What’s looming for Christians? ‘Tribulation’

Eastern Orthodox portrayal of the Apocalypse

World News Daily is reporting the following related to Joel Richardson and the tribulation:

What’s looming for Christians? ‘Tribulation’

September 24, 2016

Joel Richardson … author of … The Battle for Jerusalem,’ … argues the Olivet Discourse delivered by Jesus Christ is of crucial importance to day. …

“The Olivet Discourse is a sermon on the great tribulation that is coming to the Jewish people,” Richardson explained. “And it’s natural that He says I’m going to judge the nations, I’m going to judge the Gentiles, based on how they responded to this coming, the worst crisis that the world has ever faced.”…

“As you walk through the Holocaust Museum, Yad Vashem, the Shoah Museum, and you look at what was carried out with the systematic industrialized extermination of six million Jewish people, recognize the fact that the Scriptures are saying that this was a warm-up,” Richardson said. “It was a prelude to that which is coming, something far worse is coming. And you’ll begin to understand why Jesus made it such a priority, why this would be such a crucial issue.” …

Richardson cautioned Israel will suffer greatly during the Tribulation.

“The scattering of my people is yet to come, during the Great Tribulation, many of the inhabitants of the land will be taken as prisoners of war to the surrounding nations,” he said. “We don’t know how many, but the prophets speak of this quite consistently. And it says they’ve cast lots for my people. …Throughout Matthew 24 he speaks of an unparalleled Tribulation, something terrible that’s yet to come in the land of Judah, and it says I’m going to judge the nations based on how they treated My people.”

http://www.wnd.com/2016/09/whats-looming-for-christians-tribulation/#pA7QQgTUyFx9MlDf.99

There are two points to bring out and look at here.

The first is that many of the prophecies related to ‘Israel’ in the Bible are NOT limited to Judah. The nation now called Israel basically is in the ancient land of Judah and its citizens are mainly from the tribe of Judah. But Judah was only one of the thirteen tribes.

The other Israelitish nations will be affected by the Great Tribulation (see When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?) and that will include the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Europe (see Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel). It will not just be the Jews that are sold (see Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?).

Now are Christians at risk during the Great Tribulation?

Yes.

While I have many prophetic differences with Joel Richardson (see Can the Final Antichrist be Islamic?), he is correct that Christians will be affected by the Great Tribulation (see When Will the Great Tribulation Begin?). He, in the past, has correctly stated that Christians will NOT be raptured away prior to the start of the Great Tribulation (see Joel Richardson was right about the pre-trib rapture, but wrong about the Antichrist).

Does the Bible clearly teach that many Christians will be affected by the time of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21)?

Yes.

Let this be perfectly clear, there are two groups of God’s people mentioned in Revelation 12–one which goes to a place of safety and one which does not. Notice what the Bible states:

14 But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. 15 So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. 16 But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. 17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. (Revelation 12:14-17).

The above shows that the church (symbolized by a woman) has to “fly into the wilderness to her place.” Being in heaven with Jesus is not the same as being in any wilderness–hence this is not some type of “rapture” as many Protestants believe in. Also notice that the church “is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.” Hence, this is how Jesus is intending to keep His Philadelphia Church “from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world” (3:10)–this “hour of trial,” this “time and times and half a time” includes the period of the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord.

Notice also that since a flood of water is used to try to destroy the church, but is helped by the earth, that the church is NOT in heaven, but on the earth.

Carefully notice that just keeping the commandments of God and having the testimony of Jesus Christ is not enough to insure that one will go “into the wilderness,” be “nourished,” and protected “from the presence of the serpent.” The dragon, through the Beast power, will “make war” with those who do not go. For “the saints shall given to his hand for a time and times and half a time” (Daniel 7:25)–again the time period the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord.

Jesus, Himself, warned:

34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)

Notice that Christians are to pray to be worthy to escape.

Whether you believe that the churches mentioned in Revelation 2 & 3 are prophetic church eras or conditions that exist within the Church throughout history (or both), it seems clear that some will be protected and others will not. Regarding the letter to the angel of the Church of Philadelphia, Revelation 3:10-11 states,

10 Because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold I come quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.

The Philadelphians are the only ones that God promises to keep “from the hour of trial that comes upon the whole world” (Revelation 3:10). Regarding the letter to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans, this shows they walk a different path: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent” (v.19).

What are the differences between those groups? To the Philadelphians, Jesus said,

8 I know your works. See I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have have a little strength, kept My word, and have not denied My name (v. 8).

The message starts out the same for the Laodiceans, “I know your works…” but it certainly does not end the same–

15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ — and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked — 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. (Revelation 3:15-18).

The Philadelphians are promised to be kept from the hour of trial because they kept God’s “command to persevere” or as the AV says “kept the word of my patience” (v. 10). If the Philadelphia era of the Church existed while Herbert W. Armstrong was alive (as he believed it was), could this possibly mean that the remaining remnant of the Philadelphia era are the ones who still believe, teach, and practice what Jude referred to as “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3)? (Click here for the article What is a True Philadelphian?) Would this not include the 18 truths that HWA restored to the Church of God without adding extrabiblical requirements? Would not this Church also have the same priority of proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom to the world? Remember Jesus said, “Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes” (Luke 12:43).

Those not protected will have it very, very rough.

