TRIBULATION AND GREAT TRIBULATION

As a born again believer listening to the news concerning the events taking place all over the world, I cannot help but recognize the "beginning of sorrows" described by Jesus in Matthew 24:1-8.  Of course, there have always been wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes from the beginning of recorded history, but we see the occurrence of these things increasing exponentially as time goes on.  One day soon, "the woman" (Israel) will begin having contractions.  Isaiah spoke of the Tribulation of Israel as being like a woman suffering "birth pangs"; the closer she gets to delivery, the closer together are her contractions.  He wrote:  "LORD, in trouble have they visited Thee, they poured out a prayer when Thy chastening was upon them.  Like as a woman with child, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs; so have we been in Thy sight, O LORD" (Isa. 26:16-17).

"The Tribulation of Israel," also known as "The Time of Jacob's Trouble" (Jer. 30:7), and "Daniel's Seventieth Week" (Dan. 9:27), will be divided into two halves:  "The Beginning of Sorrows" (Mt. 24:1-8; Rev. 6 - 11), and "The Great Tribulation" (Mt. 24:9-14; Rev. 14 - 19).  At exactly half way through the seven year period (Dan. 9:27); I say exactly because it is 1260 days (Rev. 11:3; 12:6), 42 months (Rev. 11:2; 13:5), and "a time, times, and a half time (Dan. 12:7); Israel will recognize the one whom they thought to be their Messiah, is, in fact, the Antichrist (Mt. 24:15; Rev. 12 - 13).  The people of Israel will no longer be at peace, but will be running for their lives!

Some have suggested that the first half of "The Tribulation of Israel" will be terrible for them; nothing could be further from the truth.  The covenant the Antichrist makes with Israel (Dan. 9:27), will afford them peace; note they only "hear of wars and rumours of wars'" and Jesus continued by saying, "see that ye be not troubled" (Mt. 24:6).  The first half of the seven years, Israel will see the world around them falling to pieces, and in their "protective cocoon," they will rejoice because their long-awaited Messiah will have finally come.  Unfortunately, he is a false messiah, the Antichrist, who is protecting them and taking over the rest of the world. 

The blindness of Israel (Rom. 11:25) will be removed when the Antichrist declares himself to be God, and demand the whole world worship him (Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11; Mt. 24:15; Rev. 13).  "The Tribulation of Israel" will, not only change, but it will become "The Great Tribulation" (Mt. 24:21)!

So if you think the world is bad now, just wait; you "ain't seen nuttin' yet!"