What Is The Great Tribulation Period?

Since it has been already established in our past studies when the great tribulation period begins in the Scriptures. The next question now is, “What is the great tribulation period?” This question deserves a thorough answer. The quick and shallow answer is, it’s a period of time where God will unleash His corrective and wrathful judgments upon the whole world.

In the Book of Revelation 8-18, it describes in fine tuned detail the great tribulation period and all that will happen in those days in the near future. Confirming what has already been prophesied by the Old Testament prophets. And together they reveal to us everything humanity needs to know.

And during this time, God Most High will also give up the world over to satan for a short moment of time as well; as part of His judgments. Since humanity has been rejecting Jesus Christ and His salvation invitation, therefore God will give this world over to the desires of mans hearts as it has been forewarned 2000 + years ago in,

2 Thessalonians 2:2-12 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as god sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is god. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Furthermore, the great tribulation period will be a time of, “great distress” such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” As described by the Lord (Luke 21:23/Matthew 24:21). And He also has ministered the difference between “tribulation” and “great tribulation.”

The Difference Between Tribulation and Great Tribulation

There’s a few times where the Lord Jesus used the word tribulation, in the context of all Christians will be going through trials and testing in life such as, John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

He also ministers the concept of tribulational times meaning, “the narrow way” is going to be difficult, not easy, Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

And again in, Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

But specifically He uses the word “tribulation” in the context when describing times of abnormal global distress as signs pointing to the rapture, Matthew 24:29-31 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

And only 3 times was the phrase “great tribulation” ever used throughout the New Testament. It was only used in reference to a time after the rapture, during the escalation of global judgments of God that is revealed in Revelation chapters 8-18. Twice by Jesus Christ, and one time by one of the twenty four elders in the throne room of God. And that’s a Biblical Fact!

The first time it was used is found in, Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Here, He is describing an event that differs dramatically from the times of “tribulation.” And He describes what will happen in the events of the “great tribulation” that is found in Matthew 24:14-28:

• The gospel will be preached in all the world (V:14)
• The abomination of desolation the antichrist will cause (V:15)
• His instructions to the 144,000 when they see the abomination occur (V:16-20)
• The sudden appearance of the antichrist and the false prophet on earth (V:23-26)
• The second advent (return) of Jesus Christ (V:27-28)

Another time He specifically uses the phrase “great tribulation,” is in warning to the corrupt, apostate churches that will be left behind to go through the “great tribulation period,” which is after the rapture, if they don’t repent and overcome their apostate sinful naughtiness and ill-repute fornication’s now in,

Revelation 2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

And here again in describing the multitudes of people all around the world, who got saved and right with God through Jesus Christ; whom after they died in Christ in the great tribulation period. Will stand before the throne of God and of the Lamb worshipping,

Revelation 7:13-14 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

You see, the difference between tribulation and great tribulation according to the Scriptures is that in Matthew 24:3-13/Revelation 6:1-11 is what Jesus Christ calls “the beginning of sorrows” which is a time of, “tribulation,” in which we are living in right now. A time of abnormal distress. This is why people are finding all sorts of different ways to medicate themselves with drugs and alcohol and through all sorts of entertainment and partying, to escape the reality of abnormal distresses of today. But this is just the beginning. 

Because there’s going to be a time after the rapture of the church age, that will get much worse which Jesus Christ calls, “great tribulation.” And that will be a time of great distresses that has never been before in human history and will never be again as described in Matthew 24:14-28/Revelation 8-19. And that’s the difference between “tribulation” and “great tribulation” according to the Holy Bible. And the “great tribulation” points to the second advent (return) of Jesus Christ.

