THE TRIBULATION: WHAT IS IT?

[Stephen R. Rizzo]

RAPTURE is a term used to describe the removal from the earth of all living people that have been born-again as evidenced by their fruits. Just prior to the Tribulation coming about, the Rapture will take place. The number that will be raptured will be far fewer than most people might think. The Bible unmistakably portrays the raptured saints in heaven before the throne of God, prior to the Antichrist coming forth and the Tribulation beginning. The Scripture tells us, in the twinkling of an eye, we shall be changed and be with Jesus in the air. 1 Cor 15:51,52-WE SHALL NOT ALL SLEEP, BUT WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED, IN A MOMENT IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE, AT THE LAST TRUMP: FOR THE TRUMPET SHALL SOUND; 1 Thes 4:16,17-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. We may be asleep, immediately we will be with Jesus. All the unbelievers, the lukewarm Christians, and those that did not obey the Gospel will be left to face the Tribulation.

THE TRIBULATION is the worst time in history since man has been on the earth. Immediately following the Rapture, the man of sin (called the Antichrist) comes forth and assumes control of the EEC. He can be expected to be very charismatic and brilliant. He confirms a treaty with Israel and others, which begins the Tribulation.

It is a 7 year period, but the Lord has cut it short-ref Mk 13:20; Ro 9:28. We are not setting a date; however, we are now living in that generation in which this will happen. Hate, murder, thefts, rape, and every imaginable form of evil will abound. During this horrible period of God’s wrath, Russia, Iran, and other nations will come against Israel. The USA becomes involved. One-fourth of the world’s population will die. Many of the dead will be from the USA, as well as Russia. One-third of trees are burned up. All green grass is burned up. One-third of the sea will become blood. One-third of the creatures in the sea will die. One-third of the ships are destroyed. One-third of the waters become wormwood (or poisoned, or radioactive). Massive famines, increased earthquakes, and more diseases will happen as birth pangs of a woman. Those left alive will have opportunities to receive Jesus through the preaching of 144,000 male, virgin Jews; however, death by decapitation lies ahead for most that put their trust in Jesus, unless they renounce their faith. There will also be many false Christs and false prophets. A one-world, false religion that God calls MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH will increase. This religion has existed for hundreds of years and exists today. The nations of the world have become intoxicated with her false teachings. The temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt.
About 3½ years from the end of the Tribulation, the Antichrist (also called the beast) is killed with a wound in the head by a weapon, but his deadly wound will be healed. He will come back to life. He then declares himself to be God and moves into the temple in Jerusalem. A false prophet appears that will do great wonders. The sacrifices at the temple will be stopped. The abomination of desolation occurs. An image of the Antichrist will be set on a wing of the temple. Those that refuse to worship it will be beheaded. The elect born-again Jews now flee for their lives to a place where God will hide them and take care of them during the last three and a half years. Power is given to the Antichrist over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. All that dwell on the earth shall worship the Antichrist, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb. During these last three and a half years (called the Great Tribulation), world conditions will continue to worsen. A one-world system will be set up. The Antichrist shall make war against the saints and will overcome them. People will be required to take the mark of the Antichrist or the number of his name (666) in or on their forehead or right hand. If they refuse, they cannot buy or sell. Two prophets of God will appear. One of them is Elijah. Their ministry lasts 1260 days. They warn people not to take the mark or worship the image. There is no forgiveness from God afterward for those that take the mark and worship the image. They will go to the eternal lake of fire. These two witnesses have the power to shut up heaven that it rain not during their days on the earth. They have the power to bring all kinds of plagues on the earth. Multitudes will be slain for the Word of God. Locusts will sting men with a sting like a scorpion. It will be so bad that men will seek death and shall not find it. There will be terrible sores upon men. The rivers and fountains will become blood. Men will be scorched with great heat. Earthquakes continue to get worse and worse. Diseases will continue to get worse and worse. Two hundred million troops will march to Israel from the east and cross the dried up Euphrates River. One-third more of the earth’s population will be killed. After the 1260 days, the two prophets of God will be killed. People will rejoice, but then after three and a half days, they will arise and ascend up to heaven as people watch. Great fear falls on those that see this. Men will be so terrified that their hearts will fail, as they consider what is about to happen. Multitudes will hide in the rocks and say, "FALL ON US AND HIDE US FROM...HIM (Jesus)…FOR THE GREAT DAY OF HIS WRATH IS COME; AND WHO SHALL BE ABLE TO STAND?"-Rev 6:16,17.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TRIBULATION of those days, the Battle of Armageddon explodes. It lasts one day. The kings and armies of the earth are gathered to make war against Jesus. Jesus Christ returns as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords with all His saints. If He had not returned exactly when He did, there should be no life left on earth. The Antichrist and false prophet are cast alive into the lake of fire. Satan is chained for one thousand years, so he can deceive the nations no longer till the thousand years be fulfilled. Every force of nature is likely to be unleashed at once, including killer tornadoes, hurricanes, tidal waves, lightning encircling the earth, and the biggest earthquake in mankind’s history. The cities and the mountains of the world will crumble. The Bible tells that every island fled away. The mountains were not found. There is great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of 70 to l00 pounds. The earth will move out of its place. At the end of that one day, there are so few people left alive that a child could write the number.

