The Great Tribulation

The Great Tribulation Part 1

Much is said about the tribulation and many people have so many beliefs about it that it is almost impossible to separate people from the error of their thinking when talking about it. What we must do is return to what is true and what is able to direct our paths, the Scriptures. We must look at them as they are read and not as we want to read into them. The purpose must then be to see what is said about the tribulation, discover the Biblical facts and whether the tribulation is any different than great tribulation and what is tribulation itself.

The word, tribulation and its plural, is used 4 times in the Old Testament. It is from a word that means enemy or adversary when it is used as a noun, but its form is an adjective and refers to being in dire straits. Most people think of a terrible time to come when the tribulation is mentioned, but this is not the case in the Old Testament. It is sad times, and it is difficult yet that is what life is about, the reality of it that is. People are evil and they do evil things which happen to affect good people. This is what the Old Testament would call tribulation.

The New Testament is where we will get a better understanding of what tribulation is and what it isn't and hopefully we will then be able to place into proper context the subject at hand, the Great Tribulation. The first time the word appears in the New Testament is in Matthew! Matthew 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. Jesus is delivering His parable of the sower and explains the foolishness of the man who is like the stony ground. Because the man didn't take time to grow a taproot through the Word of God, when tribulation came, he withered away. The next three times this word is used, again Jesus is using it, but it is in His Olivet Discourse.
Matthew 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.
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mark 13:19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
Mark 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,

2347 qliyiV thlipsis thlip'-sis

from 2346; TDNT-3:139,334; n f

AV-tribulation 21, affliction 17, trouble 3, anguish 1, persecution 1, burdened 1, to be afflicted + 1519 1; 45

1) a pressing, pressing together, pressure
2) metaph. oppression, affliction, tribulation, distress, straits

The origination of qliyiV, thlipsis, comes from the procedure to press grapes in a winepress, so it is used to me stressful times, times when there is distress and anguish. The other word that is harsher in terms of its usage stenocwria, stenoxoria, can be distinguished by its fewer usages in Scripture. The word qliyiV, thlipsis, is used 45 times in the Textus Receptus having a wider view in usage because it is less in severity although not by much, yet nonetheless true, and is translated as above. Therefore seeing the differences is of importance to place in context and understand what we are ultimately attempting to understand which is the Great Tribulation.

4730 stenocwria stenochoria sten-okh-o-ree'-ah

from a compound of 4728 and 5561; TDNT-7:604,1077; n f

AV-distress 3, anguish 1; 4

Besides the quoted Scriptures, there are 41 other times that qliyiV, thlipsis, is used. It may seem odd to be placing together the usages of these words before we start discussing the specifics of what so many call the Great Tribulation, but the context of usage will help us to see more clearly by the usage what Jesus is talking about and thereby answer the question.

Matthew 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted <2347>, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
During the last days from the time of Jesus until His return, people will be one cause of affliction or tribulation.

Mark 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction <2347> or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
Notice that Mark uses the same word as Matthew in the parable of the sower.

John 16:21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish <2347>, for joy that a man is born into the world.
Jesus again states that affliction in relation to birth pains, the actual anguish that a woman experiences is the same word. It is not coincidental that Matthew uses the literalness of birth pangs to talk of the time before the "Tribulation" that so many talk about. Matthew 24:8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation <2347>: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Now we must see the normalcy of tribulation, the same word used, qliyiV, and look at the positive sentence that Jesus makes it. As part of the body of Christ, we have overcome the world and peace is found in Jesus!

Acts 7:10 And delivered him out of all his afflictions <2347>, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
Acts 7:11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction <2347>: and our fathers found no sustenance.
Acts 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution <2347> that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation <2347> enter into the kingdom of God.
This verse has especially spoken to me for many many years as the Lord has ministered to my heart and pulled me out of one pity party after another. It takes tribulation and affliction to enter the kingdom of God. Those who have no need of a Savior, never enter the kingdom of God for one must come to the Lord and repent of their sins. Tribulation is not abnormal!

Acts 20:23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions <2347> abide me.
Romans 2:9 Tribulation <2347> and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations <2347> also: knowing that tribulation <2347> worketh patience;
Notice the value of tribulation! Tribulation produces fruit of patience from the very experience of it!

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation <2347>, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation <2347>; continuing instant in prayer;
1 Corinthians 7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble <2347> in the flesh: but I spare you.
2 Corinthians 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation <2347>, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble <2347>, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2 Corinthians 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble <2347> which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
2 Corinthians 2:4 For out of much affliction <2347> and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.
2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light affliction <2347>, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2 Corinthians 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions <2347>, in necessities, in distresses,
2 Corinthians 7:4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation <2347>.
2 Corinthians 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction <2347> the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
2 Corinthians 8:13 For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened <2347>:
Ephesians 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations <2347> for you, which is your glory. Philippians 1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction <2347> to my bonds:
Philippians 4:14 Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction <2347>.
Colossians 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions <2347> of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

The use of Strong's number 2347 reveals that we will indeed have afflictions and tribulations in the world. We will have REAL life happen and other people's sins will complicate my life as well as mine their life. The sins of this nation, the United States of America and its fathers have laid the foundation of today where 97% of Christian high school students lie and think that it is okay to lie if they choose to do so as a Barna Poll recently revealed. Our tribulations have brought about the moral bankruptcy that exists in this nation and sometime soon this nation will experience much of the affliction and tribulation that Christians elsewhere in the world are experiencing. Certainly the argument that the church is gone can be seen in light of the tribulation of those in China. The idea that the American will be raptured before the tribulation because the saints in the tribulation must go through it to purge their sin or finish their sin reducing a saint to be less than another saint, and especially to tell the Jew who will be part of the bride that they are not as valuable as another part of the bride, the American.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction <2347>, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
1 Thessalonians 3:3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions <2347>: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
1 Thessalonians 3:7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction <2347> and distress by your faith:
2 Thessalonians 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations <2347> that ye endure:
2 Thessalonians 1:6 Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation <2347> to them that trouble you;
Hebrews 10:33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions <2347>; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction <2347> , and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation <2347>, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Look at these passages that use the word qliyiV, even the apostle John, who so many place their life and blood on because they misuse what he says to concoct a pre-tribulation rapture, uses the word in connection to himself! John says he is the church's brother in tribulation! But wait a minute! Don't the choir singers say the Holy Spirit is gone because the church is gone simply because they don't go through the tribulation? John says he is a brother and companion to tribulation! Isn't John in the church? Isn't John a Jew?

Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation <2347>, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.
Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation <2347> ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
Revelation 2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation <2347>, except they repent of their deeds.

Now we come to the term great tribulation, this is the second time it is used! Remember that Jesus used the term in Matthew 24:21, and it is used one more time in Revelation 7:14. Now that we have an understanding of what the word qliyiV means and how it is used, we will now go into depth concerning what we call the Great Tribulation.

In The Great Tribulation Part 2, the use of this word will be our foundation and we will see what the Lord is telling us in His Olivet Discourse. The church is not appointed to wrath, but that does not mean that we will not have tribulation as we see in South Africa, Nigeria, Mexico, and especially those in Indonesia and India!