TRIBULATION

Matthew 24

E. J. Davis

This chapter tells us about the tribulation days which are coming upon the earth. It will last almost seven years. The last three and one half years will be great tribulation.

Christ’s second coming has two phases. He is coming first for His people, which will be the rapture, I Thess. 4:15-17. When the full overcomers are raptured, then Christ will take His throne, Rev. 4. When He comes to take vengence on the nations, He is going to come with His saints, I Thess. 1:7,8; Jude 14,15; and Rev. 19:11-16. There is almost seven years between these two phases.

Mt. 24:1,2 - “And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple. And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” It was a beautiful temple, which was destroyed in 70 AD by the Romans. In the end time, the Jews will have another temple. Maybe the false prophet will help build it. It will be destroyed also.

V. 3 - “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (or age)?”

CONDITIONS IN THE LAST DAYS

Vs. 4,5 - “And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” It shall be a deceiving time. Many shall say, “I am the anointed one, the Christ.” But the greatest deceiver, will be the antichrist.

V. 6 - “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” There has been a war going on somewhere in the world since 1914. Now they fear the greatest war of all time is coming on the world and they are trying to bring a world peace to keep it from happening. We are now in that period of wars and rumours of war. Let it not cause us great anxiety, for the worst is later.

V. 7 - “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers (various) places.” War with it awful consequences is described here. Some may say, “Oh, these have always been common to the earth.” But in answer to the disciples question, they have a significant character, they are signs. As coming all together or shortly after one another in various places.

V. 8 - “All these are the beginning of sorrows.” In other words all these things lead up to the seven years of tribulation. It is not the tribulation period, but the beginning of sorrows. Why does God give signs? So people will yield to Him. So sinners will accept Christ. So Christians will not be wishy washy concerning the things of God and be ready for the Lord to come. In I Thess. 5:4-11 Paul says, you are not children of the night, you should not experience the tribulation days. God doesn’t want us to go through tribulation. It is a day of wrath, He has choosen that we escape that day. So He gives us signs. I Cor. 11:31-32 - “For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”

These Wars, famines, pestilences and earthquakes should wake people up, that the time is near. But most are not stirred toward the Lord. These things happen so frequently now in various places that people treat them as common place. Thousands are killed and people are numb to the news reports. Oh, that men would seek the Lord. Even most Christians are indifferent as if they are going to continue here forever. Lk. 21:28 - “...when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh?

(continued - next issue Tribulation days begin)