The Tribulation is perhaps the most disputed part of Eschatology, with The Rapture being a close second. Many do not believe Christians go through Tribulation or Great Tribulation. Let us look at the meaning of word Tribulation. Tribulation: Greek, θλῖψις, εως, ἡ, thlipsis, persecution, affliction, distress, thlípsis – properly, pressure (what constricts or rubs together), used of a narrow place that "hems someone in"; tribulation, especially internal pressure that causes someone to feel confined (restricted, "without options"). thlípsis ("compression, tribulation") carries the challenge of coping with the internal pressure of a tribulation, especially when feeling there is "no way of escape" ("hemmed in")." (Strong's Greek). As we see Tribulation is actually internally, it is a spiritual pressure as well as persecution from outside as seen in Apocalypse, "It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. If anyone is destined for captivity, to captivity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. Here is the perseverance and the faith of the [e]saints," (Revelation 13:7-10), "And the dragon was enraged at the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore," (Revelation 12:17), and "This means that God's holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus." (Revelation 14:12). Tribulation is distress, persecution, and affliction. I believe we are seeing this already happen, I know Christian brothers and sisters personally, who are suffering immensely from infirmities, financial losses, family loss, and more; and then there is the actual persecutions in China, Iran, and other countries.
Tribulation is a word like the Millennium (Thousand Year Reign of Christ, Revelation 20:4-7), that has been twisted by misguided eschatologists to be this mysterious and aloof thing. It is actually the same word the Early Christians would have used for their persecutions. Jesus said there would be Tribulation before He returns, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Matthew 24:29-31). Notice the progression, unlike Revelation which can be harder to interpret, Matthew Chapter Twenty Four is linear and Jesus says first there is Tribulation, then He comes on clouds, and then the Elect (Saints, Christians) are gathered [raptured, caught up ], "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). This means we Christians will experience Tribulation, distress, persecution, and affliction from Antichrist, Dragon, and False Prophet (see Revelation 14:12, Revelation 13:7, 10).
I am convinced the reason the pre-rapture before a Tribulation message has gotten such a grip on many people is that many do not want to experience the Tribulation and want to remain in comfort. They also confuse the Wrath of God which we do not experience, and Wrath of Satan/Antichrist which we do experience: "Pre-Trib Rapturists believe no Christian will go through the Great Tribulation base their claims on that Christians aren't subjected to God's Wrath, "Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!," (Romans 5:9). However, the problem is that the Tribulation is not God's Wrath, it is the wrath of Satan and antichrist against the Church: The Saints, God's People, "And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people (the Saints) and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made. He was then permitted to give life to this statue so that it could speak. Then the statue of the beast commanded that anyone refusing to worship it must die," (Revelation 13:7-8, 15), "Let this encourage God’s people to endure patiently every trial and persecution, for they are his saints who remain firm to the end in obedience to his commands and trust in Jesus," (Revelation 14:12), "Then I saw in heaven another marvelous event of great significance. Seven angels were holding the seven last plagues, which would bring God’s wrath to completion. I saw before me what seemed to be a glass sea mixed with fire. And on it stood all the people who had been victorious over the beast and his statue and the number representing his name. They were all holding harps that God had given them. And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb," (Revelation 15:1-3). The Wrath of God happens when Jesus Returns on the clouds with an army to pour out God's wrath on the nations, "Then I saw heaven opened and a white horse standing there; and the one sitting on the horse was named Faithful and True—the one who justly punishes and makes war. His eyes were like flames, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on his forehead, and only he knew its meaning. He was clothed with garments dipped in blood, and his title was “The Word of God.” The armies of heaven, dressed in finest linen, white and clean, followed him on white horses. In his mouth he held a sharp sword to strike down the nations; he ruled them with an iron grip; and he trod the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. On his robe and thigh was written this title: “King of Kings and Lord of Lords." (Revelation 19:11-16). This event of Jesus coming on clouds to trod the winepress of God's Wrath is right when we are caught up with Him in air, "For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord," (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). So Of course we aren't subjected to the Winepress of the Wrath of God, that's when Jesus Comes on Clouds and we Caught up With Him. But we do go through severe and terrible persecution and tribulation of the Antichrist that will crush us (Revelation 13:7), and we must stand firm (Matthew 24:10-13, Revelation 13:10, Revelation 14:12). We don't experience God's wrath, but we do experience the Antichrist's Wrath which can mean death (Revelation 13), decapitation (Revelation 21:4-7), imprisoned (Revelation 13:10), and being tortured (Matthew 24:9). The point is we must suffer immensely through Tribulation of the Man of Sin [being hated, mistreated, and even slaughtered by the Antichrist and his forces], but we shall be spared the Wrath of God on the nations (Revelation 16, 17, Revelation 19-11-16) and we are spared the Second Death which is the lake of fire and eternal torment (Revelation 20:10, 15, Revelation 21:8) because of our faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord, God and Savior (Romans 10:9-10, John 6:40)." (From my post, Debunking Misinformation).
The problem is that Pre-Trib rapture or caught up isn't Scriptural. Jesus said it happens after the Tribulation and after His Return on Clouds, "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Revelation 1:7). 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Matthew 24:29-31). These are words of Christ Himself, and yet somehow the idea of escaping the Tribulation has gained mainstream thanks to authors like Tim Lehaye and others who in their misguided ideas have lead many to believe something that will make them stumble and perhaps fall away because they weren't expecting Tribulation, which I think is probably going to fulfill these words of Jesus Christ, "I tell you, he will grant justice to them quickly! But when the Son of Man returns, how many will he find on the earth who have faith?," (Luke 18:8), and "Then they will hand you over to be persecuted and killed, and you will be hated by all nations on account of My name. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people." (Matthew 24:9-11). While I am not the late Tim Lehaye's judge, nor those misguided eschatologists, I am concerned they will be judged by Jesus for having lead people astray and making it easier for Christians to fall away when Tribulation and Persecutions promised by Jesus and the Apostles hits in full force. This is why it is written, "Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly/Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly." (James 3:1). Teachers are held accountable by The Teacher Jesus Christ "And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Christ," (full context Matthew 23:7-11) and if you teach something that contradicts Christ's own words like Tim Lehaye and Pre-Trib/Partial Rapturists did, then they will be held accountable for those saints who do not make it through Great Tribulation because they were led to believe they were going to be pre-trib raptured.
"You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matthew 10:22)
"Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me." (Matthew 24:9)
"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me." (John 15:18-19, 21)
"They will put you out of the synagogue, in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God." (John 16:2)
"And everyone will hate you because you are my followers." (Luke 21:17)
"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me." (Matthew 5:11)
"choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.." (Hebrews 11:25)
"Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church." (Colossians 1:24)
"For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him." (Philippians 1:29)
"The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus." (Acts 5:41)
"However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name."
1 Peter 4:16)
"So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin," (1 Peter 4:1)
"If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." (1 Peter 4:14)
"and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him." (Romans 8:17)
"and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort." (2 Corinth 11:23)
"that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;" (Philippians 3:10)
"After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you." (1 Peter 5:10)
"Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:10)
It is evident that suffering as Christian is part of the package. Tribulation means persecution, affliction, distress, and being pressed down. Tribulation is a reality, and those who seek to say otherwise must ignore the canon of Scripture (The Holy Bible).
Comments
Post a Comment