The Tribulation Period-1

Period of the Great Tribulation:

I. ITS UNIQUENESS

In describing the period of the Great Tribulation, the Lord said it will be a time “such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall” (Mat. 24:21). It will be a time of trouble unique in the history of the world. There have been many difficult times since the Lord spoke these words, and He Himself warned the disciples, “In the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33). What is it, then, that makes this future period different? How will the Great Tribulation be unique?

Mat. 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.”

For then shall... For then—the great tribulation of the last 3 1/2 years of this age will begin (Dan. 9:27; 11:40-45; 12:1, 12:7, 12:11; Jer. 30:4-7; Rev. 7:14; 11:1-19:21).

be great tribulation... The words such as was not since the beginning and nor ever shall be along with the description that follows. Identify this as the yet-future time in which God’s wrath shall be poured out upon the earth. Jesus’ descriptions for the cataclysms that follow closely resemble the outpouring of divine wrath described in the bowl judgments of (Rev. 16), and His subsequent appearing in (Rev. 19).

such as...

οἷος

oios

hoy'-os

Probably akin to definite article the, who, which, what, that, and as much, great, long; such or what sort of (as a correlation or exclamation); especially the neuter (adverb) with the negative not so: - so (as), such as, what (manner of), which.

was...

γίνομαι

ginomai

ghin'-om-ahee

A prolonged and middle form of a primary verb; to cause to be (“gen” -erate), that is, (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literally, figuratively, intensively, etc.): - arise be assembled, be (come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, be done, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought.

not...

οὐ

ou

oo

Also οὐκ ouk ook used before a vowel and οὐχ ouch ookh before an aspirate.

A primary word; the absolutely negative (compare absolute denial) adverb; no or not: - + long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, [can-] not, + nothing, + special, un ([-worthy]), when, + without, + yet but.

since...

ἀπό

apo

apo'

A primary particle; “off”, that is, away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literally or figuratively): - (X here-) after, ago, at, because of, before, by (the space of), for (-th), from, in, (out) of, off, (up-) on (-ce), since, with. In composition (as a prefix) it usually denotes separation, departure, cessation, completion, reversal, etc.

the beginning...

ἀρχή

archē

ar-khay'

From to commence; (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concrete) chief (in various applications of order, time, place or rank): - beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule.

of the world...

κόσμος

kosmos

kos'-mos

Probably from the base of to tend, that is, take care of; orderly arrangement, that is, decoration; by implication the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]): - adorning, world.

to...

ἕως

heōs

heh'-oce

Of uncertain affinity; a conjugation, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place): - even (until, unto), (as) far (as), how long, (un-) til (-l), (hither-, un-, up) to, while (-s).

this time,...

νῦν

nun

noon

A primary particle of present time; “now” (as adverb of date, a transition or emphasis); also as noun or adjective present or immediate: - henceforth, + hereafter, of late, soon, present, this (time).

no,...

οὐδέ

oude

oo-deh'

From no or not and but, and also; not however, that is, neither, nor, not even: - neither (indeed), never, no (more, nor, not), nor (yet), (also, even, then) not (even, so much as), + nothing, so much as.

nor ever...

οὐ μή

ou mē

oo may

That is, no or not and lest, also; a double negative strengthening the denial; not at all: - any more, at all, by any (no) means, neither, never, no (at all), in no case (wise), nor ever, not (at all, in any wise).

shall be... see was above.

In no other period of history (past or future), of the world will there be so much suffering and universal destruction as during the seven years called the Great Tribulation. These years are fraught with wrath (Eze. 7:19), judgment (Rev. 14:7; 15:4; 16:5, 7), darkness (Joel 2:2; Amos 5:18, 20), indignation (Isa. 26:20-21; 34:1-3), and sorrow.

The scriptural representations of the Great Tribulation are wholly negative with no attempt to minimize the severity of human suffering in that time. During the Great Tribulation, God will pour out His wrath on mankind and will judge all of creation, just before the peace of the Millennium is ushered in.

If Christians do not realize that they will be taken out of the world before the Great Tribulation begins, they could become very discouraged looking forward to those years. The realization of what awaits the unsaved following the Rapture ought to motivate every believer to win souls before it is too late.

In this verse, you can easily see why the rush to get out. If this was the siege that took place when Jerusalem fell to the Romans, then close to a million were estimated to die. I tend to believe that this Scripture was not only for that terrible time, but is also speaking of another terrible time that will come when the antichrist begins his rule in the Tribulation period.

