The Great Tribulation & The Day of the Lord - Part 2
- stephenrainey71
- Oct 1, 2023
- 8 min read
Synopsis of Part One
In Part One we examined the periods known as "The Beginning of Sorrows (birthpangs) and the Great Tribulation.
Both periods occur in the period called Daniel's 70th prophetic week (Daniel 9v27) which is the final 7 years.
The beginning of sorrows happens during the first 3.5 years and is characterised by wars, famines, earthquakes and so on and equates to Seals 1 to 4 in Revelation 6.
The sign starting the Great Tribulation, is the Abomination of Desolation. This occurs at the mid point of the 7 years i.e. the 3.5 year point, when the Antichrist, Son of Perdition/Man of Sin, ascends the throne of the one world governmental system, known as the Beast system.
The Antichrist is given power to rule for 3.5 years (42 months/1260 days), however scripture clearly and unambiguously states that the Great Tribulation will not last that long as it is cut short (literally amputated) for the sake of the elect.
Jesus tells us that the time called the Great Tribulation will be the worse time of persecution and trouble that the world has ever experienced or will in the future.
We read that during this time, the Antichrist will be given power to make war with the saints (who I showed from scripture is the ekklesia or church of the firstborn) and overcome them.
The Great Tribulation equates to the 5th seal in Revelation 6.
I then did the ground work to show that immediately after the distinct period known as the Great Tribulation, another distinct and extremely significant event will occur, namely, the Day of the Lord.
The importance of understanding that these periods are distinct and separate, is essential, to grasping the chronological and sequential nature of the events that occur in the last 7 years of human history before Jesus Christ takes His rightful place as the One and Only King of the earth, when he reigns from Jerusalem for 1000 years (known as the millennial reign of Christ).
The great error that has influenced and frankly misled many believers is to lump the Great Tribulation and Day of the Lord as one event, one whole which covers the entire 7 year period, which has become known as the tribulation period.
This is both wrong and misleading and has created all kinds of problems, when it comes to understanding this endtime period, including the need to twist scripture to suit a particular eschatological doctrinal theory, namely what has become known as the Pre-Tribulation rapture.
The Day of the Lord
Scripture however is clear, the Day of the Lord follows the Great Tribulation and has specific signs which heralds it's arrival.
It is also inextricably linked to:
The Second Coming of Jesus Christ
The Rapture of the church - also known as our gathering together unto Him
Two significant actions by God on the very day but just before the Day of the Lord commences
The final days, months or years (depending how much the Great Tribulation is shortened by) of the Antichrist's reign and the judgement of God that is unleashed upon his kingdom and those who have taken the mark of the Beast.
The analogy of the thief and the birth pains that occur just before a child is delivered.
The key texts that I will examine are found in Matthew 24v29-31, Revelation 6v12-17, Revelation 7 and Revelation 8.
These foundational passages will be supported by clear prophetic references by many Old Testament prophets who under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit spoke of the characteristics associated with the Day of the Lord but also the signs preceding it.
The Definite Signs Announcing the Day of the Lord
Just as there is a definite sign that signifies the revealing of the Man of Sin and the distinct period called the Great Tribulation i.e. The abomination of desolation, so too there is a clear and unambiguous sign that announces the Day of the Lord.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 24v29
29¶“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
The cosmic signs that herald the Day of the Lord are detailed in Joelv2v30&31
30“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
31The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
BEFORE the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
The following heavenly/celestial bodies are connected with and herald the Day of the Lord:
The Sun - it's darkened
The Moon - it's turned to blood and doesn't give it's light
The Stars - they fall from heaven
The 6th seal in Revelation 6v12-14, also confirms what Jesus said in Matthew 24 and the prophet Joel prophecied concerning the Day of the Lord
Sixth Seal: Cosmic Disturbances
12¶I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon. became like blood.
13And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind.
14Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.
When Jesus opens the 6th seal we are given additional information about what will happen when the sun and moon are darkened. There is a great earthquake and every mountain and island are moved from their place such is the violent impact of what occurs.
Note both heaven and earth are impacted by the magnitude of disturbances.
