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Christ’s return is our great hope of salvation and a glorious eternity with God. Consequently, the study of eschatology (end times) is critical to understanding our salvation and is a great blessing (Revelation 1:3). Although the exact nature of Christ’s return is a controversial topic among both theologians, it is important to base our beliefs on scripture.

Let us return to discussing the exciting events leading to the second coming of Christ. Following the rapture, which we discussed in the last blog, begins the time of the tribulation. The tribulation is a future period of intense suffering and divine judgment prophesied in Christian eschatology.

The tribulation (2 Thessalonians 1:5-2:12; Revelation chapters 4-18: Matthew 24:4-28; Daniel 9:27; Isaiah 24) 

This is a seven-year period of God’s wrath upon the world to bring final judgment before the second coming of Christ, which occurs at the end of tribulation. It is a time of terrible suffering not yet experienced prior to that time (Matthew 24:21). Yet God will allow graciously the gospel to go forward to the world during this time still giving unbelievers an opportunity to repent (Matthew 24:14). 

The tribulation is covered in several important Bible passages but can be challenging to interpret because each contains different important events that can be difficult to summarize in one timeline. However, these passages have different emphases, which are important to recognize. Consequently, we will mention each separately: 

  • Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24-25) – This is the instruction about the end times Christ gave to the disciples just before His death. It includes worldwide events but has a particularly Jewish slant. 
  • First half (Matthew 24:4-14) – The seven-year tribulation begins with the first 3½ years marked by war, rumors of war, hatred, persecution, horrifying natural events, and false prophets. We know from other scripture that the tribulation begins with the rapture of church-age believers. However, this event is not mentioned in the Olivet Discourse, probably because the church was not yet known when our Savior gave this instruction. 
  • Abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15-31) – The abomination of desolation occurs at the midpoint of the tribulation (thus beginning the 2nd 3½ year period) when the antichrist stops the temple worship leaving the altar desolate as predicted in the Old Testament (Daniel 9:27). Importantly, at this time Christ states those in Jerusalem should immediately flee to the mountains, as well as look and be prepared for His return after an additional 3½ years. 
  • Revelation 5-18 -The tribulation described in the Book of Revelation provides generally a more detailed worldwide explanation regarding the nations than the Olivet Discourse. Several themes appear to run concurrently in the revelation and are chronological, but how they relate to each other exactly in time can be difficult to determine: 
  • Worldwide judgments (chapters 5-16) – These are the seal, bowl, and trumpet judgments that appear to occur sequentially throughout the tribulation but with unknown timing. There are seven judgments under each. They generally describe natural disasters, war, and plagues as a judgment upon the earth. 
  • Sealing of the 144,000 (chapter 7) – These are Jewish believers from the 12 tribes of Israel who are sealed by God during the tribulation. They will go forth to the whole world to testify of God, and most or all will be martyred. 
  • The two witnesses (chapter 11) – These are two witnesses who preach to the world during the tribulation. They are martyred in Jerusalem and are resurrected after 3 days to the consternation of the world.
    • Killing the two witnesses (Revelation 11:7) – The antichrist is first mentioned in the revelation as ascending out of the pit and destroying the two witnesses, causing great joy on the (unbelieving) earth. 
  • The spiritual war (chapter 12) – This passage details the efforts of Satan to destroy the Christ child and Israel to prevent salvation and his own destruction. 
  • The antichrist (Revelation 13; The Beast (Man of lawlessness or sin, son of perdition) – His program will be empowered by Satan and include: 
  • Personal worship (chapter 13) – He will display miracles causing people to follow and worship him. A part of this program will be the abomination of desolation in the Jewish temple at the midpoint of the tribulation (2 Thessalonians 2:4; Matthew 24:15; Daniel 9:27). 
  • Control commerce (chapter 13) – He will do this in part by the ‘mark of the beast’ which will not allow people to participate in commerce unless they have submitted to him. 
  • Attempted world domination – His effort to control the world will help lead to the battle of Armageddon (chapter 16). 
  • Babylon (chapter 17 and 18) – The organized world system, which originated from the Tower of Babel, will be destroyed. This includes commercial interests and may include a religious component as well. Babylon’s downfall represents the end of the long battle between God and the principles of the kingdom of the world, as represented by ancient Babylon. 

Thanks be to God and our Savior Jesus Christ for such a great salvation given as a free gift through our faith in Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection.  

Thanks for visiting my blog. Join me next time as we discuss our blessed hope, the return of Christ, and eternity. 

William C. Stewart, MD

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