The personal advent of Christ and the day of final judgment are only foreshadowed by, not realized in, the destruction of Jerusalem and the close of the old dispensation.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Jesus’ instructions about these things (chaps. 14-16) were intended to sustain them, to give them peace in Him. Believers have a dual existence: they are in Christ and in this world. In union with Jesus, His disciples have peace, but the world exerts a hostile pressure. The world system, the enemy of God and His people, opposed Jesus’ message and ministry (cf. John 1:5, 1:10; 7:7). But Jesus won the victory over the system; He has overcome the world. As the “strong man” who came and ruined Satan’s kingdom (Mat. 12:25-29), Jesus is the Victor. Jesus wanted the disciples to remember this fact and to rejoice in His victory. Take heart! means “Be courageous.” (In the NT the word tharseō [“take heart, be courageous, cheer up”] was spoken only by the Lord [Mat. 9:2, 9:22; 14:27; Mark 6:50; 10:49; John 16:33; Acts 23:11].) Because He won they, in union with Him, can win also (Rom. 8:37).

These things...

ταῦτα

tauta

tow'-tah

Nomitive or accusative neuter plural of the he; these things: - + afterward, follow, + hereafter, X him, the same, so, such, that, then, these, they, this, those, thus.

And so, Jesus said, "I’m telling you these things because I want you to have peace. In the world, you’re going to have tribulation." Now, He is not saying here that the church is going through the Great Tribulation. And there’s a vast difference between the tribulation that I experience as a child of God and the Tribulation that the world is going to experience as a rebel against God. "In the world you will have tribulation." Why? Because you’re not of the world. Where does the tribulation originate against the child of God? From Satan. From the world itself. Where does the Great Tribulation originate? Its origin is God, as God comes to judge the world for the rejecting of His Son. So there’s a vast difference between the tribulation that the church faces in the world and the Great Tribulation that the world will face when God has removed His righteous remnant out of the world, and then begins to judge it for its rejection of His Son.

I have spoken...

λαλέω

laleō

lal-eh'-o

A prolonged form of an otherwise obsolete verb; to talk, that is, utter words: - preach, say, speak (after), talk, tell, utter.

unto you,...

ὑμῖν

humin

hoo-min'

Irregular dative case of ye, yourselves, you; to (with or by) you: - ye, you, your (-selves).

that...

ἵνα

hina

hin'-ah

Probably from the same as the former part of him (through the demonstrative idea; compare definite article the); in order that (denoting the purpose or the result): - albeit, because, to the intent (that), lest, so as, (so) that, (for) to.

in...

ἐν

en

en

A primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), that is, a relation of rest (intermediate between to or into and origin); “in”, at, (up-) on, by, etc.: - about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-) by (+ all means), for (. . . sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-) in (-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-) on, [open-] ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, [speedi-] ly, X that, X there (-in, -on), through (-out), (un-) to(-ward), under, when, where (-with), while, with (-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) prep.

Me (Jesus)...

ἐμοί

emoi

em-oy'

A prolonged form of to me: to me: - I, me, mine, my.

ye might have...

ἔχω

echō

ekh'-o

A primary verb (including an alternate form σχέω scheō skheh'-o used in certain tenses only); to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession, ability, contiguity, relation or condition): - be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can (+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do, + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.

peace....

εἰρήνη

eirēnē

i-rah'-nay

Probably from a primary verb εἴρω eirō (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication prosperity: - one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.

In... see in above.

the...

ὁ, ἡ, τό

ho hē to

ho, hay, to

The masculine, feminine (second) and neuter (third) forms, in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom): - the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.

world...

κόσμος

kosmos

kos'-mos

Probably from the base of to tend, that is, take care of; orderly arrangement, that is, decoration; by implication the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]): - adorning, world.

ye shall have... see ye might have above.

tribulation:...

θλίψις

thlipsis

thlip'-sis

From to crowd, literally or figuratively afflict; pressure (literally or figuratively): - afflicted, (-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

but...

ἀλλά

alla

al-lah'

Neuter plural of else, that is, different; properly other things, that is, (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations): - and, but (even), howbeit, indeed, nay, nevertheless, no, notwithstanding, save, therefore, yea, yet.

be of good cheer;...

θαρσέω

tharseō

thar-seh'-o

From boldness, courage; to have courage: - be of good cheer (comfort).

I (Christ Jesus)...

ἐγώ

egō

eg-o'

A primary pronoun of the first person, “I” (only expressed when emphatic): - I, me.

have overcome...

νικάω

nikaō

nik-ah'-o

From conquest; to subdue (literally or figuratively): - conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory.

the... see the above.

world... see world above.