The Tribulation

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 24:21

The Tribulation is the last days beginning with the restrainer taken out of the way, the antichrist will appear, a time of worldwide distress, false prophets will rise, a time of fatal and serve persecution for all who believe in Christ Jesus, the abomination of desolation, increase in demonic activity, increase in sorcery and witchcraft, the desecration the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, and ending with the Second Coming of Christ to reign on earth.

The Tribulation is preceded by the saved in Christ being "caught up" into the air to be forever with the Lord; and is followed by the Second Coming of Christ Jesus to reign on earth for a thousand years.

The word tribulation is used throughout the word of God and is defined as the suffering experienced by all of God's people for possessing faith in Christ Jesus. All God's people are promised to experience suffering, tribulation (John 16:33).

The tribulations, the suffering of the saved in Christ, for Christ's sake, is not to be feared, but cherished and joyfully expected and accepted, because as Christ suffered we who believe will suffer, and as Christ is risen so shall we be risen to everlasting life in the Kingdom of God (Philippians 1:29; 1 Peter 3:14; 2 Timothy 2:11-12; Romans 5:3; 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5).

The Tribulation is defining a specific event of the last days (Matthew 24:21), which was prophesied in the book of Daniel, and precedes the Second Coming of Christ Jesus to earth to rule and precedes the end of the world.

The Tribulation is preceded by the "caught up", the "rapture" of the church body. The Tribulation is preceded with Jesus descending from Heaven with His saints, and the resurrection of the bodies of the dead in Christ, and all who are alive and remain will be "caught up" to meet the Lord in the air, to ever be with the Lord.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

What will happen between the time of the saved in Christ being caught up with Jesus in the air and the beginning of the tribulation?

After the saved in Christ, who are alive when Christ descends from Heaven and are "caught up" to be forever with the Lord, are gone there will be NO ONE saved in Christ people on this earth.

ALL the saved in Christ, all believers of God, are all together, united with the Lord in the air, and will remain forever with the Lord.

Many of the lost people who are left, who know the Holy Scriptures, will know exactly what happened and why. Many people will not have a clue.

Within the billions of lost people who are left, to face the wrath of God during the tribulation, many people after realizing:

God promises that anyone, "whosoever calls upon the name of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, will be saved" (Acts 2:21).

Multitudes of people will be saved at the very beginning of the Tribulation and during the Tribulation, this is why God does NOT bring an end to the world after the saints are "caught up" to meet the Lord in the air.

God is a merciful God, not willing any person should perish, die without Christ, not willing any person to spend eternity without Him.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8

Of course, only God Himself knows every detail of the Tribulation, there are many events that will occur during the Tribulation, given to us in His Word.

The saved in Christ are "caught away" to meet the Lord in the air.

Through the word of God we see the saved in Christ Jesus will escape the wrath to come. All the saints of God will be "caught up" in the air, to be forever with the Lord.

The restrainer is taken out of the way.

There are too many unsearchable mysteries of God to comprehend. God speaks in His word of someone being "taken out of the way", "the restrainer" will be removed from the earth so that the Antichrist can be revealed, as prophesied.

The antichrist will appear.

The antichrist will appear during the tribulation (2 Thessalonians 2:8). This counterfeit will deceive the world.

The antichrist will deceive the world, through the help of satan, that he has come to bring peace. The antichrist in the end will be found out, that he brings destruction to all people who do not worship him. The antichrist is the minion of satan, and so will have the same eternal damnation as satan.

The seven seals

The worse times for the whole world ever in history

The word of God states that this time will be the worst time ever in history. The world has seen devastating events, but none will match the horror of this unprecedented time.

False prophets will perform great signs and wonders

Many people will do unbelievable things, professing to be "of God" or "from God", but will in reality be false prophets deceiving people with lies from the devil himself.

The gospel will be preached by angels

And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Revelation 14:6

Many people will be saved

Even throughout the horror and devastation happening on the earth during the tribulation, there will be many people who choose to believe in Christ Jesus and will be saved.

