Tribulation is a very familiar word in the world of christianity. It is found in the Chapter 24 of Matthew where it also contains the answers of Jesus Christ to the questions of his apostles. Christ was asked, when will these things happen (destruction of the temple), the sign of his coming, and the end of the world? He answered and tackled each of them especially the concerning of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, he said:
15 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 24:15-22 (KJV)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:
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.
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.
There will be great tribulation
When the Lord Jesus mentioned what would happen in Jerusalem and the Temple as it would be destroyed, he told the disciples to pray that their escape would not happen in the cold or on the sabbath. Because if this happens, great tribulation will come.
It has never happened before and will never happen again
This will only happen once and only during the time of the Christians in the first century. And one more important thing, it is necessary to shorten those days because no one will be saved but because of the chosen ones will be shortened. This is also reported by Luke according to his Gospel:
20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
Luke 21:20-24 (KJV)
21 Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22 For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
Great Tribulation
It will be noted in the verse that the event that will take place in Judea is also written, how Jerusalem and the temple will be besieged and destroyed and there will also be tribulation. But the word used in Luke is “great distress” instead of great tribulation. Even so, this is just proof that there was a great tribulation during the time of the first century christians in the Bible. Because the particular accounts in the book of Matthew and Luke are in the same time and situation..
After the Tribulation of that Day
In the book of Matthew again in chapter 24 the word “tribulation” can be read again. It is different because of the event it involves. Because it refers to the imminent coming of Christ. If we read the verses:
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Matthew 24:29-31 (KJV)
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Christ will come after the tribulation
The Lord Jesus Christ himself said, “after the tribulation of those days”. This tribulation will not continue. When it is finished, the Lord Jesus will be seen in the clouds. Even angels with trumpets. What does the book of Luke say about this? Let’s read:
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Luke 21:25-28 (KJV)
26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
The Equivalent of the Tribulation in Luke
According to Luke, the people of the nations will experience poverty, be stunned by the sound of the sea and the waves, and be overwhelmed by fear. This can be compared to what Matthew says that tribulation will happen as the coming of the Lord Jesus approaches. What is remarkable about the statements of the Lord in these verses, when he came in a cloud is what he said, “your redemption is near”.
Redemption is near
This is what the believers of the Lord Jesus have been waiting for the most. The redemption of his servants. So the servants of God in this present time expect something to happen. This is the tribulation and when it is over Christ will come in the clouds with his angels with trumpets and will redeem those who will be saved.
Reminder to All
Let us beware of believing those who say the word “great tribulation” mixed with their own interpretation. There are two types of tribulation mentioned in the book of Matthew chapter 24 and they are different events. Read the scriptures carefully and let’s not crowd ourselves with our own conclusions. What is written is what is written that we must accept, believe and carry out. So that we don’t get lost in false beliefs, let’s persevere to read the verses again and again. The more times it is read the clearer it becomes to the reader. God Bless Us All!