by Tad Lindley
A reader recently sent in this question, and it is a very valid question:
I have so many on TikTok, that are saying we don’t go through the tribulation, they keep saying we go up. Then I was asking what about God’s wrath? I was confused, because I don’t want to be wrong. But this is what the Bible says, “We go through tribulation,” right? Michelle E.
How do we know who is telling the truth?
The internet is truly amazing. There are websites that say that Christians should tithe, and others that claim that tithing is illegal. Some say that we do not have to worship together with other Christians, others say that it is essential. One school of thought would have Christians abstain from eating cheeseburgers, another would say eat whatever you want. How do we know who is telling the truth? We study the Bible and search the scriptures to see whether what they say is true or false.
First of all, what is the Great Tribulation?
The term Great Tribulation comes from Matthew 24:21, For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. This is a real event that exists somewhere in our future that is prophesied by the Lord himself. It is a period of 3 ½ years when the antichrist will rise up and war against the saints of God (Bible saints, which means the living church). Let me come back to this point in a moment.
When will the Great Tribulation happen?
According to Jesus it will happen, When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (Matthew 24:15). The holy place is either in the Tabernacle (the wall tent where the Ark of the Covenant was placed), or in a rebuilt Jewish temple in Jerusalem. According to Jesus, the abomination of desolation happens when someone stands in the holy place.
The abomination of desolation
In case his listeners had forgotten what the abomination of desolation was, he told them that it was straight out of Daniel. Particularly in Daniel 9:27: And he [the antichrist] shall confirm the covenant [a treaty] with many for one week [a 7 year period]: and in the midst of the week [half way through the 7 years] he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. II Thessalonians shines some more light on the abomination of desolation: Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition [the antichrist]; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God (2:3-4). Combining these facts together, we see that the abomination of desolation happens when the antichrist steps into the temple of God and calls for animal sacrifices to stop at the temple. That is followed by a 3 ½ year period of tribulation that is worse than any before.
The wrath of the antichrist
In Revelation 12:13-17, we see that there is a 3 ½ year period (v. 14, time, times, and half a time) during which Satanic activity is intensified. The serpent is attacking Christians. Read it for yourself: And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:17) In Revelation 13:7 we see the beast (as in the mark of the beast) having power to war against the church: And it was given unto him to make war with the saints [the Bible uses this term to describe all Christians], and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. Finally, in Revelation 7:14, we see saints who were martyred in the great tribulation appearing in the throne room of heaven.
Will We Go Through the Tribulation?
The Bible answer appears to be “Yes.” And as much as I hate to think about it, many will be martyred for their faith. They will lay down their bodies and appear in the throne room. Others will live under the intense persecution of the antichrist, but Jesus leaves us with this powerful promise But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (Matthew 24:13)
Reverend Tad Lindley is a minister at the United Pentecostal Church in Bethel, Alaska.