Severe and fatal persecution for all the saved in Christ

Persecution of the saved in Christ will be worldwide. Today, while we sit in our air conditioned homes in the USA, many people on the other side of the world are being killed for professing their faith in Christ Jesus.

During the tribulation, there will be worldwide severe persecution of all people who are faithful to Christ Jesus, such as the world has never seen before.

We know through scripture that multitudes of people will be beheaded for their faith in Christ Jesus.

Will last 7 years

Demonic activity will reach an all time high, along with witchcraft and sorcery

Today there is record high interest and participation in the black arts, sorcery, witchcraft, and demonology. This number will grow increasing, effecting everyone in the world. No one will be exempt from their affects.

Religious deceit will be wide spread

At this writing there are over 7 billion people on this earth. With the increase in population, there is increased religious sects, denominations. There are "religions" that worship everything today. Every perversion on earth has its own "religion".

Two witnesses will appear, preach the gospel, be killed and resurrected to life

The scriptures do not name the two witnesses, but do state that they will appear during the tribulation. They will bring many to the Lord by preaching the gospel. They will be killed and resurrected to life by God, before the view of the world.

The battle of Armageddon

God's wrath on all the ungodly

The wrath of God will pour down upon all the ungodly people of the world, who choose not to believe in the truth of Christ Jesus to salvation.

Christ Jesus will return and defeat the antichrist

Christ Jesus will return at the end of the tribulation and defeat the antichrist.

All the ungodly will be punished

The faithful in Christ Jesus will be spared the Tribulation and will escape the wrath of God.

Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Luke 21:36

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 1:10

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 1 Thessalonians 5:8-10

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Revelation 3:10-11

The saved in Christ are not appointed the wrath of God, because through faith in Jesus to salvation all believers are delivered from the wrath to come.

We must not forget to hold onto our faith in Christ, so that we can be accounted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass.

God gives His children comfort in knowing His words, in knowing that we will be spared the wrath to come.

The tribulation, the wrath of God, is reserved for the children of disobedience (Ephesians 5:6), all people who do not believe in Christ Jesus to salvation (John 3:36), against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who hold onto unrighteousness, they are without excuse (Romans 1:18-20).

Everyone left on earth after the Lord descends from Heaven and "catches up" the saved in Christ with Him in the air, to be forever with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17), will be left to go through the tribulation.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall first rise: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

The saved in Christ, will be "caught up" to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

I am saved in Christ and God promises that I will NOT be on the earth at the beginning of the Tribulation.

All believers of Christ Jesus to salvation will NOT be on the earth at the beginning of the tribulation.

The dead in Christ will NOT be on earth at the beginning of the tribulation either, because God will bring all the saints (the deceased saved in Christ) with Him. God will raise the bodies of the dead saints first, and then He will rise up those who are alive and are saved in Christ.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18

The plan of God is merciful and longsuffering. God does not want any one, no one, to perish and spend eternity without Him.

The tribulation gives those who are lost, without Christ, another chance to be saved.

The tribulation will also occur to fulfill prophesy, written in His word before we were born.

As with every question concerning the Christian faith, this question is answered in the Word of God.

1 Thessalonians 5 teaches the children of God how to live and act with the knowledge of and impending reality of the upcoming Tribulation that will siege the world.

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6

First by realizing who we are, that we are the children of the light, the children of the day, the children of God we know we are not alone in this and know that God is in control. This fact gives us comfort and strength to face everything and all things that are to come.

Second as Christians we are stewards of the Word of God. We are to know the word of God inside and out so that we can share the Good New of Hope in Christ Jesus to our fellow man. We are to be active in this time, active living for God, active loving God, active proclaiming the Word of God through out our daily lives, so that others will see our joy and ask what is the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15).

Third as Christians we are to comfort one another. The knowledge we have of the Last Days, the end times, is to be used to bring comfort to one another. Never forget your mandate as Christians above all to share the love of God, the hope of Christ Jesus.

