THIS section was added because of its extensive use in the Premill /Pretrib’s Eschatology.  Nevertheless, I also believe that a detailed understanding of this “Great Tribulation” is most necessary even for us: A necessary understanding that could be very beneficial toward our own Eschatology.

(1) “When therefore you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place.” (run !)  (Mat.24:15; Ref. Mk.13:14; Dan.9:27; 11:31; and 12:11)

“(For) then shall be revealed the man of sin, the son of perdition, he that opposes and exalts himself against all that is called God or that is worshipped: So that he sits in the temple of God, sitting himself forth as God.” (2Thes.2:3 and 4)

Since verses 1 and 2 of 2Thes.2 are discussing the coming (parousia) of our Lord, our gathering unto Him, and the day of the Lord, it is only reasonable that we also view verses 3 and 4 in the prophetic sense: As something that will yet happen in the future.

Note: Jn.17:12 when speaking about the disciples: "None of them is lost, but the son of perdition".  Speaking of Judas, a mortal man.

(2) “For then shall be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall be.” (Mat.24:21)

Tribulation does not end for the Christian Church throughout this entire age.  But as we approach the end of this present age, we might expect the conditions that face the active Christian to become worse and worse; the tribulation that we experience will become "greater". 

Mat.24:8 tells us: That all of these things,[the things that have happened thus far], are the beginning of travail.  The word travail here has the implication of child birth; or more appropriately, to be delivered.  It might be speculated on our part, that the time frame could be nearing for the promised gathering of the invisible priesthood.  So then we who know our Lord and have heard His (Jn.5:25 zao) call, should all view this possibility with great anticipation.

“Do you remember, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?  And now you know that which restrains to the end, that he may be revealed in his own season.  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, only there is One(Greek-TO) that restrains now until He(Greek-HO) is taken out of the way.  And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of His mouth, and bring to nothing by the manifestation of His coming.  Whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceit of unrighteousness for them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.  And for this cause, God is sending them a working of error, that they should believe a lie.” (2Thes.2:5-11)

“Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their works.” (Rev.2:22)

This threat given here in Rev.2:22 is a threat that is directed just towards the institutions—the corporate peoples of God.

“And except those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved: But for the elect's sake, those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, lo, here is the Christ, or, here, believe it not.  (3) For there shall arise false Christ's, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” (Mat.24:22-24)

“(I saw a pale horse), and he that sat thereon: His name was Death, and Hades followed with him, and there was given unto them authority over a fourth part of the earth: To kill with the sword, and with famine, and with death (pestilence), and with the wild beast of the earth.” (Rev.6:7 and 8)

Notice should be given to the fact that only limited authority was given here, and these predicted conditions were intended to affect only a fractional part of mankind. 

(Remember) “Jesus holds the keys of Death and Hades.” (Rev.1:18)

We all accept the conditions in this present age, the Church age, as a normal time of tribulation.  Is it possible for the conditions, which will occur during “the Great Tribulation” to also appear as normal?  The things upon the earth will become more and more abominable through the workings of Satan, and those who are not sealed unto the day of redemption, will become desolate.  To the full end when God's wrath will be poured out upon the desolate. [Dan.9:27]

[Dan.9:26—Even unto the end there shall be wars.]

These apparent normal conditions would allow for the fulfillment of the predicted coming (parousia) of our Lord: As in the days of Noah /Lot /as a thief. 

The things in this world must appear normal until the mystery of God is finished: When God's reality is revealed from heaven to all the inhabited earth.  Which happens at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. [Rev.10:7]   

**It must be strongly noted and remembered—that the invisible priesthood will not be present on the earth when God's reality is fully revealed from heaven.

** “As were the days of Noah, so shall be the Son of man.  For as in those days which were before the flood: They were eating and drinking, and marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and they knew not until the flood came and took them all away: SO SHALL BE THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN.” (Mat.24:37-39)

“Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built.  But in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.  AFTER THE SAME MANNER SHALL IT  BE IN THE DAY THAT THE SON OF MAN IS REVEALED.” (Lu.17:28-30)

We have seen in 1Thes.4:13-18, the detail account of our Lord's return and the gathering of His elect priesthood.  We then see that His judgments follow:

“For (you) yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.  When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them...  They shall not be able to escape.” (1Thes.5:2 and 3)

How much clearer could God make it?  The things upon the earth must appear absolutely NORMAL until after our Lord returns to gather His elect priests to Himself.  This is necessary because, in both the Mat.24 and the Lu.17 accounts, God's invisible priests are being separated away from the scene before His judgment begin to come upon the unwitting.  The real evidence of normalcy is seen in those who remain on the earth.  They will continue, right up to the time that God's judgments begin to come upon them, to be eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage, buying, selling, planting, and building.  It does not sound as if they will be worrying about anything at all: At least up to the time that surrounds our Lord's return for His invisible elect priesthood and the judgments that are to follow during the Day of the Lord.

