BY YWGO 

 

The Great Tribulation period as seen in Scripture which describes it as a time during the midpoint of the last 7 years of the end of the age? It is also known as the mid point of the Prophet Daniel’s 70th week. It is clearly mapped out before and after key Prophetic events.

After mentioning “the abomination that causes desolation spoken by the prophet Daniel”, Christ explained several points of this period and noted for the reader to understand, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as not been seen since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be” KJV (Matthew 24:15, 21; Daniel 12:1b).

Ted Montgomery a physician and Bible teacher notes that other Bible versions use different words to define “great tribulation.” Furthermore, the abomination that causes desolation is the starting point for the Great Tribulation which will be set up in the middle of the 70th Week also.

At only one other place in the New Testament is the term “great tribulation” seen: Revelation 7:14 noting people coming out of the “great tribulation”. Ted’s notes show the latter half (3½ years) of the 70th Week will begin with the Great Tribulation period, which will be “cut short,” according to Jesus, “for the sake of the elect sake” because, otherwise, “no one would survive” (Matthew 24:22). The cosmic disturbances: Sixth Seal will cut short the Great Tribulation, after which the Day of the Lord period will transpire.

THE DAN.9:27
7 YEAR COVENANT
BY THE (PHASE 1)
ANTICHRIST AS
THE GLOBAL PEACEMAKER

3 1/2 YRS THE ABOMINATION
OF DESOLATION
Dan.9:27,11:31,12:11
Matt.24:15,Mark13:14

GREAT TRIBULATION
3 ½ YRS
Revelations 7:14, CH 12, Matt. 24:15, Luke 21:22
www. endtime pilgrim.org


Tribulation vs. Wrath

There needs to be a clarification of the words “Tribulation” and “Vengeance” in order to get the proper exegesis of the Tribulation period. Many use this confusion and dichotomy to teach false doctrines where they define Tribulation as Vengeance. They have two different meanings altogether and can lead to different thought processes about preparing for Christ return.

Rich Deem an Apologetics minister outlines there are two Greek words most often used to describe tribulation events, and in many instances, they are used together in the same verse. The first word is diwgmos (Strong's #G1375), which occurs 10 times in the New Testament and is translated "persecution(s)" in all major English translations. This word always refers to the persecution of believers by non-believers.1 The second word is thlipsis (Strong's #G2347), which occurs 45 times in the New Testament and is translated "tribulation(s)," "affliction(s)," "anguish," "distress," "persecution," or "trouble." In 42 of these 45 occurrences, the word refers to the suffering believers received at the hands of non-believers such as: the sufferings of Joseph when he was sold into slavery at the hands of his brothers, the sufferings of people during the famine of that time, and only one refers to the suffering of those who commit evil. It only refers to non-believers in only 2% of all verses.

He further notes thatTwo different Greek words are used to describe the suffering of non-believers at the hand of God. The first word is thumos (Strong's #G2372), which occurs in 18 verses in the New Testament and is translated "angry tempers," "fierce," "indignation," "outbursts of anger," "passion," "rage," and "wrath." In nine of those 18 verses, the term specifically refers to the anger and judgment of God against the unrighteous. The other 9 refer to the anger of people against each other7. The second word is orgay (Strong's #G3709), which occurs in 34 verses in the New Testament and is translated "anger" or "wrath." Twenty-eight of those verses refer to the wrath of God (or Jesus against the unrighteous, one refers to the persecution of believers, and five refer to anger of people against each other. Therefore, whereas tribulation almost always refers to the persecution of believers, wrath almost always refers to the anger of God against the unrighteous that results in punishment.

Ted Montgomery further expounds that the prophet Isaiah wrote several times about God’s vengeance. For the Lord has planned a day of revenge, a time when he will repay Edom for her hostility toward Zion.” NET (Isaiah 34:8) “A day of vengeance” refers to the initial segment of “the day of the Lord,” and “a year of retribution” may indicate that this period will last for about a year referring to the 7th year of the age.

For I looked forward to the day of vengeance, and then payback time arrived.” NET (Isaiah 63:4). Here Ted notes that the “day of vengeance” is equated to “the year of my redemption”—that is, the year during which God will take vengeance on unbelievers and during which believers will be redeemed through the Rapture.
To announce the year when the Lord will show his favor, the day when our God will seek vengeance, to console all who mourn, NET(Isaiah 61:2). Ted explains that In effect, this equates to a year of vengeance taken upon most of the world, while the Lord’s favor will been given to others at the Rapture. It appears that God’s vengeance, at the beginning of the Day of the Lord, will be in response to slain believers’ having cried out to God during the Fifth Seal persecution, to judge mankind and to avenge their blood, which will have been shed upon the earth:

Now when the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been violently killed because of the word of God and because of the testimony they had given. They cried out with a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Master, holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?” NET (Revelation 6:9, 10).

See, the LORD is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins. The earth will disclose the blood shed upon her; she will conceal her slain no longer NET (Isaiah 26:21).

According to scripture, the Great Tribulation displays the Anti-Christ and demonized mankind’s wrath on the servants of Christ testifying the Gospel to the world and His soon coming to end their rule. It has nothing to do with God putting wrath on His servants. Many people confuse the definition and usage of Tribulation with Wrath to say that God will not deliver Christians into His wrath as if it were the tribulation. Christians are saved and chosen by the blood of Yeshua from God’s Wrath. His wrath is His judgment of the unrighteous not believers. However, this does not excuse Christians from God’s tests and trials applied to our lives in order to witness for Him and refine our spirits. The persecution of God’s faithful witnesses is clearly seen throughout the Old and New Testament, Church History, and present day.

References:
1. Holy Bible KJV and NET translations
2. http://www.godandscience.org/doctrine/wrath.html
3. http://www.tedmontgomery.com/bblovrvw/Rapture/index.html
4. http://www.endtimepilgrim.org/chart1.htm
5. http://www.endtimepilgrim.org/fallfeasts.htm