SEMESTER 6
191 – The Beginning, Duration and End of the Great Tribulation
BIBLE INSTITUTE OF CORRESPONDENCE
COURSE: THEOLOGY VI LESSON # 91
ESCHATOLOGY – THE KINGDOM OF GOD – THE GREAT TRIBULATION PERIOD ITS BEGINNING, END AND DURATION
Read: Mat. 24:15-30
INTRODUCTION:
1. Today, most people in Fundamental Baptist circles, know precisely what, when and how the Great Tribulation is. (Explain)
2. I basically agree with this, but am embarrassed that more people get it from Bible notes, rather than from the Bible.
3. This consensus of the tribulation is not universally held.
4. Some have seen it as 1260 years, 1295 years, or the entire inter-advent period, indefinable, etc.
5. We have relatively few Scriptures dealing directly with this subject, and they are the only arrows pointing to the Scriptures of indirect teaching.
6. It seems to me that Matthew 24 and Mark 13 are the indispensable keys, addressing:
i. The beginning, (Mat. 24:15)
ii. The end, (Mat. 24:29-30)
iii. Pointing us to the book of Revelation, chapters 6-18 for details of conditions.
I. IDENTIFYING THE TIME OF ITS BEGINNING
1. In the passage I have read, there are some words that clearly mark the beginning of this period’s time.
i. Verse 15: WHEN ye see the abomination of desolation stand in the Holy Place.
ii. Verse 16: THEN let Judea flee to the mountains.
iii. Verse 21: For THEN shall be Great Tribulation. (unique) Words cannot be any plainer.
2. Thus, if ye can identify this abomination of desolation and determine its time, we shall know the time this Great Tribulation impacts.
3. We have here a very specific and wise instruction: “Whoso readeth, let him understand.” (Dan. 9:24-27)
4. Therefore, in the next lesson we shall try to understand Daniel’s prophecies.
5. But for now, let us see that this “remaining week” is the THEN, and the WHEN markers of the Great Tribulation of Matthew chapter 24.
I. IDENTIFYING THE END OF THE GREAT TRIBULATION
1. To me this seems to be one of the easiest prophetic events to determine.
2. Mat. 24:29-30 seems to say that it ends with the return of Christ.
III: The Bible usually means what it “seems to say.”
3. Mark 13:24-26 very clearly corroborates this interpretation: “But in those days.”
4. Explain and explode the “suddenly, but not immediately after,” theory of Amillenialism, by Berry’s interlinear. (Hear on tape.)
5. The Lord’s return shall facilitate the following:
i. The destruction of the antichrist, the false prophet and their accommodating forces.
ii. The relief of the earth’s godly from their wrath.
iii. The end of this time referred to as “Great Tribulation.”
II. THE DURATION OF THIS PERIOD
1. As I said in the last lesson, the opinions of this time element vary greatly. Additional time theories include 7 years, 3.5 years, 1260 days, 42 months, etc. Let me repeat, the dissenters are not all idiots.
2. It seems to me to be well enough defined. (I do not appeal to or deride antiquity.) Men of old were as vulnerable as we.
3. I am satisfied it is the 70th week of Daniel. (Dan. 9:27) We will touch this specifically in the next lesson.
4. The first 69 weeks are clearly weeks of years, thus, the 70th should be. (When is it?)
5. Christians are to be delivered from this time, or are to go through it, are you ready?