The Word of God is clear about the coming Great Tribulation.
The End Times and The Tribulation are topics of discussion almost everywhere these days. But do we know what is meant by those terms?
Specifically, what do we mean when we talk about “the Great Tribulation”, the Tribulation” and the “wrath of God”. Not that I am THE ultimate authority, but so we can all be on the same page and understand one another while you are our guest at The Joseph Plan.
The ultimate authority is always the Word of God. I try very hard to not impose or teach the opinion or dogma of a particular denomination or Christian sect in The Joseph Plan.
As you may have noticed we are not tracking the “signs” of Matthew 24 any longer. In my opinion the “signs” that Jesus lays out in His wonderful discourse have been completed. They are still evident and some are growing in intensity, but for all practical purposes they have been fulfilled.
We will know the final age by the “signs” as given to us by the Lord. And we do!
If the “signs” of the Olivet Discourse have already been completed, does that mean that the Great Tribulation has started? If so, how can we be sure? If not, how will we tell? That appears to be one of the issues we all have an opinion on.
The events of the end are preceded by the signs of the end, as indicated in the great Olivet Discourse given to us by Jesus Himself. (Matt. 24:1-18, 29-31; Mark 13:1-23, 24-27; Luke 21:5-24, 25-28). At some point the Great Tribulation will start, unless you have bought into the teachings of the denomination of my youth, the ELCA. Or the Lutheran church, for those unfamiliar. They believe there is a 1000 year wait for the return of the Lord and are hoping things will get better in the meantime. They are not alone in that thinking. Please pray for the millions being deceived. Deceived and not preparing their hearts and souls.
Thank-fully, bible believing Christians understand things differently. We get it that the “signs” are occurring NOW. There is still time for each of us to prepare spiritually for the days ahead.
So when is the “Great Tribulation” officially going to start?
Unfortunately the bible does not give us a starting date. But it does state that it starts three and one half years into the Tribulation period and will be marked by certain events.
Have you noticed that the scroll of Rev. 5:1 parallels the Olivet Discourse? So it is not a sign of the “Great Tribulation”, although this is when the seven seals are loosed. Rev 10 – 11 explain the times of the “Great Tribulation”, those horrible times of “the wrath of God” as stated in Romans 5:9. Could the seventh seal of Rev 5 also symbolize the final three and one half years?
We know absolutely that this final half of the tribulation will last three and one half years or 1260 days. See Dan. 7:25, 9:24-27, 12:7-12, Rev. 11:2-3, 12:6, 12:14, 13:5 And the time of this final age will be discernible. One will know because the anti-christ will have been revealed and given authority at the Temple and the two witnesses will have started prophesying as written in Rev 11: 3-7. We also know that its beginning will be marked by the four Angels, at the corners of the earth, will be blowing their trumpets. See 1 Cor. 15:52, See 1 Thess. 4:16.
Nowhere in the bible, that I am familiar with, does God step in to prevent His children from going through tribulation in their lives. He intervenes to keep us out of danger at times, but not necessarily from hardship and trials. If you can find a verse showing otherwise, please put them in the comment section below. I believe God allows tribulation so we can grow and remember our need for Him.It is used to refine us.
Born again believers will not suffer the wrath of God– Luke 21:36; Rom. 5:9; 1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9, While Scripture allows that believers will undergo tribulation (θλιψις) simply by virtue of being a Christian in this world (John 16:33) and because of the age, believers will not suffer the wrath (oργή) of God -Rom. 5:9, 1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9. That is a promise from Jesus to you and me!
The word θυμός (outburst of anger or wrath) is used nine times in the book of Revelation. In each case nonbelievers, not born again believers, are the subject of this wrath -Rev. 14:8, 19; 15:1, 7; 16:1, 19:15. Likewise, the word oργή (vengeance or wrath) is used in the Word twenty-seven times in the New Testament. Born again believers are not the targets of God’s wrath in any instance. However, of the fifty-five times the word θλιψις or tribulation is used, forty-seven times it will be endured by all.
Forty seven times the Word of God says we will all experience tribulation.
I like to think of it as THE supreme growth experience. Thank-you Jesus. The Word of God is clear, there is a difference between tribulation and the wrath of God during the “Great Tribulation”.
We as born again believers are promised to be spared or saved from “the wrath of God” during the “Great Tribulation” by the rapture- 1 Thessalonians 4. This is a promise and an act of Grace and Mercy for us. Being saved now takes on an expanded meaning.
I am not suggesting that the rapture will happen at the mid-tribulation juncture necessarily, because I honestly don’t know the exact timing and our salvation is not dependent on it.
Regardless, the Return of Christ Is Imminent. Are you prepared for the times ahead? Does it seem like you are living in trials, conflict, sorrow and afflictions of tribulation today? Many of us do, if not just physically, but spiritually! We all need to draw closer to Him and pray Psalm 91 daily.
The times of the end are manifesting before each of us right now. Please don’t fall victim to the false teachings of so many of the denominational churches today. We will be experiencing a war, if you aren’t already. A Spiritual War. There are many teachings onsite to help you rise up and acquire the knowledge you will need to be an overcomer over the evil that is gaining in power. I have also written the “Biblical Spiritual Warfare Manual” Ebook that is available in the Spiritual Warfare Book Store onsite. It is a complete teaching. It is also available in soft cover at Amazon Create Space.