2-THE TRIBULATION: WHY IS IT COMING?
Ezek 34:16 Destroy the fat and the strong of Israel

Ezek 34:16 To feed Israel with judgment

Isa 17:4-11 Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy salvation, and hast not been mindful of the Rock of thy strength

Dan 9:24 To seal up the vision and prophecy

Dan 9:24 To anoint the most Holy

Rev 7:9,13,14 To bring people to Jesus Christ

Rev 14:12 That they should keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus

Jere 30:14,15 Because thy sins were increased. For the multitude of thine iniquity…have I done these things unto thee.

Jude 15 To execute judgment

Jude 15 To convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds, which they have ungodly committed

Isa 13:9 To destroy the sinners (out of the land)

Isa 13:11 To punish the world for their evil and the wicked for their iniquity

Lk 21:24 To bring to an end the times of the Gentiles (Until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled)

Isa 61:2 To proclaim...the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn

Deut 4:29,30 To cause the Jewish people to seek Jesus and to be obedient to His voice

Ezek 36:22,23 For God’s holy name sake, to sanctify My great name

Lk 21:22 That all things which are written may be fulfilled


3-THE TRIBULATION: THE NAMES FROM THE BIBLE
Isa 28:21 His strange act
Mk 13:19 It is a time of (affliction)
Isa 28:22 A consumption upon the whole earth
Mt 24:22 Those days
Lk 21:22 The days of vengeance
Rev 3:10 The hour of temptation
Dan 11:36 The indignation (also Isa 26:20; Dan 8:19; Ezek 22:24)
Dan 2:40 The fourth kingdom
Jn 9:4 The night
Mt 24:8 The beginning of sorrows
Dan 12:1 The time of trouble
Jere 30:7 The time of Jacob’s trouble
Mk 13:24 The Tribulation (also Mt 24:29)
Mt 24:21 Great Tribulation (also Rev 2:22; Rev 7:14)
Dan 9:27 (The seventieth week) One week
Isa 28:21 His work His strange work
1 Thes 1:10 The wrath to come
Pv 11:4

[Stephen R. Rizzo]

1-THE ANTICHRIST COMES FORTH AND CONFIRMS A COVENANT
THE CONFIRMATION OF THE COVENANT IS DAY ONE OF THE TRIBULATION
9:27. AND HE (the Antichrist)
SHALL CONFIRM (or sign, or agree to)
THE COVENANT (or treaty)
FOR ONE WEEK (or one ‘seven,’ or 7 years):
AND IN THE MIDST (or middle)
OF THE WEEK (of the seven years)
HE (the Antichrist)
SHALL CAUSE THE SACRIFICE AND THE OBLATION (or offering)
TO CEASE (or end), which are taking place at the temple,
AND FOR THE OVERSPREADING OF ABOMINATIONS HE SHALL MAKE IT DESOLATE (or on a wing of the temple, he will set up an abomination that causes desolation-NIV),
EVEN UNTIL THE CONSUMMATION (or complete destruction),
AND THAT DETERMINED (or that is decreed)
SHALL BE POURED UPON THE DESOLATE (or on him, the Antichrist).
DAN 9:27 is the seventieth week of Daniel. It is among the most important Bible prophecy verses for us to understand today. It covers the Antichrist coming forth and the confirmation of a treaty that begins the Tribulation. It shows that the Tribulation consists of two parts. It reveals a temple during the Tribulation, an abomination, and the final prophesied end of the Antichrist.
For today’s student of Bible prophecy, perhaps, no other verse is more important than Dan 9:27.
Dan 9:27 repeated with commentary.
AND HE. This is the Antichrist. Immediately after the Rapture, the Antichrist comes forth. This is the "prince that shall come," in v.26. This is the "little horn," in Dan 7:8. He is also called the "beast," in Rev 13 and others. He is, "the rider on the white horse," in Rev 6:2; as it is written, BEHOLD A WHITE HORSE: AND HE THAT SAT ON HIM HAD A BOW; AND "A CROWN WAS GIVEN UNTO HIM": AND HE WENT FORTH CONQUERING, AND TO CONQUER. It is presumed that he takes over the EEC—the European Economic Community. This man of sin, the son of Satan, cannot do this until God's people are removed.
He SHALL CONFIRM (or sign, or agree to)
THE COVENANT (or treaty, or an agreement of some kind). Some type of covenant, peace treaty, or guarantee for Israel's protection shall emerge. Supposedly, this treaty will come forth from the EEC. As the presumed head of the EEC, the Antichrist shall agree to (or sign, or confirm) this document (or agreement, or covenant)
WITH MANY. Israel is at the heart of this agreement. Some type of covenant shall be confirmed (or agreed to, or signed) with Israel, and with many others (possibly other nations), and with the Antichrist
FOR ONE WEEK, which represents seven years. The length of the covenant or treaty will be seven years. THE CONFIRMATION OR SIGNING OF THIS COVENANT BEGINS THE TRIBULATION. The seventieth week of Daniel is the Tribulation.

