Christ’s Return: Session 6- The Great Tribulation

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?

False Teachers
Wars
Natural Disasters
Persecution
Martyrs
Falling Away of False Believers
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:

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