“He was granted power to give breath to the image of
the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as
would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both
small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their
right hand or on their foreheads” (Revelation
13:15-16).
In chapter 24 of Matthew, the Lord Jesus described the Great
Tribulation. He said it will be a time of deception with false christs and
false prophets (Matthew 24:4-5, 11,23-24). It will also be a time when believers
will be persecuted severely and hated (Matthew 24:9-11). Lawlessness will
increase. As a result, many people's love for the Lord will grow cold, leading
them to fall away from the faith (Matthew 24:12-13). Satan will do his best to
deceive people during the Great Tribulation and will empower the Beast to
persecute and deceive people. There will be many false signs and wonders which
will be used in an attempt to deceive the elect (i.e. Christians—The Elect of Matthew 24:24).
This time of great tribulation will be characterized by greatly
increased demonic activity led by the one called the Antichrist or the Beast.
The word antichrist is found in only
four Scripture verses and refers to one of many antichrists in the world (1
John 2:18, 22; 4:3; and 2 John 1: 7). It refers to an individual or spirit who is
against Christ or one who denies the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22).
During the time of the Great Tribulation there will be one particular
individual who will attempt to take the place of Jesus as King on this earth.
This individual is called the man of
lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:3-10) and the Beast (Revelation 13:1, 4, 12-14). As the antichrist of all
antichrists, the Beast is the
Antichrist. According to chapter 13 in Revelation, the Beast and his forces
will be the major cause of persecution during the Great Tribulation (see The
Beast & The False Prophet). The Great Tribulation will begin when the
Beast sets up The
Abomination of Desolation.
The important thing to understand is that the Great Tribulation is a
time of intense persecution and trouble instigated by the Beast and his forces.
The ultimate source of the trouble is Satan (Revelation 13:2, 4). A major
purpose of the persecutions and trouble is to cause people to fall away from
the Lord Jesus. (Revelation 13:4, 17). It will be an intensification of Satan’s
continuing efforts to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). God is not the
cause of any of the persecutions arising during the Great Tribulation.
The Beast will be assisted by the False Prophet (see The Beast &The False Prophet). The False Prophet will make an image of the Beast (Revelation
13:14). To deceive people into worshipping the Beast and his image, the False
Prophet will perform signs and miracles and even cause the image to come to
life. He will even be able to call down fire from heaven (i.e., the sky) (Revelation
13:13). This is something that Satan’s servants could not do in the past (1
Kings 18:22-29). Anyone who refuses to worship the Beast or his image will be
killed (Revelation 13:15).
Many people will be killed during the Great Tribulation. This includes
some of those who belong to God (Daniel 11:32-35; Revelation 13:8). However,
those who know God and understand what is going on will oppose the Beast and
teach others the truth (Daniel 11:32-33). Some protection will be provided by
God for at least some of His people (Daniel 11:34; Revelation 12: 6, 13-17).
However, many will pay the ultimate price in their service to God (Daniel
11:35). Historically, Christianity is always purified and strengthened by
persecution (Daniel 12:10).
The reign of the Beast (and thus the length of the Great Tribulation) is
limited to 3½ years. At the end of the Great Tribulation, the reign of the
Beast will be brought to a sudden end by the return of our Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew
24:29-31; 2 Thessalonians 2:8). At that time, the Lord will gather His people
from the earth (i.e., the Rapture, Matthew 24:31). The Beast, False Prophet,
and those who followed them will be left on the earth to suffer during the
seven last plagues of the Wrath of God that follow the Great Tribulation (see TheWrath of God).
As in the past, the intensity of persecution will probably vary with
geographic areas. For example, during the first century, Christians in Rome
suffered greater persecution than those in more remote areas. Persecution
during the Great Tribulation will probably be the most severe in those
locations most tightly controlled by the Beast. Persecution will probably be
less severe in areas where the Beast has less control. Possibly that is why our
Lord said to leave the cities (Matthew 24:15-21).
It is also probable that the persecution will increase as the Great
Tribulation progresses and the Beast’s influence spreads. Those Christians who
are physically near the Abomination of Desolation when it is established will
have to flee immediately (Matthew 24:15-16). Those who are in other parts of
the world may have a little more time to react to the Beast’s actions. However,
intense persecution may begin immediately after the Abomination of Desolation
in all regions—so Christians must always be alert and ready to take necessary
action.
God will provide some form of supernatural protection for some of His
people (Revelation 12:6, 13-17; Daniel 11:34). This protection may be that
described in Psalm 91. The length of the Great Tribulation has also been
shortened for the benefit of Christians (Matthew 24:21-22). However, not all of
God’s people are protected from the persecutions during the Great Tribulation (Revelation
12:17; 13:7). No matter what comes against you, be assured that nothing can separate you from the love
of God that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:35-39; Heb. 13:5-6; Matthew 28:20).
