Recreate Church, Pastor Michael Shockley—Service, Sunday, April 28, 2024

Tribulation = Time to Trust.

Today, Pastor Michael is talking about tribulation.  What is tribulation?  What is THE Tribulation?

The dictionary defines tribulation as a state of great trouble or suffering. Health, loss, confusion, and generally rough times are also tribulations. So, what do we do when we go through a period of tribulation?

Jesus spoke a message to a group of people about “THE” tribulation, and the last half of that being the “GREAT” tribulation.  Here at Recreate, we don’t dwell on the tribulation and end times too much, but the world does talk about it, and we will confront it today.

It’s important to differentiate between the general concept of tribulation, which we all experience in life, and the specific biblical event known as the Tribulation period. We firmly believe that those who trust in Jesus in this age will not face the Tribulation period, but we will still encounter tribulations in our lives. However, these tribulations can be seen as opportunities to deepen our trust in God.

What is the Tribulation period?  A seven-year period of intense global turmoil and divine judgment first prophesized in the book of Daniel but most famously described in Revelation.  There will be widespread famine, chaos, natural disasters, and generally, really, really bad times.  A charismatic leader called the Antichrist who will rise up, and Jesus will return at the end of the seven years, destroy the Antichrist, bind the Devil, throw him into the bottomless pit, and establish an earthly kingdom that will resemble the earthly garden of Eden. 

It’s going to get really bad but really good, too. That’s a good general description of the Tribulation period. The Tribulation is a time of trust. Trust in Jesus, and those who do will be removed before the Tribulation in the Rapture. In the twinkling of an eye, they will be called up to heaven to be with the Lord. Enoch and Elijah are the only two who avoided death and went straight to heaven, but there will be a lot more in the Rapture. 

Michael drills down into the Rapture across many verses, so be sure to check the verse catalog below. 

And as previously stated, believers will suffer tribulations.  You will have some tribulation just because you follow Jesus, but it is worth it.  Trials and tribulations occur to everyone, so Mark 13: 9 - 13 speaks to believers in the future. 

Three promises to consider:

1. If you trust Jesus, you won’t have to face the Tribulation.
2. You will face periods of tribulation. 
3. If you trust in Jesus He will help you through any tribulation you might have.

Trust in Jesus!

(CSB Bible Notes) 13:13 You will be hated indicates the animosity unbelievers often feel toward Christians because of the name of Jesus (cp. 1Pt 4:16). Jesus did not warn his followers so they could seek safety but so they would endure faithfully.

Verses can be found in Mark 13: 9 - 13, Revelation 3: 10., 4: 1 - 2, 4: 18, 1 Thessalonians 1: 10, 4: 16 and 5: 9, 2 Thessalonians 2: 3, 2: 6 - 8, 1 Corinthians 15:52, Daniel 9: 24

Scripture quotations marked CSB have been taken from the Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible® and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.