Articles and Bible Questions

I believe the Bible teaches the tribulation will begin after the rapture of the church. And when does the rapture occur? The Bible teaches it is imminent—it could occur at any moment. 

In Revelation 6, when John begins to describe the tribulation period, there is absolutely no reference to the church on earth. Revelation 4–5 indicates that the church age will end prior to the tribulation and Christians will be worshiping the Lord in heaven. The elders, representing the church, are singing praise to the Lamb who has delivered them from God’s wrath (see Revelation 3:10). 

This is an important point to make because as long as the church is still on the earth, the tribulation is still in the future. The tribulation will not begin until after the rapture of the church. 

There are those who believe the tribulation has already occurred and we are living in the millennial period. This requires biblical prophecy to be spiritualized. A literal interpretation of passages describing the tribulation reveals nothing in history that comes close to matching the events described in Matthew 24 or in Revelation 6 and onward. 

Just to illustrate, Daniel 9 clearly reveals that the Antichrist will desecrate the temple, thus indicating that the temple has to be rebuilt. I visited Israel recently, and I can attest to the fact that there is no temple there! 

There are other prophecies as well, and I deal with them in detail in my teaching series through Revelation. But the key truth regarding the timing of the tribulation is that it has not yet begun but Jesus promises that He will come “soon.” Therefore, we are to live with the expectation the Lord could come at any moment for His church, thus ushering in the beginning stages of the tribulation events. 

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When Will the Tribulation Begin? Understanding the Sequence of End Times Events

The topic of end times events can be a source of confusion and disagreement among Christians. One question that often arises is "when does the tribulation begin?" The tribulation is a period of time described in the Bible that will be marked by great suffering and persecution for believers. In this article, we will explore the sequence of end times events and discuss when the tribulation will begin.

The Sequence of End Times Events

Before we can discuss when the tribulation will begin, we need to understand the sequence of end times events. According to Scripture, there are several key events that will occur in the last days, including:

1. The Rapture of the Church: The first event in the sequence is the rapture of the church. This is the moment when Christ will return to gather his followers from the earth, both the living and the dead.

2. The Tribulation: After the rapture, a period of seven years of great suffering and persecution will begin. This is known as the tribulation, and it will be marked by war, famine, disease, and natural disasters.

3. The Second Coming of Christ: At the end of the tribulation, Christ will return to earth in glory and power. He will defeat the armies of the Antichrist and establish his kingdom on earth.

4. The Millennial Kingdom: After Christ's second coming, he will reign on earth for a thousand years, known as the millennial kingdom.

When Will the Tribulation Begin?

Now that we understand the sequence of end times events, we can answer the question "when will the tribulation begin?" According to Scripture, the rapture of the church will be the first event in the sequence. This means that before the tribulation can begin, the church must first be taken out of the world. We don't know when the rapture will occur, but the Bible is clear that the rapture will be the first event in the sequence, and that believers will be taken out of the world before the tribulation begins.

Implications for Believers

Understanding the sequence of end times events has important implications for believers. First, it reminds us that our hope is not in this world, but in Christ and his return. Second, it encourages us to live lives of faithfulness and obedience, knowing that Christ will one day return to judge the living and the dead.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the question of when the tribulation will begin is an important one for Christians to consider. According to Scripture, the rapture of the church will be the first event in the sequence of end times events. This means that before the tribulation can begin, the church must first be taken out of the world. Understanding the sequence of end times events has important implications for our faith and our daily lives. Let us live with the hope and anticipation of Christ's return, and let us strive to live lives of faithfulness and obedience until that day comes.