End Times Prophecy Passport

By Chuck Swindoll

THE GREAT TRIBULATION

Jesus said the great tribulation will be a time “such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will” (Matthew 24:21). It is known as “Jacob’s distress” (Jeremiah 30:7). “the time of wrath” and “a time of distress” (Daniel 11:36; 12:1 NIV), “the apostasy” (2 Thessalonians 2:3), and “the hour of testing” (Revelation 3:10).

Only unbelievers will populate the earth at the onset of the tribulation, but by the time of the great tribulation, two prophets will have appeared (Revelation 11:1-6), leading many to faith in Jesus. These tribulation saints will be numerous, including 144,000 Jews representing the twelve tribes of Israel (Revelation 7:4-8). Yet they will be surrounded by evil humanity led by the Antichrist (the “beast,” Revelation 13:1-10), the False Prophet (another “beast,” 13:11-18; 19-20), and Satan (the “dragon.” 13:4).

The great tribulation period will begin when the Antichrist breaks his treaty with Israel by entering the temple and declaring himself God (Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians 2:4). After counterfeiting a resurrection, the Antichrist will establish a one-world religion and, aided by the False Prophet, receive the worship of the world (Revelation 13:3-4, 13). The Antichrist will set up a one-world government and economy, requiring everyone to carry his number—666—in order to conduct business (13:16-17).  Those who refuse to worship the Antichrist or take his number will be persecuted and killed (Matthew 24:9; Revelation 12:17; 13-15).

Meanwhile, the Lord will punish sinful humanity through a triple series of judgments of seven seals, seven trumpets, and seven bowls—each more terrible than the last, unleashing unimaginable ecological disaster and destroying countless animal and human lives (Revelation 6-16). God’s judgment will culminate in the terrible war of Armageddon, when Jesus will return as King of Kings (19:11-21).

YEAH, BUT…

Isn’t God supposed to be tolerant? We often try to shy away from the concept of an angry, wrathful, or judging God, choosing instead to focus only on His love and grace. When we become acquainted with God’s judgments in the book of Revelation, however, we see a harmonious balance between His justice and grace, His mercy and wrath.

God is just in punishing evil because evil deserves to be judged. But God, in His abundant grace, tempers His wrath and demonstrates mercy. For example, in Mark 13:20, Jesus taught that God will shorten the days of the tribulation; otherwise, His judgments would be so severe that everyone in the world would perish. However, in spite of His mercy, the tribulation will include His most severe judgments of all time.

Most of the judgments in Revelation will come to the world at the hand of evil agents. God allows evil in the world, but He is not the author of evil (James 1:13). Revelation describes a world that seems out of control because of terrible evil and severe judgments on sin. But remember, God is always in control.

So What?

Will God really unleash His wrath during the tribulation?

The majority of humans alive at the beginning of the great tribulation will not be at its end. This is a difficult reality to face, but face it we must, for Scripture speaks of God’s severe wrath that will befall humanity for the untold compounding of sin. This is why we who live on this side of the great tribulation declare with Paul, “Now is ‘the day of salvation’” (2 Corinthians 6:2). Faith in Christ is the only means of escape from this terrible time, and those who follow Him are responsible for proclaiming this truth.