The thing that should be noted here, is the pending finality of the events being predicted.  It would more than seem by each of these scriptural examples, that all opportunity for reconciliation to God will have ended with the return of our Lord and the gathering up of His invisible priesthood.

“But (you who are believers in the God of Creation) take heed to yourselves, unless by chance your hearts be overcharged with carousing, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare: For so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth.” (Lu.21:34 and 35)

These pending events that are predicted “to come on you suddenly as a snare”, are predicted to have an affect "upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth."  The warning here for the believer, carries with it the promise of escape: The promise of an exemption from these forthcoming events.  But it also carries with it, the implied warning that some believers, because of their careless and irresponsible life style, might be required to continue here on earth when the Tribulation for those present will surly become much Greater. (Ref.Rev.2:20-23)

*-TRIBULATION  VERSES. JUDGMENT and WRATH-

DEFINITIONS: The tribulation and the great tribulation events take place upon the earth and appear to be horizontal in their nature.  That is to say, the tribulation events take place on an earthly plane.

While the events in the judgments and wrath of God appear to be vertical in their nature.  The judgment and wrath events have their origin in the heavens, and are cast upon or poured upon the earth and its inhabitants. 

This fact would be evident even in the judgments that occurred at the time of both Noah and Lot: As both of these judgments had their origin in the Heavens, and were cast upon or poured upon the earth and its inhabitants.

We must always keep this in mind; the Great Tribulation must be interpreted only by those scriptures that speak directly about it.

“Then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you, and you shall be hated of all nations for My name's sake.  And then shall many stumble, and shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another.  And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray.  Because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love of many shall grow cold.  But he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved (delivered).  And the gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.”   (Mat.24:9-14)

Even though this is applicable to the entirety of God’s reconciliation, it could continue on throughout the Great Tribulation.

“When therefore you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that reads this understand).”  (Mat.24:15)

“Then shall be great tribulation.”  (Mat.24:21)

Elements to be expected in the tribulation and the great tribulation:

   a. To be delivered up unto tribulation.

   b. To be killed.

   c. To be hated of all nations.

   d. That many shall stumble.

   e. To deliver up one another.

   f. To hate one another.

   g. The presence of false prophets.

   h. Many shall be led astray.

   i. Iniquity shall be multiplied.

   j. The love of many shall grow cold.

   k. Abomination of desolation evident.

 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days: The sun shall be  (4) darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” (Mat.24:29)

I believe that this passage could be referring to a time period at the close of this dispensation of grace—"immediately after the tribulation of those days" as it might affect the invisible elect priests of God.

“When He opened the sixth seal: And there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood, and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, as a fig tree cast off her unripe figs when she is shaken by a great wind, and the heaven was removed as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every  mountain and island were moved out of their places.” (Rev.6:12-14)(Isa.13:10 and 34:4 - Parenthetical-?)

It would appear that this change in the solar system might also mark a major change in God's program.  The mystery of God is finished.  Rev.10:7  It is at this exact point in time that mandates the removal of God’s hidden elect; the removal of the elect ones who are a part of the invisible priesthood.  The main reason for this necessary removal of God's elect priesthood, is because God is not completely finished with this old inhabited earth: Many prophetic predictions must yet be fulfilled.

(5) “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: And then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn.” (Mat.24:30a)

“And the kings of the earth, and the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the strong, and every bondman and freeman hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and they say to the mountains and to the rocks: Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.” (Rev.6:15 and 16)

During this time frame, God is obviously dealing only with the inhabitants dwelling upon this earth and not with His chosen priesthood.  When this change occurs upon the earth, it is not only likely but also highly probable, that the invisible priesthood will have already been taken up into their heavenly home.  Taken up to Mt.Zion; up to the heavenly Jerusalem; that is, to be a resident part of the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn—To be with Jesus.

To learn the precise time frame of this future gathering, we need only read Lu.21:28: “But when these things BEGIN to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”  I would pose this very important question to all—which thing should we look to as a marker: (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5)?

