THE GREAT TRIBULATION

Chafer chapter 45

Thursday 6 October 2011

a. The great tribulation in contrast with the general tribulation

Here there needs to be a distinguishing between general trials and the specific great tribulation described in OT and NT.Tribulation = time of pressure, affliction, anguish of heart, trouble in general - this is a common experience as a result of sin and man’s rebellion against God.Look at Job 5:5, Jn 16:33 - the life of Job or Paul, it is the pattern since Adam.

Thursday 6 October 2011

a. The great tribulation in contrast with the general tribulation

Here there needs to be a distinguishing between general trials and the specific great tribulation described in OT and NT.Tribulation = time of pressure, affliction, anguish of heart, trouble in general - this is a common experience as a result of sin and man’s rebellion against God.Look at Job 5:5, Jn 16:33 - the life of Job or Paul, it is the pattern since Adam.

However the Bible speaks specifically about a 42 month

period at the end of the age leading up to the second coming of

Christ - this is the great tribulation.

Thursday 6 October 2011

b. The OT doctrine of the great tribulation

Dt 4:29-30 is the earliest warning of this time. Jer 30:1-10 - v7How awful that day wi! be! No other wi! be like it. It wi! be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he wi! be saved out of it.It moves on to promise the millennial kingdom in verse 9 and rest in verse 10.Dan 9:26-27 - where the covenant is broken (which had been made for 7 years but is broken after 3 1/2 - confirmed in Dan 12:11-12...

Thursday 6 October 2011

“From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination that causes desolation is set up, there wi! be 1,290 days. Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.Chafer states that 1290 days is approx 3 1/2 years and includes the time for the 2nd coming of Christ and the early judgments that follow. 1335 days includes the establishing of the millennial kingdom reign too.GT ends with 2nd coming of Christ - Dan 7:13-14 -

Thursday 6 October 2011

The wicked king and government which preceded 2nd coming will be destroyed, Dan 7:26 - the everlasting kingdom, characterised at first by the millennium kingdom and then by the ultimate govt. of God in the new heaven and new earth, will be seen.Dan 11:36-39 tells of the end time having a very aggressive atheistic religion headed by a world ruler, who magnifies himself above all gods - he honours only war and is materialistic and atheistic. His kingdom ends in a great war, vv40-45 - armies attack from N, S, E - he resists but it is cut short by the return of Christ. This then ends the GT.

Thursday 6 October 2011

c. The NT doctrine of the great tribulation

Jesus was asked by his disciples about the second coming and the end of the age - he replied with Matt 24:3-14Then in 24:15-29 he describes the great tribulation - starting with the desecration of the temple and the mediterranean ruler putting himself in the place of God. Jesus tells them this will happen on a specific day - and to flee. vv21-22 reads,

Thursday 6 October 2011

c. The NT doctrine of the great tribulation

Jesus was asked by his disciples about the second coming and the end of the age - he replied with Matt 24:3-14Then in 24:15-29 he describes the great tribulation - starting with the desecration of the temple and the mediterranean ruler putting himself in the place of God. Jesus tells them this will happen on a specific day - and to flee. vv21-22 reads,

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (ESV)

Thursday 6 October 2011

Again we see that if the time had not been cut short all of the human race would have died - it is cut short for the sake of the elect (Jews or the church?) and they will be saved in this time.The characteristics of this time:- false prophets vv23-24- false reports of Christ having come v26- warns not to be deceived as we shall know it has taken place v27- v29 describes the end of the tribulation and return of Christ,"Immediately a$er the tribulation of those days the sun wi! be darkened, and the moon wi! not give its light, and the stars wi! fa! &om heaven, and the powers of the heavens wi! be shaken. 30Then wi! appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man,

Thursday 6 October 2011

Chafer says this is confirmed by Rev 6-18The scroll with 7 seals is unrolled in Rev 6 - as each seal is broken disaster comes,- world government 1-2- war 3-4- famine 5-6- death 7-8- martyrs, great disturbances, earthquakes, sun black, moon like blood 9-11Unbelievers are scared and impressed calling on mountains to fall on them and save them from wrath - 15-17

Thursday 6 October 2011

Seal 7 is broken (8:1) signaling another series of seven trumpets of angels, 8:2-9:21, 11:15-19:These are catastrophes of the natural world resulting in many deaths - 1/3rd of the earth is consumed by fire, 1/3 the sea becoming like blood and consuming 1/3 of the creatures in it, stars falling from heaven upon 1/3 of the rivers.The 4th trumpet is about stars and 1/3 darkening of sun, moon and stars.

Thursday 6 October 2011

5th trumpet - 9:1-12 - unsaved men tormented by demons for 5 months, unable even to take their own lives.6th trumpet - 9:13-21 - relates to the great army that comes from the orient across the Euphrates to take part in the war at the end of this period.7th trumpet - anticipates the 2nd coming of Christ and his kingdomThis 7th trumpet immediately brings 7 bowls or judgments - the final outpouring of the wrath of God before Christ comes.

Thursday 6 October 2011

The 6th bowl relates to preparing for a great battle at Armageddon - Rev 16:14 says the kings of the earth gather here for a great battle, they (the kings) think it is against the world ruler but actually is against the armies which will accompany Christ when he returns.The final bowl - Rev 16:17-21 - great earthquake leveling many cities, brings Babylon into judgement and causes islands and mountains to disappear. Finally hailstones weighing over 100 pounds destroy what is left - in chaos Christ returns.

Thursday 6 October 2011

Chafer contrasts this with the thought of some theologians who expected a gradual improvement in things before the 2nd coming of Christ. The kingdom of Christ does not come in human strength and effort but in Christ coming - as he comes in powerful judgement.He also says this time is for the unbeliever and blasphemer - which is why so many believe the church will be raptured during this time - the church is not mentioned in any passage relating to GT (though people obviously do get born again through this time). It is a time of great darkness in contrast to the glory of the kingdom to follow.

Thursday 6 October 2011