What is the Day of the Lord
Essentially, the Day of the Lord is God's wrath and righteous judgement, that is poured out without measure, against the kingdom of the Antichrist and those who have taken the mark of the beast and have given allegiance to the Man of Sin and ultimately Satan himself.
The Old Testament prophets tell us exactly and unequivocally what the Day of the Lord will be like i.e. It's characteristics.
I will provide with the scriptural references that you need to read about the Day of the Lord.
I have listed the key characteristics below:
It's a great and terrible day
It's a day of clouds and gross darkness
It's a day of gloominess
It's a day of destruction
It's cruel with fierce anger and wrath
The land is left desolate as a result of the terrifying impacts of that Day. Earthquakes, volcanos, tsunamis will devastate the earth
It's a day of slaughter
It's a day of trouble and distress
It's a day of wasteness and desolation
A day of the trumpet and alarm
It will burn as an oven against the proud and wicked
What is it's Purpose
To judge and destroy sinners
To punish the world for it's evil
To punish the wicked for their iniquity
To punish and bring low the proud and arrogant
To judge the nations and destroy their armies
To execute God's vengeance
Christ will tread the wicked in His anger and trample them in His fury (treads the winepress of His wrath)
The scripture references are:
Isaiah 2v10-22, 13v6-18, 34v1-10, 63v1-6, Joel 1v15, 2v1-11 & 30-31, 3v9-17, Amos 5v18-20, Zephaniah 1v14-18, Malachi 4.
The Greatest Sign
The greatest sign that the Day of the Lord has come, is the most glorious event the universe and planet earth has ever seen or experienced:
The second coming and glorious appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Matthew 24v26-31
26¶“Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; or ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.
27“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
28“For wherever the carcass is, there the eagles will be gathered together.
29¶“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
30“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, 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.
31“And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
The cosmic lights (the sun, moon and stars are turned off and do not give their light) and the glory of Christ's appearing lights up the heavens. There has never been a day like it before nor will there ever be a day like it in the future.
Please note that this event, the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ occurs immediately AFTER THE TRIBULATION.
Please get this if you don't get any of the rest of this message, you will not read about the coming of Christ before this event that is described in Matthew 24 even though it has become accepted dogma in much of the church and is taught from many pulpits that there will be a secret coming before the 70th week or final 7 years.
Categorically no. It is not in scripture and I challenge anyone to give me the scriptural references for an imminent (can happen at any time without the need for specific signs to precede it) or secret coming of Christ to rapture the church.
Far from being imminent there are specific signs which must and will precede it. Namely:
The sun being turned to darkness, the moon to blood, the stars falling from heaven and the powers of heaven being shaken (Matthew 24v29, Mark 13v24-27, Luke 21v25-28, Revelation 6v12-17)
The great apostasy or falling away 2 Thessalonians 2v3
The man of sin, the Antichrist is revealed and sits in the rebuilt temple in Jerusalem to be worshipped as God, in the place of and opposed to the true Messiah Jesus Christ 2 Thessalonians 2v3&4.
Far from being secret everyone on planet earth will see Christ's coming because His glory will light up the universe (Matthew 24v27-31 & Revelation 1v7) and He shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God will sound. (1 Corinthians 15v52 & 1 Thessalonians 4v16&17) and He will be accompanied by His mighty angels who with a great sound of a trumpet (cf the verses about the rapture I have just provided) will gather together His elect. (Matthew 24v31).
You would deduce from scripture that this is going to be a glorious affair or event. It clearly states that rather than being secret and inconspicuous that it is going to be very public, loud and conspicuous... Every eye shall see Him.
Listen to what it says in the book of Titus
11¶For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
13looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
The term glorious appearing in the Greek Interlinear Bible, is translated, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The Greek for appearing is ἐπιφάνεια (epiphaneia) Strong's g2015.
It is from this word that we get the term "epiphany".
Definition: appearing, manifestation, glorious display.
Origin: From epiphanes; a manifestation, i.e. (specially) the advent of Christ (past or future).
Usage: appearing, brightness.
This appearing is a glorious display not something that is secret or hidden..
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