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The Great
Tribulation
Great Tribulation Definition
What
is referred to as "the great
tribulation" is a time of distress, misery, affliction and persecution
that the followers of Jesus Christ were instructed to expect.
The
New Testament sometimes uses this word to denote a period of trial, trouble and
testing that will soon come to all mankind before the arrival of Christ to rule
the world.
Different
views place the time of the tribulation at different points in relation to the
Millennium (which means 1,000 years).
In
the book of Revelation, the apostle John describes the vast multitude of people
who come out of this time of testing and trial.
"These who
are clothed with white robes, who are they, and where did they come from? . . .
They are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; and they have
washed their robes, and have made their robes white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7).
To
some teachers of prophecy, the above verses are referring to a specific period
called Tribulation.
Based
on a comparison of relevant prophetic scriptures, many people feel this time of
trial will last seven years.
While
some churches and groups reference the entire seven year period by the phrase "great tribulation," others
refer only to the last half or three and one half years as being Tribulation.
This
is done because it is believed the last half of the seven-year period will
bring far worse suffering and trial than the first half.
Additionally,
many try to figure out WHEN this time of global tribulation, suffering and
trials will occur.
What
is known as Jesus' Olivet prophecies, recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke
21, are used to help determine exactly when the end will come and the Second
Coming occurs.
When
His disciples asked Jesus what would be the signs of His coming to earth during
the end time He stated several events.
He
first warned them to watch so that they would not be fooled. Jesus then stated
the following.
“And you shall
hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you do not let these things disturb
you. For it is necessary that all these things take place, but the end is not
yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and
there shall be famines and pestilences and earthquakes in different places” (Matthew 24:6-7).
During
the great Tribulation, the devil will deceive the entire world into worshipping
him in the form of the end time Antichrist (see
Revelation 13:1, 4).
He
will eventually gather all the armies of the world to fight against a returning
Jesus Christ (Revelation 16:12, 14).
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