Chapter 12 - Tribulation

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After the the predominantly Gentile New Testament church has fulfilled its purpose on the degenerated earth, God will initiate a period known as the “day of the Lord”. Ultimately, it will lead to the fulfillment of His eternal purpose and plan for the spatiotemporal earth.

The “day of the Lord” is a biblical phrase that refers to the intervention of God in the affairs of mankind on earth. (Isaiah 13:6, 9; Ezekiel 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1; 11; 31; 3:14; Amos 5:18, 20; Obadiah 15; Zephaniah 1:7, 14; Zechariah 14:1; Malachi. 4:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; 2 Peter 3:10) Often used in association with the phrase “that day”, it refers to both past and future interventions of God on earth.

The “day of the Lord” can refer to the past intervention of God on earth. For example, it is used in reference to the past judgments of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (cf. Amos 5:18, 20) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah (cf. Lamentations 1:12; 2:1, 21-22; Ezekiel 7:19; 13:5; Zephaniah 2:2-3). It has also been used regarding the historical judgment of Gentile nations. (cf. Isaiah 13:6, 9; Jeremiah 46:10; Ezekiel 30:3; 39:8)

Most often, the usage of the phrase the “day of the Lord” occurs in the writings of the Old Testament prophets and refers to a monumental event in the future. It can be inclusive of both judgment and blessing. (cf. Isaiah 2:11; 2:17, 20; 3:7, 18, 4:1-6; 10:20, 27; 11:10; 12:1, 4; 24:21; 25:9; 26:1; Jeremiah 30:7-8; Joel 1:15; 2:1, 11; 3:14-18; Amos 5:18, 20; 9:11; Zephaniah 1:7, 14; Zechariah 2:11; 3:10; 9:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:8; 2 Peter 3:10; et al.)

The judgment and blessing associated with the future; monumental “day of the Lord” encompasses a number of significant events. It is inclusive of the period of judgment popularly referred to as the “Tribulation”, the Second Coming of Christ, the regeneration of the earth and subsequent millennial reign of Christ.

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Divine Judgment

Shortly after the Gentile Age and the rapture of the church, the “day of the Lord” will begin with a brief but intense period of divine judgment on the degenerated earth. It is often referred to as the “Tribulation.” Originating from God, the fundamental purpose of the "Tribulation" is threefold. First, it allows for the judgment of the fallen earth and its sinful inhabitants. (Isaiah 13:9; 24:19-20) Second, it leads to the repentance and restoration of the nation of Israel. (Daniel 12:5-7; Ezekiel 20:33-38) Third, the “Tribulation” facilitates worldwide evangelism. (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 7)

The “Tribulation” period that initiates the future “day of the Lord” is variously described in the Old Testament as “the indignation” (Isaiah 26:20; Daniel 11:36); “the overwhelming scourge” (Isaiah 28:15, 18); “a day of vengeance, a year of recompense” (Isaiah 34:8); “the time of Jacob’s distress” (Jeremiah 30:7); “a day of clouds, a time of doom” (Ezekiel 30:3); “a time of distress” (Daniel 12:1); “the day of…misfortune”, “the day of… destruction”, “the day of…distress”, “the day of…disaster” (Obadiah 12-14); “a day of wrath…, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet and battle cry (Zephaniah 1:15-16). It is further described in the New Testament as “a great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21; Revelation 7:14); “the tribulation” (Matthew 24:29); “the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10); “the hour of testing” (Revelation 3:10); “the great day of…wrath” (Revelation 6:17); “Your wrath” (Revelation 11:18); “the hour of His judgment” (Revelation 14:7); and “the wrath of God” (Revelation 14:10; 19; 15:1, 7; 16:1).

The Bible reveals that the “Tribulation” period will last seven years. (Daniel 9:24-27) It is divided into two distinct halves (the length of the second half is specified in Daniel 7:25; 12:14; Revelation 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5). The latter half of the “Tribulation” is characterized as a time of “great tribulation.” (Matthew 24:21) While the first half is filled with unimaginable hardship and difficulty, the second half will be a time of distress unprecedented on earth. (Matthew 24:21; Mark 13:19)

In His “Olivet Discourse” (Matthew 24:1-25:46), Jesus provided a clear outline of the seven year period popularly known as the “Tribulation.” (Matthew 24:9-28) Preceding His “discourse,” the disciples of Jesus had expressed their amazement at the grandiosity of the temple buildings in Jerusalem. However, Jesus informed them that “not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” (Matthew 24:2) Surprised, they asked Him three questions: 1) “When would the temple buildings be destroyed?” 2) “What would be the sign of His return?” and 3) “What would be the sign of the end of the age before His return?” (Matthew 24:3) The answer to the disciple’s first question is found exclusively in Luke 21:20-24. The answer to their second question is revealed in Matthew 24:29-31. It is Jesus’ answer to His disciple’s third question that provided an outline for the events associated with the future “Tribulation” period that will initiate the “day of the Lord.” (Matthew 24:4-28)

Tribulation Chronology from Matthew:

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Event	Reference
General signs characteristic of this present age ("not yet the end).	Matthew 24:4-6
Specific signs indicative of the end of this present age ("the beginning of birth pangs").	Matthew 24:7-8
The first 3.5 years of the “Tribulation” (implication: increasing birth pangs).	Matthew 24:9-14
The second 3.5 years of the “Tribulation” or the “great tribulation” (implication: extreme birth pangs).	Matthew 24:15-28
The return of Christ after the “Tribulation” (implication: birth).	Matthew 24:29-31

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The “Tribulation” period is outlined in even more significant detail in Revelation 6-19:

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Event	Reference
The first 3.5 years of the “Tribulation.”	Revelation 6-9
Information relevant to the transition between the first and second half of the “Tribulation.”	Revelation 10-14
The last 3.5 years of the “Tribulation” or the “great tribulation.”	Revelation 15-18
Heavenly events preceding the return of Christ.	Revelation 19:1-10
The return of Christ.	Revelation 19:11-16

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God will restore many fallen human beings to citizenship in His kingdom through the intense trial and tribulation associated with the “Tribulation” period. They will include both Jew and Gentile.

The kingdom of God manifested on the degenerated earth during the “Tribulation” period can be briefly summarized as follows:

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Category	Description
Primary Purpose:	The revelation of the authority of God for the benefit of created beings. The vindication of divine authority.
Plan:	Rather than the earth existing in the kingdom of God, the kingdom manifested on the degenerated earth within redeemed human beings legally representative and organically representational of God. The degenerated earth judged by God and consequently subjected to an overwhelming state of tribulation. The restoration of national Israel. The worldwide harvest of the fallen elect from the Gentile nations. Kingdom repopulation by human beings.
Realm:	The spatiotemporal degenerated earth.
Era:	For seven years following the removal of the New Testament church from the earth.
Presentation:	Invisible.
Citizenship:	Spatiotemporal human beings.
Character for Citizenship:	Glorious, holy, and eternal (concordant with the nature of the divine king).
Qualification for Citizenship:	Holiness, spirituality, and immortality achieved by divine justification and regeneration. Human cooperation by willing submission to the beneficent revelation of divine authority. By grace through faith alone.
Governance:	Theocratic; In cooperation with human mediation. Through union of life between God and the elect saints of the “Tribulation” period. In accordance with the unconditional benefit of the Eternal Covenant.
Outcome:	The judgment of the degenerated earth and its inhabitants. The restoration of national Israel. The redemption of the elect from the Gentile nations. The kingdom of God not completely repopulated. The nature of God not fully vindicated.

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