End Times-
putting the pieces in place
by Sonny Bowman
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Chapter 5
The Great Tribulation
Revelation 13:15-16 (NKJV) He was granted power to give
breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast
should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the
image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and
great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their
right hand or on their foreheads,
In chapter 24 of Matthew, Jesus described the
Great Tribulation. He said it will be a time of deception with
false christs and false prophets (Mat. 24:4-5,11,23-24). It will
also be a time when believers will be persecuted severely and
hated (Mat. 24:9-11). Lawlessness will increase. As a result,
many people’s love for the Lord will grow cold, leading them
to fall away from the faith (Mat. 24:12-13). Satan will do his
best to deceive people during the Great Tribulation and will
empower the Beast to persecute and deceive people. There will be
many false signs and wonders which will be used in an attempt to
deceive the elect (i.e.
Christians—the chosen ones of God) (Mat. 24: 24).
This time of great tribulation will be
characterized by greatly increased demonic activity led by the
one called the Antichrist or the Beast. The word antichrist
is found in only four Scripture verses and refers to one of many
antichrists in the world (1 John 2:18, 22; 4:3; and 2 John 7). It
refers to an individual or spirit who is against Christ or one
who denies the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22).
During the time of the Great Tribulation there
will be one particular individual who will attempt to take the
place of Jesus as King on this earth. This individual is called
the man of lawlessness (2 Thes. 2:3-10) and the Beast
(Rev. 13:1, 4, 12-14). As the antichrist of all antichrists, the
Beast is the Antichrist. According to chapter 13 in
Revelation, the Beast and his forces will
be the major cause of persecution during the Great Tribulation.
The Great Tribulation will begin when the Beast sets up the Abomination of Desolation.
The important thing to understand is that the
Great Tribulation is a time of intense persecution and trouble
instigated by the Beast and his forces. The ultimate source of
the trouble is Satan (Rev. 13:2, 4). A major purpose of the
persecutions and trouble is to cause people to fall away from the
Lord Jesus. (Rev. 13:4, 17). It will be an intensification of
Satan’s continuing efforts to kill, steal, and destroy (Jn.
10:10). God is not the cause of any of the persecutions arising
during the Great Tribulation.
The Beast will be assisted by the False Prophet. The False Prophet will make an
image of the Beast (Rev. 13:14). To deceive people into
worshipping the Beast and his image, the False Prophet will
perform signs and miracles and even cause the image to come to
life. He will even be able to call down fire from heaven (i.e.,
the sky) (Rev. 13:13). This is something that Satan’s
servants could not do in the past (1 Kings 18:22-29). Anyone who
refuses to worship the Beast or his image will be killed (Rev.
13:15).
Many people will be killed during the Great
Tribulation. This includes some of those who belong to God (Dan.
11:32-35; Rev. 13:8). However, those who know God and understand
what is going on will oppose the Beast and teach others the truth
(Dan. 11:32-33). Some protection will be provided by God for at
least some of His people (Dan. 11:34; Rev. 12: 6, 13-17).
However, many will pay the ultimate price in their service to God
(Dan. 11:35). Historically, Christianity is always purified and
strengthened by persecution (Dan. 12:10).
The reign of the Beast (and thus the length of
the Great Tribulation) is limited to 3½ years. At the end of the
Great Tribulation, the reign of the Beast will be brought to a
sudden end by the return of Jesus (Mat. 24:29-31; 2 Thes. 2:8).
At that time, Jesus will gather His people from the earth (i.e.,
the Rapture, Mat. 24:31). The Beast, False Prophet, and those who
followed them will be left on the earth to suffer during the seven plagues of the Wrath
of God that follow the Great Tribulation.
As in the past, the intensity of persecution
will probably vary with geographic areas. For example, during the
first century, Christians in Rome suffered greater persecution
than those in more remote areas. Persecution during the Great
Tribulation will probably be the most severe in those locations
most tightly controlled by the Beast. Persecution will probably
be less severe in areas where the Beast has less control.
Possibly that is why Jesus said to leave the cities (Mat.
24:15-21).
It is also probable that the persecution will
increase as the Great Tribulation progresses and the Beast’s
influence spreads. Those Christians who are physically near the
Abomination of Desolation when it is established will have to
flee immediately (Mat. 24:15-16). Those who are in other parts of
the world may have a little more time to react to the
Beast’s actions. However, intense persecution may begin
immediately after the Abomination of Desolation in all
regions—so Christians must always be alert and ready to take
necessary action.
God will provide some form of supernatural
protection for some of His people (Rev. 12:6,13-17; Dan. 11:34).
This protection may be that described in Psalm 91. The length of
the Great Tribulation has also been shortened for the benefit of
Christians (Mat. 24:21-22). However, not all of God’s people
are protected from the persecutions during the Great Tribulation
(Rev. 12:17; 13:7). No matter what comes against you, be assured
that nothing can separate you from the love of God that is
in Jesus (Rom. 8:35-39; Heb. 13:5-6; Mat. 28:20).
Summary
Term Definition:
The term great tribulation is
used in only three Scriptures (Mat. 24:21, Rev. 2:22, and
7:14). In Matthew 24:21, Jesus warns that "there
will be a great tribulation." In Revelation 2:22
there is a warning that those who commit fornication with
"Jezebel" will be cast "into great
tribulation." In Revelation 7:9-14 the great
multitude from all nations who are standing before the
throne of God are those who have come "out of the
great tribulation."
