The Great Tribulation: Mark 13:19

 

The Great Tribulation: Mark 13:19

What tribulation is Jesus referring to? Many believe this was the persecution during the Middle Ages and during the early church. Or the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70.

Both of those fall short of what the Bible text says. In Mark 13:20, Jesus shifts to times that are clearly not AD 70 nor the Middle Ages. We know that because of verse 22.

 Mark 13:22 NIV "For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."

This parallels the narrative of Revelation shortly before Jesus comes.

Mark 13:24-26 NIV “But in those days, following that distress,

“‘the sun will be darkened,

    and the moon will not give its light;

the stars will fall from the sky,

    and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’

“At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory."

It is easy to understand this is a future event that has not happened yet. These things will take place immediately before Jesus appears in the couds on His return.

The sun, moon, and stars references are to a worldwide event, not something local. They are not due to an eclipse, smoke from a fire, or anything that man can explain.

The writers of The Bible knew the difference between stars and other heavenly bodies, such as meteors. A meteor shower is not stars falling.

If you are thinking of earthquakes, like the one in Lisbon 1755, realize that there have been greater earthquakes before and after. it does not even rank in the top ten as most deadly.

We have one final clue in Revelation as to this Great Tribulation. 

Revelation 7:14 NIV: I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb."

The reference is to the 144,000. No matter how you look at it, that clearly is pointing the time just before Jesus returns.

The tribulation that will be at the end will be one that humans have never seen. They will be filled with supernatural events that science cannot explain. They will also be worldwide, not just to a few.

Beware of false prophets today, as Jesus warned. Read and study your Bble so you will not be deceived.

More: Sabbath School Lesson 10 Book of Mark