouting of the warrior there. 15 That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness,


18 Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath. In the fire of his jealousy the whole world will be consumed, for he will make a sudden end of all who live in the earth.”


Malachi, prophesies of Elijah’s coming before “The Day of the Lord”


Malachi 4:5–6

5 “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”


The Prophet Daniel prophesies of a coming Time of Distress never before experienced in the world’s history.


Six hundred years prior to Christ’s predictions of this tumultuous time, the Prophet Daniel uttered the same dark predictions.


Daniel 12:1

12:1 “At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.


2.  Jesus Christ tells of the coming terrible, unequaled Days of Distress with specific signs spoken of by Daniel the Prophet.


Jesus Christ told His disciples that there was coming a time of trouble that would be so bad, it had never happened before, and would never happen again.


Mark 13:19

19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.


Matthew’s Record of Jesus’ Words


Matthew 24:15–25

15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the roof of his house go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again. 22 If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.


The Visible Second Coming of Jesus Christ will not be hidden from anyone – just like lightening is seen across the sky, from east to west! You will not have to wonder about whether or not it is Jesus Christ who is Coming Again!


Jesus Continues to Speak of His Coming…


Matt. 24:26 “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the desert,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.


29 “Immediately after the distress of those days

“ ‘the sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not give its light;

the stars will fall from the sky,

and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’ (Sound familiar?)

30 At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory. 31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.


After reading these passages do all the Prophets, Jesus and His Apostles (New Testament authors) seem to be speaking of a literal future event?


  1.   Would Jesus and the Prophets want us to see these events as being somewhat overblown – the figment of their overactive imagination – something we should not be too worried over?

 

  1.   Would Jesus and the Prophets want us to “spiritualize away” these events as not being real?  Or, for us “not to worry”, because their words were too hard to understand!


  1.   Are these horrific events so unimportant that Jesus and the Prophets would prefer us to focus solely on “making the world a better place for Christ’s Kingdom”?


  1.   Would any worthy World Historian honestly lead us to believe that these ultimate-chaotic, catastrophic – “the most terrible events in the history of the world” days – have really already happened?


Remember the Biblical Confirmations of the Tribulation


1.  Most Old Testament Prophets clearly prophesy of a future, terrible “Day of the Lord” (which include Tribulation horrors as well as “the Glorious and Terrible Second Coming”).


2.  Jesus Christ tells His disciples specifically of the coming of this terrible period, referring to signs spoken of by Daniel the Prophet.


3.  Multiple verses throughout Scripture point to a seven-year Tribulation.


4.  John the Apostle in the final book of the Bible, Revelation, tells us of specific events that will happen during this catastrophic Tribulation which concur with all the prophesies from Jesus and the Prophets.


Let’s conclude by looking at a Significant Passage on the coming “Day of the LORD”, by the Apostle Peter.


Scoffers will be Plentiful, in the Last Days before Christ Comes, Questioning “The Day of the LORD”.


2 Peter 3:3–10

3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.


God has a Reason for Jesus’ Return Not Happening Yet…

You and Me!


If Jesus had already fulfilled His Promise earlier and Returned, you and I would not have the opportunity to be with Him in His Eternal Kingdom, and for others to repent!


How should we live, when we know the “Day of the LORD” is going to happen?


If there will come a day when we stand in accountability before God (at death), and when “everything will be destroyed in this way”, then what kind of people should we be as we live our lives right now?


God is building His Kingdom.  Those who turn to God, through His Grace, in repentance and faith are Born Again into Christ’s Everlasting Kingdom.


Those who are already Children of Christ’s Kingdom should live their daily lives honorably before their God and King!


To those who are God’s Children, who look forward to the “Day of God” and seek to “Speed Its Coming”, may the Lord find us “diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace”.  We are to “take care that we are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But instead, to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”! (See 2 Peter 3:14-18)


2 Peter 3:11-13

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.


Be Ready.


Next week we plan on studying the time periods of the Tribulation in Scripture, and begin an overview of the Book of Revelation leading up to Christ’s Coming.