Eschatology and Ecclesiology

The Tribulation

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Tribulation Terminology

Tribulation – a time of trouble or difficulty.

The Tribulation Christ. – usually used to refer to the period of 7 years (aka Daniel’s 70 great difficulty on the earth just prior to the return of The Great Tribulation th week or the Day of the Lord) of – usually refers to the last half of the 7 year period; note multiple references to 3.5 years, 42 months, 1260 days, or “time, times, and half a time.” Day of the Lord – a technical phrase in the Bible used for special interventions of God in human history.

  Past – center around God’s judgments on Israel and the nations (e.g. Joel 1:15).

Future – a supernatural intervention in which God will judge both Israel and the nations, establish His kingdom, and eventually create a new heavens and new earth (Jer 30:7-9; 1 Thess 5:2,3; 2 Pet 3:10).

This time of tribulation is a result of God’s wrath being poured out on an unbelieving world.

Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks – Dan 9:24-27

"Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. And its end and on the wing of abominations will come place. So you are to know and discern there will be will come that from the seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress. Then after the sixty-two weeks the Messiah will be cut off and have nothing, and the people of the with a flood; even to the end there will be war; desolations are determined. And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." 70 th week 69 weeks = 483 years 1 week = 7 years 7 weeks = 49 years 62 weeks = 434 years Artaxerxes decree to re-build Jerusalem, 445 or 444 B.C. (Neh 2:1-8) Completion of rebuilding of Jerusalem.

Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, A.D. 32 or 33 (Luke 19:28-38).

After the 69 weeks (Dan 9:26): (1) Messiah is cut (2) off.

Jerusalem is destroyed in A.D. 70.

The prince of the people to come (i.e. Antichrist) makes a firm covenant with the many for one week, but puts a stop to sacrifice and offering halfway through the week (Dan 9:27).

Key Personalities in the Tribulation

     The Antichrist Rev 13).

– Opposes the true God and proclaims himself to be Christ; rules the world for the 3.5 years just prior to Christ’s return (Dan 9:26-27; 2 Thess 2:3-4; The False Prophet who counterfeits the Holy Spirit, causes people to worship the Antichrist.

Satan – along with the two beasts, makes up a counterfeit trinity. Works through both the false christ and the false prophet.

144,000 – a group of Jews who will be redeemed and protected from God’s wrath during the Great Tribulation; they remain faithful to Christ during this time (Rev 7:1-8; 14:1-5).

The Two Witnesses – the second beast (Rev 13:11-18) – Two prophets who will have special ministries (very much like Moses and Elijah) in Jerusalem during the Great Tribulation (Rev 11:3-13).

The Judgments of the Tribulation

Rapture of Return of the Church Antichrist as leader of revived Roman Empire Antichrist as dictator of the world Christ 3.5 Years Abomination of Desolation Beginning of Birth Pangs 3.5 Years The Great Tribulation

The Seventh Seal

The First Six Seals

Spirit of Antichrist Warfare Famine Death to ¼ of the earth by sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts.

Prayers for vengeance by the martyrs.

Great earthquake and cosmic disorders.

The First Six Trumpets of the Seventh Seal

1/3 of earth and trees burned; all green grass burned.

1/3 of sea turned to blood; 1/3 of sea life and 1/3 of ships destroyed.

1/3 of seas and springs made bitter 1/3 of sun, moon, and stars darkened.

Locusts sting 5 Months 1/3 of people killed

The Seven Bowls of the Seventh Trumpet

Malignant sores Sea into blood Fresh water into blood Men scorched Darkness Armies gathered for battle Babylon judged

Salvation During the Tribulation

    144,000 from the twelve tribes of Israel (Rev 7:1-10).

Peoples from every nation and tribe and people and tongue (Rev 7:9).

A protected remnant of Israel (Rev 12:6).

Others who survive the Great Tribulation and are Christ’s sheep at His return (Matt 25:31-32).

Next Time: Rapture Systems – Part I

Syllabus pp. 220-234 Benware pp. 207-237