The Great Tribulation
The great tribulation announced by the
prophets Jeremiah and Daniel precedes
the consummation of the Jewish age.
Will we today face the great tribulation?
Many think so. Others believe that an
Arab-Israel (Zionist) war, in the Middle
East will signal an end time Armageddon.
Many labor under an end time myth. It is
believed that we are headed for the great
tribulation, a precursor of an end time battle
of Armageddon.
Jeremiah wrote of the great tribulation. He called the time of Jacob’s trouble. (Jer. 30:7) The time would be so severe that God likens it to men having babies like women in labor.
For some in Israel it meant destruction. For others, God promised to save them. It would be a time to refine and purify and as with precious metals, the valuable ore saved while the dross is cast off.
These are the prophecies that the Left Behind Series authors Tim LaHaye, Jerry Jenkins, and others such as Rapture enthusiasts, i.e. Thomas Ice, and John Hagee, etc, continue to butcher to pieces on the end time.
They like many who follow them bought into what the United Nations charged is the illegal occupation and invalid actions of Zionists in Israel, (The Jerusalem Prophecy, Randall Price, p. 163).
This illegal occupation is by them viewed as God ordained and thus subject to fulfillment of the Old Testament prophets.
Daniel and the Great Tribulation
At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that time and at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book.
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall aware some to everlasting life, some to everlasting contempt. (Dan. 12:1, 2)
According to Daniel, the great tribulation directly precedes the end time which is concurrent with the resurrection. This however creates a problem for those who hold pre-tribulation view of prophecy.
Without scripture or exegetical support they imagine and insert a 1000 to 1007 year gap for a literal millennium before the end occurs.
Their contention is that the Rapture occurs seven years before the great tribulation at which time Christ returns, fights the battle of Armageddon and reigns on earth for a literal 1000 years.
All is brought to consummation when Christ returns, defeats all enemies and raises the dead. But this theory is all messed up, biblically and logically.
Yet, they’re claiming the battle of Armageddon is about to begin, and they’re ready as “Hagee” urges to preemptively strike Iran to see that it gets off to a good start.
The Great Tribulation Is Past
All truth sounds strange at first. To say that contradicts all we hear in the media about the war in the Middle East and from premillennial dispensationalist pens and pulpits.
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The coming of the Lord associated with the great tribulation was Jesus’ coming in judgment upon Jerusalem in 70 AD.
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Christ, quoted Daniel’s prophecy connecting it with the overthrow of the temple, Matt. 24:3, 21.
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Immediately following the tribulation of those days, Christ would come in judgment upon the tribes of the land, Matt. 24:29, 30.
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All would happen in their generation which could not pass away till all were fulfilled, Matt. 24:34.
- The apostle John encourages his readers saying that he already was in the companion in the tribulation, Rev. 1:9
- The at hand message of Revelation demonstrates the great tribulation was about to end. It shows those who were before the throne, Rev. 7:14, 15; i.e the firstfruits, (14:3–5,, therefore first century Christians, coming out of the great tribulation.
Will We Face The Great Tribulation?
We conclude that Christians today will not face the great tribulation spoken of in scripture. That event was associated with the A.D. 70 destruction of Jerusalem. It is now past.
That said it is no guarantee that Christians are immune from conditions in the world in which we live. Natural disasters, war, and other political upheavals may surface at anytime creating discomfort in life.
Because of the victory we have received in Christ, we have the source of the greatest resource to weather those storms with confidence and internal peace, (Phil. 4:6; Eph. 3:20).
William is the author of the Re-Examination a study of Christ’s return in 70 AD. Click here to order now.
