The end time and the great tribulation
When will the end times begin, and what is the Great Tribulation? This is a question that comes with a lot of emotion. And the question is, what of the information out there is reliable and how can we judge that? So let’s take a look at our favorite book to find some answers: The Bible.
You may want to read before
What is the end time?
I think there is a lot of confusion when it comes to the end times and its terminology. So let’s look at it. To do this, we need to have a look at the Day of the Lord. This is the time when the Kingdom of God comes. In the Old Testament, this was described as the time known as the second Exodus.
But when Jesus came to earth, He fulfilled one part of the Day of the Lord (the saving aspect), but left another part (the judgment), which will be fulfilled when He comes again (in our future). This period, beginning with the first coming of Christ, could be considered the beginning of the end times. Then this is very relevant for us because we live in this time. But it is also a somewhat confusing time. If we consider this to be the end time, then we see this explained in the whole book of Revelation and we see a lot of guidance there.
Here is a quick overview on the timeline in the book
But this subject is covered throughout the New Testament.
On the other hand, you could say that the end times refer to Jesus’ second coming and the short time before that. In that case, only a certain part of the book of Revelation will give answers, and they may not seem so relevant. And there are many other passages in the New Testament that talk about it as well.
The great tribulation
The Great Tribulation is a term that appears in the book of Revelation and the article “the” shows that the Great Tribulation has a history. This term originated in Daniel:
“‘At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people — everyone whose name is found written in the book — will be delivered.”
This passage is referenced in Matthew and Mark when Jesus also speaks of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.
In the context of Daniel this was to emphasize the loyalty of Gods people during the time of Antioches Epiphanes and beyond and it was used to purify the saints and divide between the saints and the wicked. Some of God’s people will be deceived and will turn away from God.
This oppression can be economic as in Smyrna or for the third horseman or prison and even death.
We see the tribulation already foretold by Jesus to the disciples, during the mission of Paul, as a catalyst of hope, it cannot separate us from Jesus, as a warning to Timothy and in the letter of Peter.
This makes the Great Tribulation something that happens the whole time between Jesus first and second coming. But how is this possible?
Let us look again at the passage in Daniel. “Michael, the protector of Israel, will arise”. This is taken up in the Book of Revelation in connection with the first coming of Christ in chapter 12. Michael will fight with the dragon (devil) and defeat him and cast him out of heaven.
But because of his defeat, he is ruthless because he has only little time and tries to do as much damage as possible, first against Israel and at this didn’t work, against the church.
So the Great Tribulation refers to all the tribulations that we as the Church are facing.