Contact bookstore (at) thejosephplan.org
You can check out the Spiritual Warfare Book Store with donation pricing here.
You can walk with No Fear until whenever the day is that we “meet Him in the air”.
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Have No Fear! This is also going to be the time of great miracles and movements by the Spirit of God.
Let’s all walk each day under the covering and protection of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, with an Enduring Faith.
1John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and you have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Psalm 91:22 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”Through Him, We will overcome”.
Through An Enduring Faith and in the hands and through the mouth of a true believer mountains can truly be moved. We need not Fear!
But not by our own strength.
People like you, sharing this knowledge with their friends and loved ones is the primary way new visitors are introduced to this ministry site. We have provided a share link below. Please don’t keep it to yourself.
My friend, Are you confident where you are going to spend eternity when this all ends? There is an end for all of us some day. Some of us maybe today.
There is only one way to know and be assured– Ask our Father in heaven in Jesus Christs’ name in prayer today!
Are You Saved from damnation, the eternal fate of so many? Are you sure? Ask Him. Find out and be assured.
Rom 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.
When we ask the Lord, in Jesus Christ’s name, He assures us with His peace and understanding. If for any reason you question your salvation, go to a quiet place, alone, and talk to Jesus. Repent of your sins and commit your life to Him. Then go to a bible believing church and get baptized.
He is faithful! He always listens and always responds!
The Salvation Prayer (click here) is in the Blog in the right column of this page. You can walk without fear. Start nurturing An Enduring Faith, today.
Visit the Joseph Plan Blog and be blessed. There are scores of articles for you to enjoy. Have you contacted The Joseph Plan and signed up for our Flash Bulletin. We can’t send it to you if we don’t know your name.
Do you have the type of deep faith and the tools that will allow you to endure the coming trials and tribulations of the age?
I encourage you to visit The Joseph Plan and read the entire category of posts entitled “An Enduring Faith”. And read Psalm 91, over, and over, and over again. Pray it unto your heart.
We have spiritual warfare books available in the bookstore. Get armed!
May God Bless You and keep you safe from the evil one!
Pastor Thomas
www.thejosephplan.org
I don’t know the meaning of a new born Christian, is it some one who was a no believer and then changed to believe in God?
Being baptized big? I was born as a baby 69 yrs ago and was baptized, I believe that when my parents stood before the pulpit thy believed and did it humbly before the all mighty God and was baptized in the name of the Father the Son and the holy Ghost and any one who says I will not be saved is judging me and my parents, My father passed away nearly 50 yrs ago and my mother is 93 yrs, then you will make your self guilty and be judged
I went to Church, Sunday school and conformation into the Church
As I was growing up and the older I got thing where a bit rough no drugs but alcohol miss use but even through all that I still believed in God
To talk and Tongues? that I believe is when a foreigner talks to you unless you understand the language, speak in a clear voice in a language that every one can understand, I wonder if the user of tongues understands what he/ she is saying?
Hi Ketan, Welcome. A couple of comments on your ideas.
Your list above is fairly thorough, good job.
But the Word of God does not state or promise true believers that they will not have to endure
the “Great Tribulation”. The only promise the Word gives us is that we will be spared “the wrath of God”.
The great debate among many Christians is when exactly that occurs. Some believe at the mid-tribulation time and others
believe is is at the end of the Great Tribulation. My personal opinion is that the rapture happens “during the second
half of the Tribulation period”.
That labels me as a “Pre-Wrath” believer and teacher.
I agree with you that our entire walk of faith should be one of spiritual warfare. However, unfortunately,
most born again Christians are never taught how to take the fight to the enemy. I refer everyone to the posts category on spiritual warfare.
If it was as simple as Ketans list there would be no need for the 2-300 pages of teachings available here.
Your list is a good summary of the types of foundational traits that a spiritual warrior should encopass.
Thank-you Ketan
God Bless
Pastor Thomas
Encouraging post! Thank you. If you are saved, you are saved. You may be facing trials, but you will never face the Great Tribulation. Like Peter says, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:17).
We can war spiritually by:
What can you add to this list?
I absolutely love The Holy Bible… It is Amazing that God, Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit loves us so much which is why as human beings we need edification and walk Righteously-Spiritually with our Hearts, Souls, Minds, Bodies in Their Names… I’m going to be Fighting Like a Christian to Save my loved ones and Brethren from the evil One! Thank you and God Bless you and your family. Your Sister in Jesus Christ, Cassandra Cabrera
Thank-you Jean. Jesus is coming back soon. Real soon.
And it may be a lot sooner than many are willing to admit.
Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Pastor Thomas
Really enjoying the study. Very exciting and encouraging. Will be passing them to as many people as possible. May God continue to bless you and your ministry
Great word of encouragement today. We must prepare our hearts with the Word of God to have Triumphant Faith to stand in the last days. We must know who we are in Christ and know the value of each part of His armor. We must run this race in full force knowing and trusting God is with us every step of the way.