(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better…and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see why)
Focus Question:
What’s the nature of the “tribulation?”
Intro:
Interpreting the book of Revelation is over my head, but I don’t feel bad…it’s been the subject of debate for a long time. As we get to today’s reading and our focus question today, “What’s the nature of the tribulation?”, let me reiterate something I’ve said many times on this program — Jesus is worshiped in our attention, sitting at His feet and listening, even if we don’t understand. And here’s something I will argue with complete confidence: the Holy Spirit can and will use our time in the Bible as part of His work in and through us.
Remember that as Jesus is speaking in Matthew 24:24 he says,
For false messiahs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Mt 24:24, CSB
In other words, why is it impossible for those who are saved to be misled? Because of our infallibility? No. Because of His.
New Testament segment:
Our NT segments are moving into descriptions of events using symbols like seals, bowls and trumpets. Revelation interprets many symbols right in the text, but no book of the NT alludes to OT texts more, and it’s way deeper than we get to go here in a few minutes. That said, let’s read, and we’ll answer our focus question in the Bottom Line segment today.
Passage: Revelation 6
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 17
Words: ~387
Old Testament segment:
In Ezekiel we’re at a pivot point in the text. Remember that chs 4-24 have been, broadly speaking, describing the impending judgment of Israel’s southern kingdom, Judah, and it’s capital, Jerusalem. And then it turns a corner to oracles against the nations.
Passage: Ezekiel 24-25
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 44
Words: ~1285
One thing to remember…God’s focus on communicating to Israel takes center stage because he had a special covenant with them. But that doesn’t mean the surrounding nations are off the hook.
Wisdom segment:
Passage: Proverbs 20:20-23
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 3
Words: ~48
The bottom line:
From Norm Geisler (and I couldn’t recommend this four-volume set more highly):
A Summary of the Tribulation
First, the Tribulation begins when a globally known political leader (Antichrist) makes a seven-year treaty with the Jews, allowing them to offer up sacrifices in a rebuilt Jerusalem temple (Dan. 9:27).
Second, during the first part of this period there are wars, famines, mass death by wars and natural disasters, and believers are martyred for their faith in Messiah (Matt. 24:5–11; cf. Rev. 6:1–11). This period is called “the beginning of sorrows” (Matt. 24:8 nkjv).
Third, in the middle of the Tribulation, Antichrist will cause the sacrifices and offerings to cease (Dan. 9:27). He will set up an image of himself in the temple (Rev. 13:14) and demand worship, sitting in the temple and claiming he is God. The last half of this period is called “the great tribulation” (7:14), culminating in the judgment called “the day of the Lord” (2 Thess. 2:2).
Fourth, all who do not take the mark of the beast will be forbidden to buy or sell (Rev. 13:16–18). Great numbers of believers will resist Antichrist and be martyred for their faith (v. 14).
Fifth, a faithful remnant will flee into the wilderness, where they will be protected by God for the last half of the Tribulation (12:6). These will be alive at the end of the Tribulation and enter the Millennium in unresurrected bodies (Rom. 11:26); they will be able to produce children, which people in resurrected bodies cannot do (cf. Matt. 22:30). They are the “sheep” of Matthew 25:32–33.
Sixth, just before the end of the Tribulation, two hundred million soldiers from the east will come across the Euphrates (along with the other nations of the earth) to invade Israel (Rev. 9:13–21; 16:12–14). They will surround and capture Jerusalem (Zech. 12:1–3; 14:1–2), the faithful remnant having escaped and been protected by God for forty-two months (Rev. 12:6).
Seventh, God will miraculously intervene, save Israel from utter destruction (Zech. 12:4–8), and restore “the house of David” (v. 8). Christ will return to the Mount of Olives (14:4) and deliver His people.
Eighth, and finally, national Israel will recognize Christ as their Messiah when they look on Him whom they have pierced (12:10). Israel will be re-ingrafted into the redemptive line, the “times of the Gentiles” having been completed (Luke 21:24). The New Covenant with Israel will be fulfilled (Jer. 31:31), as will the Abrahamic covenant, which guaranteed their Land forever (Gen. 12, 14–15), and the Davidic covenant, which gave assurance that they eternally would have a king on David’s throne.(1)
And after all that crazy stuff, remember that God doesn’t change and isn’t a mean old curmudgeon…his wrath is simply an extension of love violated. He’s perfectly fair, and
God’s judgment often consists in giving people what they want and letting them experience the self-inflicted consequences of their choices. ~ Nancy Pearcy
All in all, all people at all times will be judged according to what they did with the knowledge they had. But as we think about loving people as He told us to, remember this from DA Carson.
“Love” that does not care enough to speak the truth and warn against judgment to come easily reduces to sentimentality. ~ DA Carson
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) Norman L. Geisler, Systematic Theology, Volume Four: Church, Last Things (Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House Publishers, 2005), 610–611.