Forth, as Christians our countenance, our behavior should reflect those that have hope above all hope, those that have touched the divine, that have transcended to higher plains, that have vision of the glory that is set before us. We should rejoice in our Blessed Hope of promise, and conduct our lives befitting the royal children of God.

Lastly, as Christians we are always to be looking up, to be gathering our strength from above, loving everyone we meet, preaching the gospel of Christ through our lives lived to God by loving God every day.

We are to share the Words of God, lovingly and thoughtfully, by grace through faith.

And no matter what is going on around us we are to remain steadfast holding on the our faith in the truth of God, persevering until we see Jesus face to face.

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless until the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Anyone who accepts the salvation of God through faith in Christ Jesus will be saved during the tribulation.

Anyone who calls on the name of Jesus Christ, believes Jesus died and rose again for their sins, believe that Jesus alone can forgive them of all their sins, surrender their life to Christ, can be saved.

All types of people will be saved during the tribulation, all races, and all nationalities.

Anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:13). Salvation is open to all living people at all times.

The people who will not be saved during the Tribulation will be mostly the same people who were not saved before the Tribulation.

Although many during the Tribulation period will be saved, many will remain in their unbelief.

All who do NOT repent from their unbelief will not be saved during the Tribulation (Romans 11:23). Unbelief separates anyone from the Kingdom of God (Hebrews 3:12; Romans 11:20).

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:8

All people who do NOT accept the truth of God (2 Thessalonians 2:10), salvation by grace through faith will NOT be saved during the tribulation. All who do not have faith in Christ Jesus to salvation will not be saved during the tribulation. All who do not accept the salvation of God through faith in Christ Jesus will not be saved during the tribulation.

We are all saved by God the exact same way, since the beginning of time until now, before and during the tribulation, by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, for we are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:26).

Unbelief separates anyone from God. The same people who are not saved now, the unbelieving, will not be saved during the tribulation.

First, you don't know if you will be alive during the tribulation. People die every day, at every age. No one is promised a tomorrow.

Second, if you didn't accept salvation before the tribulation, what makes you believe you can or will during the tribulation?

It is most likely that the same people, who refused Christ before the tribulation, will refuse Him during the tribulation. Why? Everything will be worse, not better, and because the deceptiveness of satan will be more powerful during the tribulation than it is now.

What do you think will change in your mind that will make you want to serve Christ during the tribulation that you cannot see now? The whole world will be chaos during the tribulation. Persecution will be horrific during the tribulation for anyone who stands by their faith in Christ Jesus.

If you live in the USA, it is unlikely that you run the chance of being beheaded for believing in Christ today, but during the tribulation - the word of God promises that multitudes of people worldwide will be beheaded for believing in Christ.

The devil loves procrastinators, who put off deciding to place their faith in Christ Jesus to salvation, because the devil knows that if you give him enough time, that he will win your soul.

Christ Jesus will be with His saints, the saved in Christ, as He always has been and has always promised.

God is with His angels and saints in Heaven, and He is with His children on this earth, because God is omnipresent.

The scriptures tell us that God is far from the wicked (Proverbs 15:29), but always with His own.

All the people who are saved during the Tribulation period and remain faithful until Christ's return will reign with Him during the Millennium.

God promises that those who have received His free gift of salvation during the Tribulation, and who remain faithful to Him to the end, will reign with Him during the millennium.

There will be two types of saved people at the end of the tribulation - those who are saved and remain alive - and those who have died in Christ during the tribulation period.

The tribulation will last 7 years, according the word of God. The tribulation is divided into two equal parts, the first 3 1/2 years and the last 3 1/2 years.

The last 42 months (3 1/2 years) of the Tribulation are known as the Great Tribulation (Revelation 11:1-2).

The 1,000 year bodily reign of Christ Jesus on this earth, called the Millennium, will occur after the tribulation period.