The Tribulation
Now according to the teaching of Dispensational Premillennialism, after the raptured of the church from the world, there will be seven years of tribulation. The recent even that would cause worldwide panic of the sudden disappearance of millions of people all at one time. Catastrophes all over the world causing numerous unexpected deaths and suffering would present many to assume irrational conclusions as to the reason for all that is taking place.
Now where do dispensationalist come up with this stuff? The teaching of Dispensationalism is around 170 years old, started by a man named John Darby back in the 1830’s. As I said as far back as I can remember I have been taught the teachings of Dispensationalism and as time goes on the teaching continues to increase and change over time, which change is done so according to current world events, social issues, and technological advances.
Church history shows us a continued behavior of the persecution of Christians on varied fronts. The Church first faced persecution from the Jews and then from the Romans. What is worse is the church has had to face persecution from the very leaders who consider themselves Christian leaders, which is an entirely different story. However, for the Dispensationalist the persecution Christians have faced and continue to face is nothing in comparison to what will take place during those seven years after the rapture. As time goes on Dispensationalist continue to revamp their teachings to fit into the current cultural identity in order to fit.
Scripture makes the subject of persecution of the church very clear, persecution is going to happen. The Greek word of tribulation is thlipsei which literally means to constrict but is translated as suffering, persecution, and tribulation. In the ESV the word is used 20 times, three in the Old Testament and 17 in the New Testament. In Matthew chapter 24 the disciples come to Jesus asking him to tell them the things that are to take place that will warn them of the end. Jesus warns the disciples that in the end many will come claiming to be the Christ (Mark 13: 21-23) and this did happen during the first century before the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. He warned them that there will be rumors of war, nations will rise against each other, famines and earthquakes but all of this is just the beginning of the end. He goes on to warn them that they will face tribulation (John 16:33) and will be put to death. The book of Acts shows us the beginnings of these events. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs is an excellent source to gain a deeper understanding of what the church suffered over the centuries at the hands of the Jews, Romans, and the Roman Catholic Church.
John writes in Revelation that he is a fellow brother of “the tribulation” (1:9). If the tribulation is something that is coming then how could John be a partaker of it before the time. Some make the excuse that there is a “Great Tribulation.” They make this excuse out of ignorance. If they study Jewish and church history they would learn that just prior to the destruction of the Temple many, both Jews and Christians, faced persecution. Those first three-hundred years of the church when Rome finally viewed Christianity as a religion outside of Judaism they came under much persecution. Not till the fourth century did the church finally see some hope in living for their faith with the rise of Constantine and the Byzantine Empire.
The early church faced suffering and continues to face various kinds of persecution to this very day. Churches in China, India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa do not believe in the rapture narrative nor do they teach this doctrine. During the 20th Century churches in these parts of the world have been facing persecution and tribulation unlike the Church in Western Civilization. According to Dispensationalism the church will not face tribulation and shouldn't but that isn't the case for these churches. So the question goes, where is their rapture? I believe the rapture narrative will be the cause for many to turn away from the faith when persecution and tribulation comes to America and Europe (2 Thessalonians 2). As persecution comes people will wonder when the rapture will happen and when it doesn't they will be disheartened feeling that the church had lied to them for so many generation. Watch the news or get on line. Facebook has many posting news events of how the church around the world is dealing with suffering and persecution.
Look at Dr. Dave Miller’s article on this subject in Apologetics Press. He presents some interesting points of view.
Now where do dispensationalist come up with this stuff? The teaching of Dispensationalism is around 170 years old, started by a man named John Darby back in the 1830’s. As I said as far back as I can remember I have been taught the teachings of Dispensationalism and as time goes on the teaching continues to increase and change over time, which change is done so according to current world events, social issues, and technological advances.
Church history shows us a continued behavior of the persecution of Christians on varied fronts. The Church first faced persecution from the Jews and then from the Romans. What is worse is the church has had to face persecution from the very leaders who consider themselves Christian leaders, which is an entirely different story. However, for the Dispensationalist the persecution Christians have faced and continue to face is nothing in comparison to what will take place during those seven years after the rapture. As time goes on Dispensationalist continue to revamp their teachings to fit into the current cultural identity in order to fit.
Scripture makes the subject of persecution of the church very clear, persecution is going to happen. The Greek word of tribulation is thlipsei which literally means to constrict but is translated as suffering, persecution, and tribulation. In the ESV the word is used 20 times, three in the Old Testament and 17 in the New Testament. In Matthew chapter 24 the disciples come to Jesus asking him to tell them the things that are to take place that will warn them of the end. Jesus warns the disciples that in the end many will come claiming to be the Christ (Mark 13: 21-23) and this did happen during the first century before the destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D. He warned them that there will be rumors of war, nations will rise against each other, famines and earthquakes but all of this is just the beginning of the end. He goes on to warn them that they will face tribulation (John 16:33) and will be put to death. The book of Acts shows us the beginnings of these events. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs is an excellent source to gain a deeper understanding of what the church suffered over the centuries at the hands of the Jews, Romans, and the Roman Catholic Church.
John writes in Revelation that he is a fellow brother of “the tribulation” (1:9). If the tribulation is something that is coming then how could John be a partaker of it before the time. Some make the excuse that there is a “Great Tribulation.” They make this excuse out of ignorance. If they study Jewish and church history they would learn that just prior to the destruction of the Temple many, both Jews and Christians, faced persecution. Those first three-hundred years of the church when Rome finally viewed Christianity as a religion outside of Judaism they came under much persecution. Not till the fourth century did the church finally see some hope in living for their faith with the rise of Constantine and the Byzantine Empire.
The early church faced suffering and continues to face various kinds of persecution to this very day. Churches in China, India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa do not believe in the rapture narrative nor do they teach this doctrine. During the 20th Century churches in these parts of the world have been facing persecution and tribulation unlike the Church in Western Civilization. According to Dispensationalism the church will not face tribulation and shouldn't but that isn't the case for these churches. So the question goes, where is their rapture? I believe the rapture narrative will be the cause for many to turn away from the faith when persecution and tribulation comes to America and Europe (2 Thessalonians 2). As persecution comes people will wonder when the rapture will happen and when it doesn't they will be disheartened feeling that the church had lied to them for so many generation. Watch the news or get on line. Facebook has many posting news events of how the church around the world is dealing with suffering and persecution.
Look at Dr. Dave Miller’s article on this subject in Apologetics Press. He presents some interesting points of view.