Which brings us to the next point in answering the question in a more thorough light. What’s another difference between “tribulation” and “great tribulation?” The answer is, events differ between the two. In the days of tribulation there are certain events that led up to the rapture of the church age, such as:

Matthew 24:3-13 And as He sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

These are times of tribulation, events that are all pointing to the rapture! Looking closely at details in the Scriptures, the Lord Jesus literally ministering the final sign to look for as the rapture of the church age is about to take place

Matthew 24:29-31 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in Heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

In the event of what we call the “rapture” is when Jesus Christ will appear in the clouds and send His holy angels to gather His faithful followers, delivering them from the Great Tribulation period. In the events of “great tribulation” is when two more sets of judgments of God will be unleashed (Revelation 8-16) and the rise of the antichrist, the son of perdition will occur to deceive the nations according to Revelation 13. Which are specific events that points to the second advent or return of Jesus Christ as is described by the Lord Himself,

Matthew 24:15-28 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

These are the specific signs pointing to the second advent (return) of Jesus Christ. When the Lord warned in verse 23, “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ! or, ‘There!’ do not believe it.’ Jesus is referring to the antichrist, the son of perdition mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2 in which also is ministered by the Apostle Paul through the Holy Spirit the concurring revelation that the rapture and the second coming of Jesus Christ are two separate events as is ministered by the Holy Spirit of God through the Apostle Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:1).

2 Thessalonians 2:2-5 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as god sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is god.  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

In those days of the great tribulation period, many things will occur which we will not cover in this study for time sake, but the antichrist will claim to be God and will deceive many.

The authority of the antichrist will be from God Most High given to the devil. And from the devil to the antichrist, as is shown us in, verses 9; 11 & 12 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion should believe a lie: that they might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Otherwise the antichrist will have no power to deceive unless it came from God of Heaven and earth. The antichrist will not act alone, For satan will empower the antichrist literally as he already proclaimed long ago,

Isaiah 14:12-15 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

So ultimately it is God who gives authority to satan to deceive nations in the great tribulation period in Revelation 13. And after his time is up, Jesus will come in His second Advent. We also see in the Scriptures in Revelation 19, He will literally come back to earth with all His saints and His Heavenly hosts and will literally step foot on earth to put an end to Armageddon (that was mentioned in Revelation 16:15). First on Mount Sion (Revelation 14:1) and then the Mount of Olives in Zechariah 14/Acts 1:10-12). Which concurs in,

Revelation 19:11-21 And I saw Heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God.

And the armies which were in Heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.

And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.

And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a Lake of Fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

Notice in the Scriptures, Jesus Christ Himself appears in the clouds and every eye will see Him, at the time of the rapture, He does not step foot on earth yet. This is truly THE key that separates the rapture from the second advent or return of Jesus Christ. Because in His second advent, He will step foot literally on earth, standing at Mount Zion (Revelation 14:1) And the Mount of Olives (Zechariah 14) and will also be “treading” the winepress (Revelation 19:15). And that’s the detailed difference between a time of tribulation before the rapture of the church age and the great tribulation period pointing to the second advent of Jesus Christ.

In short, the difference between “Tribulation” and “Great Tribulation” is what each event is pointing to. In times of tribulation according to Matthew 24:3-13 and Revelation 6:1-11 is specifically pointing to the rapture of the church age according to Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:29-31 and Revelation 6:12-17, which we are living in right now. Where in the times of “great tribulation,” according to Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:14-26 and Revelation 8-18 is specifically point to the second return of Jesus Christ in Matthew 24:27-28 and Revelation 19:11-21.

The Judgments of God

Here’s a perfect point to fine tune our understanding about the judgments of God. In our past studies, I have ministered that God’s judgments are His way of trying to correct humanity’s course of an eternal destination from Hell to Heaven. But that’s only one half of the truth.

In the Holy Bible, the judgments of God are referring to either correction and/or the “wrath of God.” And we see both on display in the Book of Revelation. And so, we will start with the merciful side of God. The reason why He uses judgment to bring people to repentance, is:

• He knows and understands human nature.
• And He knows how to get people’s attention

Hebrews 12:5-6 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him: For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.

Now, this is specifically illustrating how He is with His children (Christians). In this illustration however, we can’t help but notice His patience and His mercy. And we also can’t help but notice in this passage of Scripture the degrees of corrections that God uses, which is the point here, such as:

• Rebuke: To scold in a sharp way (by words), to reprimand.
• Chastisement: To punish; Afflict.
• Scourging: To physically beat or whip, causing serious pain. To punish or to afflict severely

Now compare that to the judgments of God in the Book of Revelation:

• Rebuke: As illustrated in Revelation 6
• Chastisement: As illustrated in Revelation 8-11
• Scourging: As illustrated in Revelation 16

