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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
The tribulation is a future seven-year period of time when God will finish His discipline of Israel and finalize His judgment of the unbelieving world. The church, made up of all who have trusted i...
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Meshack Gachago
The Lord is also well able to keep his own even during tribulation. He kept Israel during the 10-plagues of Egypt, Noah during the flood, and the three Hebrew children in the fire. If the church is not raptured and judgment begins because of sin and unbelief, then God is able to protect or keep his own during this time. Either way with a rapture or no rapture we are safe. It is clear that Jesus will come back, but as He said, it is hidden and only the Father knows the day and the hour. The rapture should not be used to create expectation or fear as if God is not in control. Either way GOD IS FAITHFUL..! Is.26:20-21.
Kenneth Heck
The church is not subject to the wrath of God, but it is subject to chastening or chastisement (Rev 3:19). What is the difference? Under wrath a person may lose both body and soul. Under chastening a person may lose his body but his soul will be saved. Has the church ever gone through tribulation? The answer is yes. There are the 10 days of tribulation of the church of Syrmna, Rev. 2:10. This was before Christianity was legalized by Constantine. Do we find anything like the tribulation in recent history? The answer is yes. The Jews under Hitler began their tribulation upon Hitler's appointment as Chancellor in 1933 and it increased in intensity until the Wannsee Conference of Jan 20, 1942, where the "final solution" for the Jews was announced. The systematic extermination of all Jews was carried out until the German surrender of May 7, 1945. Note the period of three years and 3 and a half months, approximating the 3 and a half years of the last half of the seven year covenant, Dan 9:27. The Jews gained their national identity and some of their ancient land after the Hitlerian tribulation. After the final tribulation the times of the Gentiles will be over and Israel will become truly independent and sovereign, Rev. 10:5-7. I believe the real time of tribulation begins when the 10 horns receive power as kings one hour with the beast, Rev 17: 12. One hour would be about 40 years. At first the tribulation is relatively mild, but it builds up in intensity until the seven year covenant. The first 3 and half years are a break from intense persecution and are relatively peaceful. The last half are the Great Tribulation and the time of Jacob's Trouble. The great question is why is there a seven year covenant? I believe the beast suffers a military defeat by the kings of the east and is forced to permit all peoples and nations under his control to elect their own leaders and function as nations for seven years, including the Jews. At the end of the seven years the beast will be defeated again by the kings of the east when the Euphrates dries up. American Christians will be entering their own tribulation when America is invaded during the next world war. The tribulation will be as intense as the one under Hitler. Some Christians will be raptured after suffering much persecution, even as the Thessalonians (where the rationale for the rapture doctrine began). But no Christian will be exempt from suffering, since each must take up their cross in following Christ, Matt 16: 24.
Jack Gutknecht
According to premillennialism, this is a 7-year period that immediately precedes the return of Christ and the millennial kingdom of His rule which lasts for 1000 years. It will be a time of great peace (the first 3 ½ years) and great war (the second 3 ½ years) when the Antichrist rules over many nations. At the midpoint of the tribulation (at the end of the first 3 ½ years) the Antichrist will proclaim himself worthy of worship. Many will bow down and worship the Antichrist and many will refuse. Those who refuse to worship the Antichrist will be killed. The second half of the tribulation is called the Great Tribulation. It will involve the whole world (Rev. 3:10). There will be catastrophes all over the world. (See Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 17.) Source unknown
George Fitt
The seven-year tribulation is based upon a misunderstanding of Scripture commonly called the Seventy Weeks of Daniel, and by mistakenly adding 7 weeks to 62 weeks. The Seventy Weeks of Daniel prophecy comprises three separate periods of time. 7 weeks = 49 years is the time from when the command was given to restore Jerusalem until Messiah. (Daniel 9:25a) 62 weeks = 434 years is the time from when a command was given to rebuild the fortifications until Messiah. (Daniel 9:25b, 27) 1 week = 7 years is the time of Messiah. After 1/2 week (42 months) Messiah puts an end to sacrifices through His sacrifice, once for all. There are many tribulation periods in Scripture, i.e. persecution of the saints (5th seal), Day of the Lord, Great Tribulation of Israel (Rev. 7:14). None are seven years long. This exegesis of Daniel 9:24-27 was first presented by Sir Issac Newton more than 300 years ago and recently authored by Rev. Marvin Byers' book entitled, “Final Victory: The Year 2000.” Note: The command to restore Jerusalem was given by U.N. decree in 1948, so since He's late, the Lord could come at any time now. The reason for why the Lord did not come in 2000 is provided by the apostle Peter. "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9 ESV) Keep in mind, "...a day unto the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day." (2 Peter 3:8)
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