"There Will Be a Great Tribulation"

Without question this is the topic of primary concern among Christians who look into the Last Days. Will the Church--will believers--go through the terrible events of the Great Tribulation? Or, will the Rapture take us out of here before things get too rough? Some would say, "Yes, Don't worry! Jesus loves us too much to let that happen. He will come before the Tribulation and take us all away." Others, tell us that although Christians will go through some of the Tribulation, they will be safely removed before the worst of it arrives.

But on what authority do they make these claims? Jesus said exactly the opposite! Isn't He our highest authority? If that is the case, then, truly we need look no further than His Words. As it happens, He spoke plainly about the timing of the events of the Last Days and typically, He didn't pull any punches. So, please set aside any pre-conceived time tables (and any fears or desires that you may have) and listen afresh to His great teaching about the End Times given on the Mount of Olives during His final week on earth. Listen to the words of the One who is the Truth.

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be… “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Matthew 24:21, 27-31

All scripture citations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.

Short and to the Point

There is a short form and a long form to this. The long form will come in another article—it is the “Matthew 24 Timeline.” The short form simply brings together two verses in the numerical order—verse 21 followed by verse 29. In answer to the disciples’ question, Jesus says that there will be a great tribulation coming at “the End of the Age.” How great will it be? It will be “such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.” Without a doubt this is the Great Tribulation that no one in their right minds wants to go through. Now, when does it come in relation to the Rapture of the Church and the Lord’s Return?

When will we “see the Son of Man coming on the clouds” (Jesus’ Return) and when will His angels “gather his elect from the four winds (the Rapture)?[i] Jesus gives us to answer in verse 29: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days.” Nothing could be clearer! Remember, this timeline is coming straight from Jesus Himself. Don’t look to see Him return and don’t expect to be gathered to Him on this side of the Great Tribulation. We will have to go through it faithfully to experience that honor. There are at least two obvious points of major contradiction between the words of Jesus and those who hold the pre-trib and mid-trib rapture teachings.

1. First, there is no “secret” Rapture. According to Jesus, everyone on earth will see Him when He returns. Not only will His coming be like lightning which lights up the entire sky, but all of the tribes of the earth will see Him. The saved and unsaved alike will see Him when He returns. The pre and mid theories depend upon a “secret” taking away of the elect by which only they know when the Lord comes for them. Those who are “left behind” on the earth do not see the Lord during this preliminary coming. They only see the absence of the ones who have been taken away. But Jesus says everyone will see Him at the same time—and that will also be the time when we are “gathered” to be with Him.

2. Second, the Rapture doesn’t come before the Tribulation! Again, according to the clear teaching of Jesus, the Rapture takes place after the “great tribulation”—a tribulation which will not be surpassed by any (supposed) other tribulation that might be stuck in someone’s timeline. Notice also that the Rapture only happens after the “loud trumpet call” which everyone will hear. Follow this link for clarification that this is none other than “The Last Trumpet.”

Putting It Together

So, now we have it. There is no “secret” snatching away of the saints before things get too intense. Everything good is reserved for the end. The dead rise (come from heaven), the saints are gathered, the last trumpet sounds, the unbelievers mourn (well, that’s not so good) and the final trumpet sounds. When? “Immediately after the tribulation of those days.”

Much more can be detailed. Refer to the “Matthew 24 Timeline.” Many more points about the timing of Jesus’ return can be made. See the other 19 articles. Nevertheless, this one passage given to us by the Coming One Himself, should be enough to settle the issue. Why can argue with the Master? It’s time to yield to the plain meaning of scripture and release that we are going to have to buckle up with a stout-hearted faith and get prepared for what’s coming. There is no end run around these events of the End Times.

Next Rapture Study

For the Sake of the Elect  (Matthew 24:21-22, 29-31)  Being the “elect” of God isn’t exactly what we might wish it to be. Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, reflecting on the trials and troubles of his Jewish heritage, asked the Lord (hilariously), “I know we are your chosen people, but once in a while, can’t you choose someone else?” Well, if you have been chosen to be saved, if you are among the elect, get ready for the trials and troubles of the End Times. It looks like we have been chosen for a lot of things that we would never have signed up for—if that choice were ours to make.

Free Downloads

  When Is the Rapture? (62-page eBook)

  There Will Be A Great Tribulation

  Signs of the Second Coming (36-page eBook)

  Signs of Christ's Return (2-page Handout)

Endnotes

[i] In case there is a question about the four winds. Winds are only in the earth realm, not in heaven where the crystal sea before the throne is untouched by any ripple of wind or tide. Also, the four corners of the earth, the four quarters of the earth and the four winds all indicate the same thing: north, east, south and west. Directions which have no reference to heaven.