Session 6- The Great Tribulation- Matthew 24:1-28

Jesus described three different periods in the time of the tribulation in Matthew 24:1-28.

1.    The Beginning of the tribulation. (v.4-14)

• Jesus describes “birth-pangs””. (v.8)
• What are they?
  1. False Teachers
  2. Wars
  3. Natural Disasters
  4. Persecution
  5. Martyrs
  6. Falling Away of False Believers
  7. Worldwide Preaching
• They correspond with the “Seal” Judgements.
• They seem to be “natural” disasters.

2.    The Middle of the tribulation. (v.15)

• The “abomination” of “deolation” .
• The “Anti-Christ” betrays his covenant with Israel. (Daniel 9:27)
• He causes the sacrifice to cease. (Daniel 9:27)
• He sets up an image to be worshipped. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4)

3.    The End of the tribulation. (v.16-28)

• Inaugurated by the Abomination of Desolation.
• Called “the great” (V.21)
• The Response in that Day. V.16-20
  • Run! (v.16)
  • Immediate. (v.17-18)
    • Difficult for Mothers. (v.19)
    • Difficult in winter and on the sabbath. V.20

“This entire paragraph relates only to Jews, for no Christian believer would worry about breaking a Sabbath law.” – Warren Weirsbe

• Reject the Anti-Christ. (v.23-26).

• Culminated in the coming of the Son of Man. (v.27-28.)
• Seems to correspond with the trumpet judgments (Revelation 8:7-9:19), and the vial judgments (Revelation 16:2-21)

“During the first three-and-one-half years of the Tribulation, the judgments were natural: wars, famines, earthquakes, etc. But during the last half, the judgments will be supernatural and devastating.” Warren Weirsbe

3 Responses:

1. Gratitude.
2. Longing.
3. Evangelism. (2 Corinthians 5:11)