TRIBULATION

THE TRIBULATION

Author’s Comment: The Tribulation is a complicated subject. We have tried to make our explanation as simple as possible so that our readers (both saved and unsaved) will be able to easily understand it. If you would like to do an in-depth bible study of the Tribulation, we have included many scripture references at the bottom of this page.

WHO IS THE ANTICHRIST?

The Antichrist is the great deceiver, the personification of evil, who will control the world during the Tribulation period. According to the book Of Revelation, the Antichrist is a world dictator who will rise to power and rule for 7 years before Jesus’ second coming and whose name spells out the number 666.

Revelation 13:16-18 says that He will institute the “Mark of the Beast” in an effort to exercise total economic, religious and political control. Without the Mark or the number of his name, no one will be able to buy or sell or even hold a job.

The Mark of the Beast will begin to be enforced halfway through the Antichrist’s 7 year rule, at the beginning of the Great Tribulation.

Revelation 19:20 says that at the end of the Great Tribulation, the Antichrist and his False Prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire and destroyed.

WHAT IS THE TRIBULATION?

The Tribulation is a 7 year time period of great suffering in the end times in which mankind’s evil and corruption will peak and God will pour out His wrath (punishment) on all rebellious and unbelieving people.

The first three and one-half years of the tribulation will be relatively peaceful. The Great Tribulation is the last three and one-half years of the Tribulation period and is distinguished from the Tribulation because the wrath of God will be greatly intensified during this time. 

WHEN WILL THE TRIBULATION BEGIN AND END?

The actual event that inaugurates the Tribulation is found in Daniel 9:27 when the Antichrist makes a covenant with Israel for 7 years. His signing of the covenant will trigger the prophetic time clock of God and ends 7 years later.

At the end of the first three and one-half years, the Antichrist will break the covenant and, in the temple (yet to be built), declare himself to be God and the savior of the world. This is the beginning of the Great Tribulation that ends with the battle of Armageddon and the second coming of Jesus Christ three and one-half years later.

WHO WILL GO THROUGH THE TRIBULATION?

Everyone who has not accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

WHAT HAPPENS TO CHRISTIANS DURING THE TRIBULATION?

There are 3 differing views and, in our opinion, only God knows which is right. The best position is just be ready at all times.

Pre-Tribulation Is Based On Revelation 3:10: Pre-Tribulationists believe that all true Christians (dead and alive) will be taken bodily up to Heaven in the Rapture before the Tribulation begins. According to their belief, every true Christian will be instantaneously transformed into a perfect resurrected body and will escape the trials of the Tribulation.

Mid-Tribulation Is Based On 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4: Mid-Tribulationists believe that the Rapture will occur halfway through the Tribulation period before the Great Tribulation begins.

Post-Tribulation Is Based On Matthew 24:27-31: Post-Tribulationists believe that the true Christians will not be Raptured but will be received by Christ into the Kingdom of God on earth immediately after the Great Tribulation. 

 NOTE: In Pre-Tribulationism and Mid-Tribulationism, the Rapture and the second coming of Christ are separate events, while in Post-Tribulationism, the two events are identical and simultaneous.

WHAT PURPOSE DO THE TRIBULATION JUDGMENTS OF GOD SERVE?

God’s basic purpose for the tribulation is to finish His dealing with Israel and that it be a time of judgment. At the same time, He will hold forth the Gospel of Grace. Judgment, or God’s wrath, is needed to put down the rebellion of mankind in preparation for Christ’s reign of peace upon earth during the millennium.

WHAT ARE GOD’S GOALS FOR THE TRIBULATION?

God’s goals for the tribulation are summarized as follows:

1. To judge the world in order to prepare it for His righteous rule.

2. To finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, and to punish all hardened sinners.

3. To move others to repentance and faith through the Gospel of Grace.

4. To pay back all the nations for how they have treated the Jews during the last 2,000 years.

5. To bring about a world-wide revival unlike any other time of history. This will be accomplished during the first half of the Tribulation by means of the 144,000 Jews to fulfill the prophecy found in Matthew 24:14.

NOTE: In addition, during the first half of the Tribulation, there will be normal evangelism taking place like we see today, the Two Witnesses will provide an evangelistic witness to Israel, and God Himself will use angels to preach the gospel and warn everyone not to take the mark of the beast (666).

6. To break Satan’s (the Devil’s) power over His holy people (Israel) and to bring them (the Jews) to faith in Jesus as their Messiah.

IS GOD TOO STRICT A JUDGE?

Some believe that God is too strict a judge and doesn’t really care about the people He created. But this is wrong! No matter who or what you are or what you have done, God loves you and He wants the best for you. But, He cannot bring you into Heaven if you haven’t accepted Jesus as your savior and Lord.

Those who suffer the judgments of God in the Tribulation are not “innocent men and women.” They are rebels against God who will not only reject God and His Free Gift Of Eternal Life offer but will run greedily toward every immoral and revolting sin known to man, including blasphemy of a kind beyond description.

Despite their gross sin, God intends that these Tribulation judgments might lead even these wicked sinners to faith in His Son, Jesus Christ!

THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION!

If you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord and would like to, don’t take a chance. Do it now! Remember, you are not guaranteed a tomorrow or even the next minute! To learn how to accept Jesus as your Savior and Lord, click on and read our GOD’S FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE Page above. You’ll be very glad you did!

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES TO HELP YOU IN YOUR STUDY OF THE TRIBULATION.

Deuteronomy 4:30, Deuteronomy 30:7, Isaiah 2:12, Isaiah 13:6, Isaiah 13:9, Isaiah 24:19-20, Jeremiah 30:7, Ezekiel 20:34, Daniel 9:24-27, Daniel 12:1, Daniel 12:11-12, Joel 1:15, Joel 2:1,11,31, Joel 3:14, Zephaniah 1:15, Matthew 24:1-51, Romans 11:22, 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4, 1 John 2:18, 1 John 2:22, 1 John 4:3, 2 John 1:7, Revelation 3:10, Revelation 6:1-17, Revelation 6:19, Revelation 7:1-17, Revelation 11:2-3, Revelation 13:16-18, Revelation 14:6-8, Revelation 14:9-11, Revelation 19:20, Revelation 21:4