“Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.”
–Judges 10:14
God’s Word declares that in the end times there will be great tribulation.
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
–Matthew 24:21
Yet many–particularly those who congregate in the buildings popularly known as churches–do NOT know the meaning of the word, “tribulation.” A great many assume that tribulation is the same as persecution.
It is not.
The Greek word translated as “tribulation is θλίψεων (thlipseōn).
Basically, it means “pressure.”
thlípsis – properly, pressure (what constricts or rubs together), used of a narrow place that “hems someone in”; tribulation, especially internal pressure that causes someone to feel confined (restricted, “without options”).
2347/thlípsis (“compression, tribulation”) carries the challenge of coping with the internal pressure of a tribulation, especially when feeling there is “no way of escape” (“hemmed in”).
[By contrast, 4730 (stenoxōría) focuses on the external pressure exerted by circumstances.]
—HELPS Word Study“No way of escape.”
—End Times Tribulation: Believers Should Have Much Tribulation
While “tribulation” and “persecution” are related, they do NOT mean the same thing. The reader can know this by a careful study of God’s Word.
“Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”
–Matthew 13:21
Matthew 13:21 refers to “tribulation OR persecution.”
Romans 8:35 is even more clear.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
–Romans 8:35
Tribulation and persecution are of a variety of things which one might suppose separates the believer from the love of Christ. Each of these things are listed separately: “tribulation, …or persecution…” along with “distress…or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword.”
IF tribulation and persecution were the same thing, they would not be listed separately.
To be clear, TRIBULATION means the internal pressure caused by the believer’s testimony of Jesus Christ rubbing up against the world’s hatred of Jesus Christ. It is the internal pressure caused by concern over the future; the feeling of “no escape.”
Persecution can lead to tribulation, but the two are not the same thing.
PERSECUTION is the world punishing the believer–physically, mentally, socially, financially and otherwise–for his belief in Jesus Christ. PERSECUTION can be subtle or overt. PERSECUTION can be physical pain and suffering or mental and social degradation. It can be financial loss caused by the believer’s adherence to Jesus Christ over the money, wealth and things of the world.
Tribulation is being surrounded by unpleasant choices; that there is “no way out.”
In short, tribulation is the feeling that the workers of iniquity are closing in around the believer; that the believer is being “squeezed” by the world in order to tempt the believer into changing his allegiance from Jesus Christ to Satan.
Followers of Jesus Christ are squeezed by tribulation every day.
The Bible says that the last days will be a time of “great tribulation.” (This does not mean that persecution of believers will not be taking place. It will. But tribulation is something which happens before, during and after persecution. )
It is not persecution: it is tribulation.
And tribulation is a declared part of the end times.
Once more, tribulation is an everyday part of life for followers of Jesus Christ.
Tribulation–actually, “much tribulation“–is also necessary in order to enter the kingdom of God.
“Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
–Acts 14:22
DOES the reader fear tribulation?
The believer experiences tribulation every day: DOES the reader?
It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.
DOES the reader believe he is saved?
Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival
DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?
Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: Making a Choice
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The End Times Power of God Unleashed
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16
MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: January 28, 2019.]
MORE
- TRIBULATION: What is Tribulation?
- End Times Tribulation: Believers Should Have Much Tribulation
- PROMISES: God’s Promises of Persecution, Tribulation and Hatred of the World for the Believer
- TRIBULATION IN THE END TIMES: What is Tribulation and How to Overcome It
- End Times Hatred of the Believers in Jesus Christ
- FAITH IN THE END TIMES: Triumphant Over Fear, The World and Tribulation
- End Times Promises for Christians: Persecution, Tribulation and More
- NO ESCAPE: Surrounded by Tribulation in the End Times
- PEACE in a World of Tribulation
- TRIBULATION: Christians Experience Tribulation Every Day
- Tribulation and Rapture: Two Deceptions, Five Questions
- Persecution, Tribulation, Troubles, Trials: What the Bible says to Christians
- The Nature of Spiritual Deception
- End Times Trials, Tribulations, Trouble and Disaster: Put your trust in Jesus
- Pre-Tribulation Rapture Promoted by Enemies of Jesus Christ
- Gospel of Jesus Christ: The Power of God Unto Salvation
MORE
- Man Struggles Against God
- God is in Control
- The Nature of Spiritual Deception
- Tender Mercies of the Lord: Will Not Always Be Available
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by Jeremiah James
–with Mondo Frazier
image: ETPR/ambro, FreeDigitalPhotos.net/ETPR
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-19. © Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report, DBKP, 2007-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s authors and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson, Mondo Frazier and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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