2-THE COVENANT
3-(The Seventieth Week)
God warns Israel regarding this treaty and trusting the Antichrist. BECAUSE YE HAVE SAID (Israel has said), WE HAVE MADE (or entered into) A COVENANT (or treaty) WITH DEATH (with the Antichrist), AND WITH HELL (or with the grave) ARE WE AT (or have made an) AGREEMENT. In making a covenant with the Antichrist, Israel, in effect, was in agreement with hell. WHEN THE OVERFLOWING (or overwhelming) SCOURGE SHALL PASS THROUGH (or sweeps by), IT SHALL NOT COME UNTO US (or it cannot touch us): FOR WE (Israel) HAVE MADE LIES (or a lie) OUR REFUGE, AND UNDER FALSEHOOD HAVE WE HID OURSELVES-Isa 28:15. Israel should have trusted God for their protection. Instead, they chose to make falsehood their hiding place, protection, and hope. They have trusted in lies—in the Antichrist—for their security, their refuge, and their hope for peace. Israel believes that, because of the covenant with the Antichrist, when the overwhelming scourge shall pass through, they will be protected. They are blind to the truth of what they have done. As it is written, FOR WHEN THEY SHALL SAY, PEACE AND SAFETY; THEN SUDDEN DESTRUCTION COMETH UPON THEM, AS TRAVAIL UPON A WOMAN WITH CHILD (or as labor pains on a pregnant woman-NIV); AND THEY SHALL NOT ESCAPE-1 Thes 5:3. The Russian-Arab invasion of Israel shall take place.
Jesus foretold that this would happen; as it is written, I AM COME IN MY FATHER’S NAME, AND YE RECEIVE ME NOT: IF ANOTHER SHALL COME IN HIS OWN NAME (which is the Antichrist), HIM YE WILL RECEIVE-Jn 5:43. Israel turns to the Antichrist for protection. Later in the Tribulation, many in Israel shall receive the Antichrist as their Messiah.
God tells Israel, regarding the covenant with the Antichrist, AND YOUR COVENANT WITH DEATH SHALL BE DISANNULLED, AND YOUR AGREEMENT WITH HELL SHALL NOT STAND; WHEN THE OVERFLOWING (or overwhelming) SCOURGE SHALL PASS THROUGH (or sweeps by), THEN YE SHALL BE TRODDEN (or beaten) DOWN BY IT. The very agreement that Israel thought would be their protection is now going to be their downfall. FROM THE TIME THAT IT GOETH FORTH IT SHALL TAKE YOU (or carry you away): FOR MORNING BY MORNING SHALL IT PASS OVER (or sweep through), BY DAY AND BY NIGHT: AND IT SHALL BE A VEXATION (or sheer terror) ONLY TO UNDERSTAND THE REPORT (or message)-Isa 28:18,19. It will bring sheer terror to those that can understand what has happened and the report or message.
FOR THE BED IS SHORTER THAN THAT A MAN CAN STRETCH HIMSELF ON IT: AND THE COVERING NARROWER THAN THAT HE CAN WRAP HIMSELF IN IT-Isa 28:20. The bed and covenant represent the Antichrist. The bed is too short. One cannot wrap himself in it for warmth and protection. Likewise, the covering that the Antichrist offers is not sufficient. It will not accomplish the purpose that Israel thought it would. It will not save them. It cannot protect them. The only true protection that a person can really have is Jesus. All other beds are too short, and all other coverings are too narrow. All other coverings will pass away.
AND IN THE MIDST (or middle) OF THE WEEK (or in the midst of the 7 year Tribulation). This gives a time frame of 3 ½ years, or 42 months from the end of the Tribulation. The last 42 months of the Tribulation is also called the "Great Tribulation." (Note: There are certain verses that indicate the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation are cut short in some way.)
HE (the Antichrist) SHALL CAUSE THE SACRIFICE AND THE OBLATION (or offering) TO CEASE (or end). Sometime during the first part of the Tribulation, a temple will be built in Jerusalem. Sacrifices and oblations will begin as in olden times. However, in the midst of the week, the Antichrist shall be killed, but then return to life. He moves into the temple in Jerusalem. Then HE AS GOD SITTETH IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD, SHOWING HIMSELF THAT HE IS GOD-2 Thes 2:4. The Antichrist shall stop the sacrifices and oblations.
AND FOR THE OVERSPREADING OF ABOMINATIONS. Because of the abominations being spread or placed in the temple
HE (the Antichrist) SHALL MAKE IT (the temple) DESOLATE (or on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation-NIV). This is referred to as the "abomination of desolation," in Mt 24:15. The temple is defiled. The Antichrist, the son of Satan, moves into the temple. Some kind of abomination is set up on a wing of the temple. Perhaps, the image that was made to the beast will be placed there. People will be required to worship it or be put to death-ref Rev 13:14,15. As it is written, THE DAILY SACRIFICE SHALL BE TAKEN AWAY, AND THE ABOMINATION THAT MAKETH DESOLATE SET UP-Dan 12:11.
EVEN UNTIL THE CONSUMMATION (or end)." The Antichrist shall reign for 3 ½ years (or 42 months, or 1260 days) until the end, the time that has been determined for him to reign. Immediately after the Tribulation, Jesus shall return at the time of Armageddon. When Jesus returns,
AND THAT DETERMINED (or that is decreed)
SHALL BE POURED UPON THE DESOLATE (or on him, the Antichrist). What God has decreed in His Word shall be poured upon (or done to) the one that made the temple desolate, the Antichrist. The Antichrist and false prophet shall be cast alive into the lake of fire-ref Rev 19:20. The Antichrist SHALL BE BROKEN-Dan 8:25. For THAT WICKED...THE LORD SHALL CONSUME WITH THE SPIRIT OF HIS MOUTH-2 Thes 2:8.