In past studies, I have ministered that God’s judgments are actually His way to try to correct the course of humanity from Hell to Heaven through His salvation plan in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son. Trying to show all humanity there is only one way to salvation and that is through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Trying to shake people awake spiritually and draw as many as “whosoever believes” unto repentance and salvation, because of His patient and merciful, loving character He possesses. And that He gives everyone time to repent, as His word shows us within the promises of judgment and perdition of ungodly men,

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

But there’s another side of God’s judgments which are known as the “wrath of God.” And He can be both merciful and wrathful at the same time. He can be joyful, angry and loving. As well as merciful and just all at the same time. He doesn’t need to compartmentalize His emotions like humanity does. Because He is absolutely and perfectly self-controlled in a real deep sense in holiness and righteousness. And so, the wrath of God is mentioned a few times:

Revelation 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.

Revelation 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Revelation 14:19 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.

Revelation 16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath.

Notice, in these series of Scriptures, according to the Book of Revelation, the wrath of God only occurs in the events of the Vial Judgments towards the end of the great tribulation period, before the second advent of Jesus Christ. And not during the tribulational times of the “Seal” and “Trumpet of Judgments” (Revelation chapters 6-11:15). In the second advent of Christ, we see the Lord Jesus judging the “sons of disobedience” in the wrath of Almighty God.

Revelation 19:15 And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Which was forewarned and often repeated in the first century by the Spirit of God through the Apostle Paul in a number of Epistles such as, Ephesians 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

And then we finally see, after the Millennial Reign of Christ has ended, when satan is released from the bottomless pit; the display of the final wrath of God. When He destroys Heaven, the universe and the earth by fire. And all humanity is judged and put into their final eternal destinations.

Revelation 20:10-15 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the Heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the Book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of life was cast into the Lake of Fire.

He is Holy! He is Just! Yes, He is merciful and loving! But never forget, He is also the Judge! And only Jesus Christ can justify you, if you just give all your heart unto the Lord. I’m not sure what you’re waiting for or what you’re holding out for. Things are going to get much worse after the rapture of the church age. And Revelation 8 is just the beginning of worse things to come. But you can escape all that now by receiving God’s invitation to salvation extended to you through Jesus Christ. Because there is no other way to eternal life, other than through Jesus Christ.

How Can You Be Saved?

You must acknowledge in your heart and confess out of your mouth:

• You are a sinner and need Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God

• Repent and confess your sins
• Jesus Christ is Lord
• Jesus Christ came into this world by the virgin birth in the flesh, conceived by the Holy Spirit
• Jesus Christ died on the cross for the remission of your sins
• Jesus Christ raised from the dead and ascended back into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God

Romans 10:8-13 The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Confess & Repent Repentance is acknowledging and confession of all your sins to God sincerely from the heart, while turning away from the life of sinning. It’s not feeling sorry and asking God for forgiveness. It’s a full surrendering of your heart, soul, mind and body to Jesus Christ, wherever you are right now. Don’t put it off, remember, life is not guaranteed the next hour.

Repentance is a vital key to salvation. Because apart from repentance, there is no salvation. So, the first thing Jesus Christ preached, after coming out of the 40-day wilderness is “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17).” That’s how important repentance really is in salvation! Jesus Christ came to save that which is lost. He didn’t come to give us salvation in sin. He came to deliver His people from their sins (Matthew 1:18-23). Not to keep people bound in the slavery of sin.Tthe first step toward salvation is to repent, meaning to stop sinning.

Believe Believing is active faith. Faith is knowing without doubting, when you ask God to forgive your sins and cleanse you from all sins and unrighteousness, He will.

Call Calling upon the name of the Lord is crying out and asking Jesus Christ to save you. Ask the Father and His only begotten Son from this day forward, for forgiveness of all your sins. Ask them to come into your heart and be Lord of your life. Ask God to write your name in the Lambs Book of Life. And ask Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit

Luke 11:9-13 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; Seek, and ye shall find; Knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?

And that’s how you receive eternal life in Jesus Christ. What do we do after this? We read the Holy Bible, we pray, seeking God’s will, while having fellowship with God. And let Him lead you to a church of His choice. We do these things to commune with God and to grow and mature spiritually in Jesus Christ, while being strengthened in these confusing days. You’ll be blessed when you do.

God bless you