“Because you did keep the word of My patience, I will also keep you from THE HOUR of trial: That hour which is to come upon the whole world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” (Rev.3:10)

This blessed promise that Jesus has made to His elect priesthood, must be received at its face value.  Jesus is promising them an absolute exemption from the events that are yet pending over the earth and its inhabitants: He calls this time—"THE HOUR OF TRIAL: THAT HOUR WHICH IS TO COME UPON THE WHOLE WORLD, TO TRY THEM THAT DWELL UPON THE EARTH."  And as sad as it may be to say, the institutional memberships of the visible Church and visible Israel will also be involved in this earthly time of trial.  But we can also be assured that God will protect them throughout all of these final events. (Rev.2:10)

*-THE PROMISED ESCAPE - PREDICTED FOR THE INVISIBLE PRIESTHOOD-

“The dead shall live, my dead body shall arise.  Awake and sing, you that dwell in the dust, for your dew is as the dew of light, and the earth shall cast forth the dead.  Come, My people, enter into your chamber, and shut your doors about you.  Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is overpast.” (Isa.26:19 and 20)

We learn a number of things from this passage:

First, we receive conformation for the resurrection of the dead. 

Secondly, we see that these resurrected ones are identified as "My people": And because God is speaking here, we may conclude that these are the peoples of God. 

Third, we see God calling His people together unto Himself: They are told to enter into their chamber and shut their doors about them. 

Forth, we hear God telling His peoples to hide themselves until the indignation is overpast.

“And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of Jehovah shall be delivered.  For in Mt.Zion, and in Jerusalem, there shall be those who escape, as Jehovah has said.  And among the remnant (those who were elected out from visible Israel), those whom Jehovah calls (and elects out from among the Nations).” (Joel.2:32)

Here the elect peoples of God are promised deliverance.  We are told that they would be delivered up into Heaven: To be in Mt.Zion; to reside in the heavenly Jerusalem. [Ref. Heb.12:18-24]  This passage tells us that, with respect to this specific time perspective, we have been delivered: Which has the connotation of escape—we have escaped from the things that are coming upon the earth; that we have escaped into our Heavenly Kingdom.

“It may be, you will be hid in the day of Jehovah's anger.” (Zeph.2:3)

Here again, we are told that we "will be hid in the day of Jehovah's anger": Hid from His indignation that is to come upon the whole earth.

“At that time (My) people shall be delivered (slip away), every one that shall be found written in the book.”  (Dan.12:1)

This passage informs us that there is a prerequisite to being delivered: That prerequisite is that our names must "be found written in the book".

“The righteous parish, and no man lays it to heart, and merciful men are taken away, and none consider that the righteous are taken away from the evil to come.” (Isa.57:1)

Again we see that the righteous are being removed from the pending evil which is to come upon the earth and its inhabitants.

“For this is what Jehovah of Hosts says: yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land, and I WILL SHAKE ALL THE NATIONS, and the precious things of ALL THE NATIONS shall come, and I will fill this house with glory, says Jehovah of Hosts.” (A heavenly house.) (Hag.2:6 and 7)

Hag.2:6 and 7 is so very clear: That God is going to gather together all of His elect peoples/ or priests from off the earth.  He is gathering them up into His Heavenly Kingdom.  These conditions, which are evident during this gathering, may closely resemble the conditions that are described for us in Lu.21:25-26

“For this says the High and Lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy.  I dwell in the High and Holy place, and with Him, them also that are of a contrite and humble spirit. (Isa.57:15)

“Jehovah is exalted, for He dwells on high.  He fills Zion with righteousness.” (Isa.33:5)

“He that walks righteously and speaks uprightly: He that despises the gain of oppressions, that shakes his hand from taking a bribe, that stops his ears from hearing of blood, and shuts his eyes from looking upon evil.  He shall dwell on high, his place of defense shall be the munition of rocks, his bread shall be given him, and his water shall be sure.  Your eyes shall see the King in His beauty.  They shall behold a land that reaches afar.” (Isa.33:15-17)

These Scriptures are, beyond any reasonable doubt, describing heavenly pictures of the gathered peoples of God.

*-GREAT TRIBULATION OVERVIEW:

The words GREAT TRIBULATION generates concern in the hearts of many present day believers, because of their individual interpretation of this prophetic event.  This promoted interpretation that has wrongly incorporated the judgments and wrath of God into the period that they now define as the Great Tribulation.  This interpretation makes it unthinkable for any Christian to consider going through these events.  The incorporation of the judgments and wrath events into the Great Tribulation period may have an element of truth, but only as it might apply to the visible institutional corporate peoples of God.  But certainly not to the invisible priesthood who are identified as being in Christ.  None of the invisible elect should ever anticipate entering into or going through the events of the judgments and wrath of God. This hidden priesthood must be present in Heaven before these final events ever begin.