The Greek word for tribulation
(Strong’s #2347 q l i y i V , thlipsis)
means pressure, either literally or figuratively.
This word has been translated in various Bible passages
as affliction, anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, and trouble. From the meaning
of the word it is evident that the Great Tribulation will
be a time of great persecution, affliction, and trouble.
Significance of the Great Tribulation:
The Great Tribulation is a time when
Satan will do his worst to kill, steal, and destroy (John
10:10). For people of the world, it will seem to be a
time of victory against God and against those who serve
him.
Source of the Great Tribulation:
Satan is the source of the Great
Tribulation. Primarily, he uses the Beast (the
Antichrist) as his instrument of deception and
destruction (Rev. 13:2-4). God is not the cause of the
Great Tribulation. (However, God may release authority
for Satan to do his worst in a similar manner to that
described in Job 1:8-12 and 2:3-6. This may be alluded to
in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8, Revelation 6:1-8, Revelation
13:5-8, Matthew 24:21-22, and Daniel 8:12-13.)
Length of the Great Tribulation:
The Great Tribulation lasts 3½ years.
This 3½ year length is specified as 42 months, 1260
days, and as a time,
times, and half a time.
Events Prior to the Great Tribulation:
Immediately prior to the start of the
Great Tribulation, the Abomination of
Desolation will be set up. Jesus instructs Christians
that the Abomination of Desolation is the primary
indication that the Great Tribulation has started (Mat.
24:15, 21).
Events of the Great Tribulation:
The Great Tribulation is primarily
characterized by the reign of the Beast. It will be a
time of intense persecution of all people, especially
those who belong to God. All that is evil will be
unleashed in one last dying effort to strike out at God
and the people He loves. People cannot buy or sell in the
Beast controlled markets without obtaining the mark of the Beast
(i.e., 666, Rev. 13:16-18).
God During the Great Tribulation:
God will send a strong delusion upon
those that do not love the truth causing them to believe
the lies of Satan and the Beast (2 Thes. 2:9-12). God
will be caring for His people as always, even though many
will be martyred for their faith (Dan. 11:33-35). He will
provide a place of protection in the wilderness for those
who heed Jesus’ instructions to flee from the cities
(Rev. 12:6, 13-16; Mat 24:15-21). At the end of the Great
Tribulation, Jesus will return to cut off the
persecutions by gathering His people from the earth (Mat.
24:21-22, 29-31; 2 Thes. 1:6-8; 2 Thes. 2:8).
Christians During the Great Tribulation:
The people who know their God will
strongly oppose the Beast and do great exploits (Dan.
11:32). Some Christians will be killed during the Great
Tribulation (Dan. 11:33-35). However, many will flee to
the protection of the place in the wilderness that God
has prepared for them (Rev. 12:6, 13-16).
Satan During the Great Tribulation:
Satan (the dragon) will give the
Antichrist (the Beast) great authority during the Great
Tribulation (Rev. 13:4-5).
Beast During the Great Tribulation:
The Beast will exalt himself and claim
to be God (Dan. 11:36; 2 Thes. 2:4). He will blaspheme
the true God (Rev. 13:6). He will also make war with the
people of God (Rev. 13:7).
Non-Christians During the Great
Tribulation:
Non-Christians will be corrupted with
the Beast’s flatteries and be deceived (Dan. 11:32;
Rev. 13:14). They will join with him in his persecution
of those who desire to serve the true God (Dan. 11:32;
Rev. 13:14). These people will be awed by the power of
the Beast and Satan and will worship both of them (Rev.
13:3-4). All people who do not belong to God will worship
the Beast (Rev. 13:8).
Events Following the Great Tribulation:
At the end of the Great Tribulation,
certain signs will be seen in the sun, moon, and stars.
Jesus will return to gather the Christians (i.e., the
Rapture) and the Wrath of God will be poured out on the
Beast and those who served him. (See Mat. 24:29-31 and
Rev. 6:12-17.)
Scripture references for the Great
Tribulation:
Mat. 24:4-5, 9-24, 29-31; Mark
13:14-20; 2 Thes. 2:3-12; 1 Jn. 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 Jn. 7;
Rev. 7:14; Rev. 12:6, 13-17; Rev. 13:1-18; Dan. 7:25;
Dan. 8:11-14; Dan. 11:28-36; Dan. 12:6-7, 11-12
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End Times - putting the pieces
in place
Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are from
the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by
Thomas Nelson, Inc.
NKJV indicates quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New
King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
KJV indicates quotations taken from the King James Version
of the Bible.
Numbers associated with Greek (italic) or Hebrew (upright)
words refer to the corresponding words in the Strong's Exhaustive
Concordance of the Bible, by James Strong, S.T.D., LL.D.
Please make copies of this book to give to your friends. (A
searchable and printable version in Adobe Acrobat format is
available for download.) Your comments
and suggestion are also welcome. Thank you for helping others to
understand the Bible teachings on the End Times.
God bless you.
Sonny Bowman
If you have questions or comments, please contact
Sonny Bowman.
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