The Time of Trouble.
I apologise – this somehow got out of place. How often I’ve heard this sentiment expressed: “I hope Jesus doesn’t come during my lifetime. I’d never make it through the time of trouble!”
It is no secret to many of us who are “watching” that the covid experience of the early 2020’s appeared like a dry run for the no buying and selling decree of Revelation 13:17, all they would have needed to add was an embargo on supermarket sales and the lock out would have been complete. That the legislation is now in place means this could happen rapidly.
How hard it will be to walk away from all the “comforts” lavished upon us by modern society. After all, I now have much more to lose: a house, equity, retirement savings, a wife, five children. I find it hard to look forward to hiding in caves or getting my credit and ATM card shredded because I won’t worship the beast. I know that the Bible compares last day upheavals to labour pains. But, given a choice, I think I’d rather opt for some sort of cosmic epidural birth without pangs.
The specific phrase, “the time of trouble,” occurs only in Daniel, who predicts “a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time” (Dan. 12:1). Matthew 24, (with parallels in Luke 21 and Mark 13) refers to wars, earthquakes, famines, upheavals in nature, and other such crises accompanying the time of the end. Jesus tells the disciples that they will be delivered up to tribulation, hated and even killed for His sake (verse 9). He also speaks of a ” ‘desolating sacrilege’ “ (verse 15), an entity Bible commentators see as a persecuting antichrist. In language that parallels Daniel 12, Christ foretells ” ‘great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now'” (verse 21). These troubles are referred to as “birthpangs” (verse 8).
Some of the most vivid depictions of earth’s final afflictions appear in John’s apocalypse: graphic imagery of persecutions, of a fierce beast power who plots the death of those refusing to worship him, of bowl after bowl of divine wrath, and of bloody strife that will precede the great day of the Lord. As trumpets sound, winds are unleashed, plagues commence, the powers of evil marshal against the righteous and the cry goes up, “How long O Lord?”
Other Bible writers also refer to great trauma before the final restoration of all things. Jeremiah, like Jesus in Matthew, uses the language of childbirth to describe the anguish of God’s people before the final reconciliation. After describing a man in agonized labour Jeremiah exclaims, “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.” (Jer. 30:7) While the immediate context is of return from Babylonian exile, many Bible scholars see a wider reference to the struggle before the great gathering of the Messianic age and also the time of trouble that just precedes the second coming of Jesus.
Scriptural teachings about the time of trouble (or tribulation) follow a larger biblical pattern that emerges throughout the portrayals of salvation history.
The birth of a new or renewed order is always preceded by a period of trauma and chaos. This period of upheaval and chaos can be seen as both a divine judgment on those who reject God and as the liberation of God’s faithful ones. Though the multitudes reject God, a faithful remnant who follow God at any cost, are ultimately saved.
The cycle of sin and deception was set in motion by one who is described as ” ‘a liar and the father of lies’ “ (John 8:44). From the beginning, the rotten core of sin has been enshrouded in the seductive promise of a glittering deception. Sin rebellion against and autonomy from God is presented as a fulfilling, life-enhancing alternative. God is presented as a withholding, untrustworthy being who can hold His creatures in submission only by death threats (Gen. 3:1-5) or bribery (Job 1:1-12).
Throughout human history God has revealed Himself in response to the lie. He dramatically parts the Red Sea and leads Israel to safety. He establishes covenants, thundering from Mount Sinai, and sends water gushing from a rock while manna appears on the ground. He speaks through a succession of prophets. Then in His greatest act of self-revelation, He sends His own Son. Pierced hands outstretched on the cross dramatically demonstrate the depth and intensity of God’s love and His desire to keep faith with His children. An empty tomb certifies His power over death and every human dilemma.
Seemingly, any of these demonstrations, especially the cross, would be enough to puncture the illusion of Satan’s original lie. The existence of God, the character of God, the love of God and the true consequences of sin these and more are etched out powerfully by God’s working in history. But strangely, the lessons are all too often lost on the rebellious human race. True, the dazzling power of the sin illusion occasionally flickers and dims in the face of some particularly disturbing evil. But amnesia sets in quickly or people even use such displays of sin at work as evidence against God.
But there is something different about this final, tempestuous series of events. While earth’s history has certainly been punctuated with episodes of horror, God has patiently blunted the full impact of sin’s destructive power. But here finally at the end of the age, once and for all, God must lift the restraint and expose the true reality that is the dark underside of the cosmic rebellion.
While this lifting of restraint is an act of divine judgment and revelation, like all manifestations of “the wrath of God,” there is a component of “letting alone” (Rom. 1:18, 24, 26, 28) so that the true principles of God’s enemy and the natural outworking of the sin principle are revealed. Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose.
Before it is all over everybody alive will have made a decision about whom they will worship. Everybody is shouldered off the fence by these happenings. Multitudes offer allegiance to the beast creature while a remnant worship the Creator God. As the world polarizes, a stark clarity emerges. The seductive principles that have mesmerized most of the world are revealed as horrific, destructive lies. The trustworthiness of God is vindicated. And the cycle ceases. The fallen planet is ultimately restored. The old order passes away, never to return.
I’m so glad you addressed the feelings surrounding the loss of everything when we can’t buy nor sell Ross..l think about it and can’t imagine the inconveniences and deprivation entailed by it..l know it will be ONLY by the grace of God l will get through it, and survive..He Will do it ..He hasn’t gone to such great lengths to save me, and His people, to lose us now…His Bride!! I gotta believe that!! Thanks for these wonderful readings..pray for each other that we all keep making the right choices..need the sealing of the Holy Spirit hey?