The judgments and wrath of God, Revelation chapters 8 through 20, are principally directed toward the lost of this world.  But this same time frame would also include the earthly presence of God’s visible institutions—visible Israel and the visible Christian Church.  Then we see these events reaching their completion within THE HOUR of trial: Rev.3:10—Because you did keep the word of My patience, I will also keep you from THE HOUR of trial, that hour which is to come upon the whole inhabited earth, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  That same hour that we see pictured in Rev.17:20; 18:10; 18:17; 18:19; which reaches its culmination at the Great White Throne.  The Great Tribulation would most likely begin upon the earth when God’s restraint that He has now placed upon Satan has been relaxed or removed.

Lawlessness will run its unequaled course upon the inhabitants of the entire population.  A time of trouble—when iniquity will be multiplied and the love of many will become cold.  The Christian’s that remain upon the earth will be hated with an unequaled amount of hatred, and persecuted with an unequaled amount of persecution.  Many shall stumble at that time and shall deliver up one another.  During this whole period of time, many false christs and false prophets shall arise: And they shall lead many astray.  But they that endure until the end, the same shall be saved.  For all of God’s peoples, the conditions upon the earth will become worse and worse.

To understand the tribulation we suffer, and the Great Tribulation, we must consider what the word "great" might mean: As GREAT means only to a greater extent or proportion.  This can be seen with some degree of understanding in the various strengths of an earthquake.  If we had an earthquake with a magnitude of two, and a second earthquake with a magnitude of seven, we would consider the second earthquake to be a great earthquake.  But it would still be basically defined as an earthquake.

We are told in Rev.2:10—Fear not the things you are about to suffer: Behold, the devil is about to cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried, and you shall have tribulation ten days.  You, be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.  This Scripture is written to the Church of Smyrna.  We must conclude here, that the tribulation predicted for the Church of Smyrna, differs in some way from the tribulation that was predicted in the gospels.  Maybe greater?

The Great Tribulation does not end with the gathering of the invisible elect priesthood up into heaven: Just the tribulation of those days as it affects God's elect priests.  Rev.2:22—Behold, I cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into Great Tribulation, except they repent of their works.  The implication of this Scripture, is the promised exemption from the Great Tribulation for those who repent of their evil works and then continued Great Tribulation for the unrepentant.  We might further define those pictured here, as just the visible elect; all the visible corporate peoples of God.

Rev.7:9-14 pictures a great multitude up in heaven before God's throne.  This Scripture tells us that these have come (escaped) out of the Great Tribulation.  Entering into the Great Tribulation and going through the Great Tribulation are not the same thing.  Just as we found in the judgments /wrath study, where we discovered the possibility of a phasing in of the various elements of the trumpets and bowls; and that they may also be cumulative in their affects: The very same conditions that are so evident in the prophetic Scriptures of Mat.24.  An example of this would be the warning about the false prophets, or false Christs in v.5 and then again in v.24—The warning appears to be ongoing through the entire age.  Could this possibly indicate an increase?  Maybe greater?

The shaking that is pictured in Mat.24:29 may only be an introduction to the picture given in 2Pe.3:10.  It may appear to the inhabitants of the earth that the world is coming to an end, but it is really only an introduction to the final judgments and wrath of God—the Day of the Lord.

This may become evident when we examine Lu.21:25 and 26—“And there shall be signs in the sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and billows; Men  fainting for fear, and for the expectation of the things which are coming on the world: For the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.”  Could this pictured event appear to the inhabitants of the earth as a natural disaster?  How would a person feel if they thought the world was coming to an end?  Think about it!  How would we feel?  In all honesty, we would be scared stiff!

The Great Tribulation is one of the most difficult prophetic subjects to understand and to communicate.  And then the varied viewpoints that are held by the Pretribulationist and Posttribulationist greatly exacerbate the problem.  While both stake claim to the correct interpretation, these contrasting viewpoints seem to prohibit the possibility of any agreement on this subject.  It would almost seem that there is just no common ground even for discussion.  We need to move around the semantics and look more at the substantive passages we have.  The Great Tribulation may well be the transitional period between “the year of Jehovah's favor”; The dispensation of grace, and “the day of vengeance of our God”; “The Day of the Lord”. (Isa.61:2)

As we look deeper onto the two main tribulation views, we discover some interesting similarities in their understandings.  Though they disagree on the interpretation of many Scriptures, I do not believe they disagree on the end results as they might affect the invisible elect Christians.  Neither view, not the Pre nor the Post, believes that any member of the invisible elect will go through the Judgments and Wrath of God.