From the earliest days of our Christian walk, we have heard messages preached on it, read books about it, and even seen movies predicting it in our near future on the history channal. Well it did not happen that way. Many people have heard of the biblical Great Tribulation but much of what one hears is misinformation and wrong ideas built on what Gentiles believe the tribulation should be like. If Paul saw what the Gentiles have done with Jesus teaching about the Great Tribulation he would again say. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 1 Corinthians 3:2 (NKJV)
It's important to learn exactly what the Bible teaches and history unfolds. Next we will spend some time looking into how the events surrounding and including the great tribulation were fulfilled.
We are first introduced to the time of the Tribulation in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah, and the prophet calls it the time of 'Jacob's trouble' because it will primarily center on the Jews in Israel. This is our first clue as to who will go through the Tribulation and who it will affect. Jeremiah 30:6-7 Ask and see: Can a man bear children? Then why do I see every strong man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor, every face turned deathly pale? How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be saved out of it.
In the previous verses of Jeremiah 30:3-4 we find that the Lord is speaking to Jeremiah the prophet about Judah and Israel. Both the Time of Jacob’s Trouble (Jer. 30:6-7) and the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:21) are described as the unparalleled time of trouble. Since there can only be one such time, both will cover the same time period. The Great Tribulation. Since there cannot be more than one unparalleled time of trouble, their time periods must overlap.
The great tribulation (Greek: θλίψις μεγάλη, thlipsis megalē) is a period mentioned by Jesus. Matthew 24:21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. The great tribulation was the entire 3 ½ years of suffering, and hunger, and famine, and murder, and desecration, and death which all taking place in the last several years in the city of Jerusalem.
This would be the time when God’s wrath was finally poured out on the nation of Israel as was said by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 2:16 “for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.” That day would be just around the corner after the Christians got out of the city of Jerusalem and left Judaea for the mountains of Pella beyond Jordan for safety elsewhere.
In this part of our study we will spend some time looking at the events Jesus said would occur before the biblical tribulation.
Jesus said time, manyis period of time many would proclaim to be the Messiah. (Matthew 24:5) This is the first sign, preceding the tribulation and the destruction of the city and the temple of Jerusalem; as there was a general expectation among the Jews of a Messiah that shall deliver them from the Roman yoke, which was the common idea. Why would anyone still look for the coming of the Messiah? Because they did not believe Jesus was the promised Messiah.
There were many in Jesus’ day that claimed to be Israel’s Messiah. In fact, during this period there were false Christ’s like no other time in the history of Israel. There were many who tried to fill the role of Messiah in that day. The fact is many such impostors did arise about that time, promising deliverance from God. The disciples were not to listen to such deceivers. The Jews were willing to listen to any such deceivers if there was any prospect of being saved from the Roman.
The book of Acts lists a number of these impostors. Of this sort was Theudas (Acts 5:36) he was during the time of Claudius Caesar, when Cuspius Fadus was governor of Judea; who persuaded a great number to follow him to the river Jordan, which he promised to divide, by a word of command, to give them a passage over; and thereby, "he deceived many" which is the very thing that Jesus predicted those he deceived withdraw while Fadus, head was cut off.
There was another called the Egyptian, mentioned in (Acts 21:38 ) who made an uproar, and led four thousand into the wilderness where their “throats were cut” and this same man persuaded thirty thousand men to follow him to Mount Olivet, promising a free passage into the city; but he being vanquished by Felix, then governor of Judea; fled, and many of his followers were killed and taken. There were many more impostors that pretended to promise signs and wonders, and promised the people deliverance.
Among these, you may reckon Simon Magus, (Acts 8:9-11) who said he was some great yes expressly, that he was the word oGod, whichd the Son of God which were known names of the Messiah; and Dositheus the Samaritan, asserted himself to be Christ and also Menander affirmed, that no man could be saved, unless he was baptized in his name these are instances before the destruction of Jerusalem, and confirm the prophecy of Jesus was fulfilled.
Jerome quotes Simon Magus as saying "I am the Word of God, I am the Comforter, I am Almighty, I am all there is of God." (Kik, An Eschatology of Victory, 92).
Menahem Ben Judah was one of several Jewish Messiah claimants around the time of the Jewish War and is mentioned by Josephus. Athronges proclaimed himself a messiah, Athronges led the rebellion against Archelaus and the Roman. How prone are men to deception?
Jesus goes in to say in Matthew 24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. The Jews rebelled against Rome so often there were always rumors of wars.
Perhaps you have heard the expression “Pax Romana.” This speaks of a time of peace and prosperity that Rome, supposedly brought to the world from 27 B.C. to A.D. 180. Still, there was one period of time during this reign that was anything but peaceable. In fact, wars and rumors of wars is a real honest description of this period especially for Israel. This, of course, is the years preceding the destruction of Jerusalem.
In A.D. 60 skirmishes between the Romans and the Jews began to break out. Wars and rumors of wars increased dramatically. When the Jews stopped the daily sacrifice for Caesar and the Roman people, the conflict intensified. It is basically considered an act of war.
These may be seen in Josephus, Ant. b. xviii. c. 9; War, b. ii. c. 10; especially as to the rumors of wars, when Caligula ordered his statue to be set up in the temple of God, which the Jews having refused, had every reason to expect a war with the Romans, and were in such consternation on the occasion that they even neglected to till their land.
Matthew 24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. This portended to the slaughter of the Jews, and those of other nations, who dwelt in the same cities together; as particularly at Caesarea, where the Jews and Syrians contended about the right of the city, which ended there in the total expulsion of the Jews, about 20,000 of whom were slain. The whole nation of the Jews was against the Romans and Agrippa, and other allies of the Roman empire which began when Gessius Florus was procurator.
All this happen during Jesus contemporary generation.
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