4-WOE TO THEM THAT REJECT THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH NOW,
BECAUSE THEY CHOOSE PLEASURE IN SIN
The Rapture takes place. Some people are taken, but most are left behind. The unsaved people that are left behind can be divided into two groups.
Group one are those that did not get saved, because they refused to receive the Gospel. They believed not the truth, but had pleasure in wickedness.
Group two are those that did not get saved, however, not for the same reasons as group one. This second group, if they are not killed near the beginning, should have at least one more chance to be saved during the Tribulation. Nevertheless, most who do get saved will be martyred for the name of Jesus.
It is written, AND WITH ALL DECEIVABLENESS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IN THEM THAT PERISH (or in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing-NIV, he will enable him to deceive, in all kinds of wicked ways, those who are headed for destruction-JNT35); BECAUSE THEY RECEIVED NOT (or refused) THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED (or that could have saved them-JNT36). AND FOR THIS CAUSE (or reason) GOD SHALL SEND THEM (a) STRONG (or powerful) DELUSION (causing them to go astray-JNT37), THAT THEY SHOULD BELIEVE A (or the) LIE. (The result will be) THAT THEY ALL MIGHT BE DAMNED (or condemned) WHO BELIEVED NOT THE TRUTH, BUT HAD PLEASURE (or delighted) IN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS (or wickedness)-2 Thes 2:10-12.
Verses 10 to 12 all go together. They appear to be speaking to the people of the last church age (the Laodicean age) that will conclude or end with the Rapture. This is the church age that we are now in. These verses give a very stern warning to these people.
This message demonstrates that the unrighteousness and evil, which is in these people, or embraced by them, shall deceive them (deceivableness or deception of unrighteousness in them that perish). Sin deceives. This is because these people would not receive God’s Word, Jesus (the love of the truth or to love the truth), so that they could be saved.
This grave warning goes forth to those that would not receive God’s Word (the love of the truth) and would not believe the truth of God’s Word that they might be saved, but had pleasure (or delight, or fun, or enjoyment) in doing or practicing sin (or wickedness, or unrighteousness).
It might be paraphrased in this way. This extreme warning from God is to those that choose to reject Jesus, because they have fun in doing wickedness.
For this reason, when the Antichrist comes forth, God Himself will send them a strong delusion, or strong thoughts, so that the lie of the Antichrist becomes truth to them, and the truth of God’s Word is perceived as a lie. God does this, so there is no possible way for them to be saved—that they all might be damned and perish for eternity.