THE END OF THE WORLD?

THE PERIOD OF TRIBULATION WHICH IS COMING

"The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels."  Matt 13:39

Upon numerous occasions in the preceding articles reference has been made to a period designated as the tribulation. It has been assumed that the reader has some knowledge of this period. But it must not be assumed to the point of passing over a specific dis­cussion of this theme. At this juncture it is wise to give a rela­tively thorough, though brief treatment of this important period in eschatological times.

 The Definition of Terms Denoting Tribulation

1. Tribulation is the most common name given to this period. This is a Scriptural term that is used both in a general and in a specific sense. It is therefore necessary to distinguish between them.

(1)   The general sense in which this word is used denotes participation in distress without regard to time. From the original language the word is translated into the English by the word "trib­ulation" (Acts 14:22), "anguish" (John 16:21), "affliction" (Acts 7:10-11), "burdened" (2 Cor. 8:13), "persecution" (Acts 11:19), "trouble" (1 Cor, 7:28).

(2)   The specific sense of this word denotes participation in distress with regard to a particular period of time. Christ referred to such a period when outlining the future of Israel to His disciples, "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" (Matt. 24:21). In similar vein the elder addresses John and says, "These are they which came out of great tribula­tion" (Rev. 7:14). The Greek original is even stronger in grammatical construction, reading, "the tribulation, the great one".

2. The day of the Lord is another expression used to refer to this period of time (Zech. 14:1), though not confined to it. In this same pattern the expressions, "the great and dreadful day of the Lord" (Mal. 4:5), "that day" (Isa. 11:10-11), "the day" (Mal. 4:1) also appear. This usage sets this period of time apart from the day of man when he was allowed to go his own way.

3. A time of trouble is another way of referring to this period. It is Daniel who writes, "and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time" (Dan. 12:1). Jeremiah makes reference to this time in relation to Israel and calls it "the time of Jacob's trouble" (Jer. 30:7).

4. The indignation is Isaiah's way of referring to this period (Isa. 26:20). John calls it "the wrath of the Lamb" and "the great day of his wrath" (Rev. 6:16-17). And Paul refers to this period as "the wrath to come" (1 These. 1:10).

5. Many other expressions are also used in the Bible to designate this period, such as "The latter years" (Ezek. 38:8), "the latter days" (Ezek. 38:16), "the time of the end" (Dan. 11:40), "the end of the world" [Grk. - age] (Matt. 13:39), "the latter times" (1 Tim. 4:1), and "the last days" (2 Tim. 3:1).

This list does not by any means exhaust the ways by which reference is made to this period of time yet future. But each method of designation adds some different aspect to the description of this coming period in the history of the world.