“And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 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 14:19-22
A SHORT LESSON ON TRIBULATION: Tribulation is not really meant to be necessarily physical persecution. Tribulation is the feeling that there is NO ESCAPE for one’s present or looming circumstance. Tribulation is that feeling of PRESSURE; that no matter what one does, at the end of the day, he will STILL face tribulation (or the feeling that there is NO ESCAPE).
Many in the churches are taught that tribulation involves the WORST of tortures or physical discomfort.
And, if one is NOT spiritually prepared for the end times, TRIBULATION can be a source of constant, nagging doubts AND a form of mental torture.
Referring to the picture at the beginning of this piece, TRIBULATION is NOT being run over by a car driven by one who wishes you no good.
TRIBULATION is that feeling that someone is going to run over you with a car before it happens–and there is pretty much nothing you can do about it.
Believers are the only ones who are beset by TRIBULATION.
NONbelievers are beset with fear and anxiety, which are ultimately worse because the NONbeliever has NO peace of mind.
In addition, believers are promised the peace “that passes all understanding.”
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
–Philippians 4:7
This peace had been promised for hundreds of years, but it reached fruition when Jesus Christ walked the earth. Referring to the righteous, Isaiah 26:3 mentions this peace of God.
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. “
–Isaiah 26:3
Psalm 29 is even more clear.
“The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.”
–Psalm 29:11
And finally, the words of Jesus Christ Himself are the clearest of all.
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
–John 16:33
To sum up:
Believers WILL undergo tribulation. The Bible states that during the end times, there will be periods of “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
HOWEVER, to make this great tribulation bearable, God and His Son, Jesus Christ, will share their peace with believers.
And THAT is how believers live with tribulation during the end times.
Tribulation accompanies much of the end times, affecting believers.
BUT, believers are pretty much okay with that.
“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.”
–1PETER 4:1-2
DOES the reader ever have those times when he is feeling that the world is ‘closing in on him’?
It is not YET too late: there is still a LITTLE 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
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
A Reminder: The Gospel is Simple
[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: August 31, 2022.]
MORE
- TRIBULATION: Believers Squeezed by End Times Tribulation
- Living With Tribulation
- Experiencing Tribulation
- ANXIETY vs TRIBULATION
- Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report
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- 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 Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
image: Photo by David Clode on Unsplash.com
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