The Purpose of The Tribulation

THE PURPOSE OF (THE) TRIBULATION

I. v1 The purpose of The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Jesus, is to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place.

(This Book of The Revelation was written in 96 AD, 26 years after the destruction of the 2nd Temple. The destruction of the 1st and 2nd Temples occurred and are a foreshadowing of what is yet to come.)

The things you read in the book of The Revelation have not yet been completed. Although the first "Seal of the Tribulation" were opened in AD 1, as witnessed by The Apostle Peter, and successive Seals two through four have been broken at various time since. The fifth Seal is now being broken and we are awaiting the Great and Terrible day of the Lord which will commence with the breaking of the 6th Tribulation Seal.)

He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant, John, v2 who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, and to all that he saw.

v3 Blessed is he who reads and blessed are those who hear the words of this prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. Revelation 1:1-3

Tribulation Judgments leading to the End of the Age

(Concern yourself with the first 6 Seals):

Events found in Revelation Ch. 6 - Events found in Matthew Chapter 24

the 1st Tribulation Seal - International (Global) conquest and political intrigue

the 2nd Tribulation Seal - Wars and Rumors of War

the 3rd Tribulation Seal - Famines, earthquakes, pestilence

the 4th Tribulation Seal - Death

the 5th Tribulation Seal - Martyrdom, persecution, revealing of the Antichrist, the great apostasy

II. Wars, famine, earthquakes, pestilence, death, martyrs, persecutions. I hear so many people ask, "If God is a loving God, how can He allow so much suffering in the world? Why do such bad things happen to good people?" And, we have heard all the answers, some even denying that it is God Who allows such bad things to happen..

There seems to be three main categories of thought about why God allows bad things to happen.

1. Satan's domain is this fallen world, at least, for now. Satan is called the "prince of the power of the air" in Ephesians 2:2. He is the "ruler of this world" in John 12:31. These titles and many more signify Satan’s capabilities. It is Satan who brings trouble and suffering, even on the innocent.

2. This fallen world brings both good and evil. God has told us in Matthew5:44 that. “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Such is the natural fallen world.

3. God allows Tribulation as a means of executing His Righteous Judgment on evil and as a means to prepare us by to live in His Eternal Kingdom.

1 Peter 1:4 "to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

Psalms 34:

17 The righteous cry, and the LORD hears
And delivers them out of all their troubles.

18The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

19Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

20He keeps all his bones,
Not one of them is broken.

21Evil shall slay the wicked,
And those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

22The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,
And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.

God says "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all." We will suffer, but, God delivers us out of our afflictions.

How is this so? Why must we suffer only to be delivered? Psalms 34 verse 22 says "The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned."

This is not a simple act of deliverance from trouble. It is a Devine Deliverance, the Redemption of your soul.

It is a Divine Deliverance,

The Redemption of your Soul!

III. Daniel 12 tells us God's purpose for suffering is so that “Many will be purged, purified and refined" Daniel 12:10 We are being prepared, as His Bride, to enter His Kingdom.

IV. Acts 14:22 tells us that "strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

V. And, 1 Peter 1 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

v4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

This is telling us that

We must Endure to the End

Overcome Tribulation and Suffering

To enter His Eternal Presence.

VI. Finally, the Apostle Paul reminds us, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans8:18

I suspect, if we are at all alike, that we want to escape troubles, trials and tribulation, whenever possible. But, God's Word says he will use these trials to "purge, purify and refine" us, for our preparation to live in His Eternal Kingdom. Daniel 12:10

Just know that Tribulation is coming, and is already upon us. It has been foretold.

Get Ready,
Stay Ready,
Overcome and
Endure to the End

AND WE SHALL BE SAVED

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