The document contrasts the general tribulation that all people experience with the specific Great Tribulation described in the Bible. It summarizes the Old Testament and New Testament teachings about the Great Tribulation, a future 3.5 year period of intense distress that precedes the second coming of Christ. The document outlines how the Great Tribulation is described symbolically in Revelation through seals, trumpets, bowls of judgment, and the battle of Armageddon, culminating in Christ's return and establishment of his kingdom.

1. THE GREAT
TRIBULATION
Chafer chapter 45
Thursday 6 October 2011

2. a. The great tribulation in contrast
with the general tribulation
Here there needs to be a
distinguishing between general trials
and the specific great tribulation
described in OT and NT.
Tribulation = time of pressure,
affliction, anguish of heart, trouble
in general - this is a common
experience as a result of sin and
man’s rebellion against God.
Look at Job 5:5, Jn 16:33 - the life
of Job or Paul, it is the pattern since
Adam.
Thursday 6 October 2011

3. a. The great tribulation in contrast
with the general tribulation
Here there needs to be a
However the Bible
distinguishing between general trials
and the specificspecifically
speaks great tribulation
described in OT and NT.
about a 42 pressure,
Tribulation = time of month
affliction, anguish the end of
period at of heart, trouble
in general - this is a common to
the age leading up
experience as a result of sin and
the second coming of
man’s rebellion against God.
LookChrist - Jn 16:33 -thelife
at Job 5:5, this is the
of Job or Paul,tribulation.
great it is the pattern since
Adam.
Thursday 6 October 2011

4. b. The OT doctrine of the great
tribulation
Dt 4:29-30 is the earliest warning
of this time. Jer 30:1-10 - v7
How awful that day wi! be! No other
wi! be like it. It wi! be a time of trouble
for Jacob, but he wi! be saved out of it.
It moves on to promise the
millennial kingdom in verse 9 and
rest in verse 10.
Dan 9:26-27 - where the covenant
is broken (which had been made for
7 years but is broken after 3 1/2 -
confirmed in Dan 12:11-12...
Thursday 6 October 2011

5. “From the time that the daily sacrifice is abolished and the
abomination that causes desolation is set up, there wi! be 1,290 days.
Blessed is the one who waits for and reaches the end of the 1,335 days.
Chafer states that 1290 days is approx 3 1/2 years and includes
the time for the 2nd coming of Christ and the early judgments
that follow. 1335 days includes the establishing of the
millennial kingdom reign too.
GT ends with 2nd coming of Christ - Dan 7:13-14 -
Thursday 6 October 2011

6. The wicked king and government which
preceded 2nd coming will be destroyed,
Dan 7:26 - the everlasting kingdom,
characterised at first by the millennium
kingdom and then by the ultimate govt.
of God in the new heaven and new earth,
will be seen.
Dan 11:36-39 tells of the end time
having a very aggressive atheistic religion
headed by a world ruler, who magnifies
himself above all gods - he honours only
war and is materialistic and atheistic. His
kingdom ends in a great war, vv40-45 -
armies attack from N, S, E - he resists
but it is cut short by the return of Christ.
This then ends the GT.
Thursday 6 October 2011

7. c. The NT doctrine of the great
tribulation
Jesus was asked by his disciples
about the second coming and the
end of the age - he replied with
Matt 24:3-14
Then in 24:15-29 he describes the
great tribulation - starting with the
desecration of the temple and the
mediterranean ruler putting himself
in the place of God. Jesus tells them
this will happen on a specific day -
and to flee. vv21-22 reads,
Thursday 6 October 2011

8. c. The NT doctrine of the great
tribulation
Jesus then therehis disciples
For was asked by will be great
tribulation, such as has not
about the second coming and the
end of the age the replied with of
been from - he beginning
Matt 24:3-14
the world until now, no,
Then in 24:15-29 he describes the
and never will be. 22And if
great tribulation - starting with the
those days had not been cut
desecration of the temple and the
short, no human being
mediterranean ruler putting himself
would be saved. But for the
in the place of God. Jesus tells them
this will happen on a specific day -
sake of the elect those days
and to flee. vv21-22 reads,
will be cut short. (ESV)
Thursday 6 October 2011

9. Again we see that if the time had not been cut
short all of the human race would have died - it
is cut short for the sake of the elect (Jews or the
church?) and they will be saved in this time.
The characteristics of this time:
- false prophets vv23-24
- false reports of Christ having come v26
- warns not to be deceived as we shall know it
has taken place v27
- v29 describes the end of the tribulation and
return of Christ,"Immediately a$er the tribulation
of those days the sun wi! be darkened, and the moon
wi! not give its light, and the stars wi! fa! &om
heaven, and the powers of the heavens wi! be shaken.
30Then wi! appear in heaven the sign of the Son of
Man,
Thursday 6 October 2011

10. Chafer says this is confirmed by Rev
6-18
The scroll with 7 seals is unrolled in
Rev 6 - as each seal is broken
disaster comes,
- world government 1-2
- war 3-4
- famine 5-6
- death 7-8
- martyrs, great disturbances,
earthquakes, sun black, moon like
blood 9-11
Unbelievers are scared and
impressed calling on mountains to
fall on them and save them from
wrath - 15-17
Thursday 6 October 2011

11. Seal 7 is broken (8:1) signaling
another series of seven trumpets of
angels, 8:2-9:21, 11:15-19:
These are catastrophes of the
natural world resulting in many
deaths - 1/3rd of the earth is
consumed by fire, 1/3 the sea
becoming like blood and consuming
1/3 of the creatures in it, stars falling
from heaven upon 1/3 of the rivers.
The 4th trumpet is about stars and
1/3 darkening of sun, moon and
stars.
Thursday 6 October 2011

12. 5th trumpet - 9:1-12 - unsaved men
tormented by demons for 5 months,
unable even to take their own lives.
6th trumpet - 9:13-21 - relates to the
great army that comes from the orient
across the Euphrates to take part in the
war at the end of this period.
7th trumpet - anticipates the 2nd
coming of Christ and his kingdom
This 7th trumpet immediately brings 7
bowls or judgments - the final
outpouring of the wrath of God before
Christ comes.
Thursday 6 October 2011

13. The 6th bowl relates to preparing for a
great battle at Armageddon - Rev 16:14
says the kings of the earth gather here
for a great battle, they (the kings) think
it is against the world ruler but actually
is against the armies which will
accompany Christ when he returns.
The final bowl - Rev 16:17-21 - great
earthquake leveling many cities, brings
Babylon into judgement and causes
islands and mountains to disappear.
Finally hailstones weighing over 100
pounds destroy what is left - in chaos
Christ returns.
Thursday 6 October 2011

14. Chafer contrasts this with the thought
of some theologians who expected a
gradual improvement in things before
the 2nd coming of Christ. The kingdom
of Christ does not come in human
strength and effort but in Christ coming
- as he comes in powerful judgement.
He also says this time is for the
unbeliever and blasphemer - which is
why so many believe the church will be
raptured during this time - the church is
not mentioned in any passage relating to
GT (though people obviously do get
born again through this time). It is a
time of great darkness in contrast to the
glory of the kingdom to follow.
Thursday 6 October 2011