SUMMARY
Term Definition:
The term great tribulation is
used in only three Scriptures (Matthew 24:21, Revelation 2:22, and 7:14). In
Matthew 24:21, the Lord warns that “there will be a great tribulation”. In Revelation 2:22 there
is a warning that those who commit fornication with “Jezebel” will be cast “into
great tribulation”. In Revelation 7:9-14 the great
multitude from all nations who are standing before the throne of God are those
who have come “out of the great tribulation”.
The Greek word for tribulation (Strong’s #2347, thlipsis)
means “pressure”, either literally or
figuratively. This word has been translated in various Bible passages as “affliction”, “anguish”, “burdened”, “persecution”, “tribulation”, and “trouble”. From the meaning of the word it is evident that the
Great Tribulation will be a time of great persecution, affliction, and trouble.
Significance of the Great Tribulation:
The Great Tribulation is a time when Satan will do his worst to kill,
steal, and destroy (John 10:10). For people of the world, it will seem to be a
time of victory against God and against those who serve Him.
Source of the Great Tribulation:
Satan is the source of the Great Tribulation. Primarily, he uses the
Beast (the Antichrist) as his instrument of deception and destruction (Revelation
13:2-4). God is not the cause of the Great Tribulation. (However, God may
release authority for Satan to do his worst in a similar manner to that
described in Job 1:8-12 and 2:3-6. This may be alluded to in 2 Thessalonians
2:6-8, Revelation 6:1-8, Revelation 13:5-8, Matthew 24:21-22, and Daniel
8:12-13.)
Length of the Great Tribulation:
The Great Tribulation lasts 3½ years. This 3½ year length is specified
as 42 months, 1260 days, and as a “time, times, and
half a time” (see How Long is the Great Tribulation).
Events Prior to the Great Tribulation:
Immediately prior to the start of the Great Tribulation, the Abomination
of Desolation will be set up (see The
Abomination of Desolation). The Lord instructs Christians that the
Abomination of Desolation is the primary indication that the Great Tribulation
has started (Matthew 24:15, 21).
Events of the Great Tribulation:
The Great Tribulation is primarily characterized by the reign of the
Beast. It will be a time of intense persecution of all people, especially those
who belong to God. All that is evil will be unleashed in one last dying effort
to strike out at God and the people He loves. People cannot buy or sell in the
Beast controlled markets without obtaining the mark of the Beast (i.e., 666, Revelation 13:16-18; see The Mark
of the Beast).
God During the Great Tribulation:
God will send a strong delusion upon those that do not love the truth
causing them to believe the lies of Satan and the Beast (2 Thessalonians
2:9-12). God will be caring for His people as always, even though many will be
martyred for their faith (Daniel 11:33-35). He will provide a place of
protection in the wilderness for those who heed the Lord’s instructions to flee
from the cities (Revelation 12:6, 13-16; Mat 24:15-21). At the end of the Great
Tribulation, the Lord will return to cut off the persecutions by gathering His
people from the earth (Matthew 24:21-22, 29-31; 2 Thessalonians 1:6-8; 2 Thessalonians
2:8).
Christians During the Great Tribulation:
The people who know their God will strongly oppose the Beast and do
great exploits (Daniel 11:32). Some Christians will be killed during the Great
Tribulation (Daniel 11:33-35). However, many will flee to the protection of the
place in the wilderness that God has prepared for them (Revelation 12:6,
13-16).
Satan During the Great Tribulation:
Satan (the dragon) will give the Antichrist (the Beast) great authority
during the Great Tribulation (Revelation 13:4-5).
Beast During the Great Tribulation:
The Beast will exalt himself and claim to be God (Daniel 11:36; 2 Thessalonians
2:4). He will blaspheme the true God (Revelation 13:6). He will also make war
with the people of God (Revelation 13:7).
Non-Christians During the Great Tribulation:
Non-Christians will be corrupted with the Beast’s flatteries and be
deceived (Daniel 11:32; Revelation 13:14). They will join with him in his
persecution of those who desire to serve the true God (Daniel 11:32; Revelation
13:14). These people will be awed by the power of the Beast and Satan and will
worship both of them (Revelation 13:3-4). All people who do not belong to God will worship the Beast (Revelation 13:8).
Events Following the Great Tribulation:
At the end of the Great Tribulation, certain signs will be seen in the
sun, moon, and stars. The Lord will return to gather the Christians (i.e., the
Rapture) and The Wrath of God will be poured out on the Beast and those
who served him (see Matthew 24:29-31 and Revelation 6:12-17).
Scripture references for the Great Tribulation:
Matthew 24:4-5, 9-24, 29-31; Mark 13:14-20; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; 1 John
2:18, 22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7; Revelation 7:14; Revelation 12:6, 13-17; Revelation
13:1-18; Daniel 7:25; Daniel 8:11-14; Daniel 11:28-36; Daniel 12:6-7, 11-12.