God will not keep those in the Laodicea portion of His Church from entering the tribulation. So what, specifically, will happen to those who are not in a place of protection? Some of the answers may lie in the book of Lamentations, which details that time:

4 The tongue of the infant clings To the roof of its mouth for thirst; 5 The young children ask for bread, But no one breaks it for them…9 Those slain by the sword are better off Than those who die by hunger; For these pine away, Stricken for lack of the fruit of the field. 10 The hands of the compassionate women Have cooked their own children; They became food for them In the destruction of the daughter of my people…19 Our pursuers were swifter Than the eagles of the heavens. They pursued us on the mountains And lay in wait for us in the wilderness (Lamentations 4:4-19).

This book, written by the prophet Jeremiah, foretells what will happen to the modern-day descendants of Israel, and indications are that it may include “spiritual” and not just physical Israel (i.e., Lamentations 1:4,2:20,4:7,5:21-22). Even if you believe that these prophecies were fulfilled around the fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., remember Jesus said,

21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no nor ever shall be (Matthew 24:21).

Thus, we can look at the most horrifying events that have happened in the past and yet realize that the coming Tribulation will be worse.

Since a portion of God’s people have fallen in the past (I Corinthians 10:1-11), many things were recorded “for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. Therefore let him who thinks he stand take heed lest he fall” (I Corinthians 10:11-12). Matthew 24:22 states, “And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved” yet, though the situation appears bleak–almost hopeless–notice the conclusion of the verse, “but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened”.

Similarly in Jeremiah 30:7 it says, “Alas! For that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble, But he shall be saved out of it”. Yes, God will deliver some of His Spirit-begotten children from the the physical terror of the Tribulation. He’ll deliver the remnant of the Philadelphians. For Jesus says, “But not a hair of your head shall be lost” (Luke 21:18).

Just prior to the time of the Great Tribulation, the arch-angel Michael stands up to help God’s people:

1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, The great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, Such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, Every one who is found written in the book. (Daniel 12:1)

The expression “At that time” is the same Hebrew expression that is in Daniel 11:35. This suggests that Michael will likely provide protection to God’s people when they fly/flee (more on prophetic sequence in Daniel can be found in the article Who is the King of the North?).

Are most of God’s people going to go to a place of protection or most going to go through the Tribulation?

The Bible seems to give us clues. The three places where the NKJ Bible uses the expression “time and times and half a time” are Revelation 12:14, Daniel 7:25, and Daniel 12:7. They seem to be referring to the same time period. Daniel 12:7 states “a time, times, and half a time, and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished”. This suggests that nearly all of the “holy people” are affected.

In Daniel 7:24-25 it states:

24 The ten horns are ten kings Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; He shall be different from the first ones, And shall subdue three kings. 25 He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, Shall persecute the saints of the Most High, And shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand For a time and times and half a time.

Note that the saints will be persecuted before they are “given into his hand”; perhaps that means all of God’s people, or at least many of the Philadelphian Christians, will be persecuted before the period “time and times and half a time” begins.

The expressions “completely shattered” and “the saints shall be given into his hand” seem to suggest that most of the saints will be in the tribulation. We know this cannot mean all because the book of Revelation says the Philadelphians will be kept from the hour of trial (3:10)–protected “from the presence of the serpent” (cf. 12:14).

God will in some way separate Christians living in when these terrible calamities finally come to be. Some will be protected from the Tribulation–many, however, will not be! (3:16).

The Bible indicates that most of the Laodicean Christianss will die during the Great Tribulation.

A period of time that is coming!

Some items of possibly related interest may include:

When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2016, 2017, or 2018? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2016 o 2017? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon videos: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives and Can the Great Tribulation begin before 2020? A shorter video is: Can the Great Tribulation Start in 2016?
Can the Final Antichrist be Islamic? Is Joel Richardson correct that the final Antichrist will be Islamic and not European? Find out. A related sermon is titled: Is the Final Antichrist Islamic or European?
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be Petra This article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory. There is also a video on the subject: Might Petra be the Place of Safety? Here is something related in the Spanish language: Hay un lugar de seguridad para los Filadelfinos. ¿Puede ser Petra?
This is PETRA! This is a 1962 Good News article by the late Dr. Hoeh.
Is There A Secret Rapture for the Church? When and Where is the Church Protected? What does the Bible really teach? Does the Church flee or is it taken up just prior to the great tribulation? Who really is left behind? There is also a YouTube video with information Did Jesus Teach a Pre-tribulation Rapture?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Persecutions by Church and State This article documents some that have occurred against those associated with the COGs and some prophesied to occur. Will those with the cross be the persecutors or the persecuted–this article has the shocking answer. There is also a YouTube video sermon you can watch: The Coming Persecution of the Church. Here is information in the Spanish language: Persecuciones de la Iglesia y el Estado.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.
Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves? Will the lands of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand be divided? What about Jerusalem? What does Bible prophecy teach? Are there non-biblical prophecies that support this idea? Who will divide those lands? Who will end up with the lands and the people? Here is a link to a video titled Will the USA and other Anglo-nations be Divided and Their People Made Slaves? Here is a related item in the Spanish language ¿Serán divididas las naciones anglosajonas?
Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States This is a 200 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Hillary Clinton and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also discusses Republicans. The physical book can be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States, 2nd edition: Is Hillary Clinton Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Hopi, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Donald Trump? $11.99.
Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Amazon 2nd Kindle edition This electronic version of the 200 page print edition is available for only US$3.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Hillary Clinton, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Amazon 2nd Kindle edition.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Edition for Second Obama Term This is a 160 page book for people truly interested in prophecies related to Barack Obama and the United States, including learning about many that have already been fulfilled (which the book documents in detail) and those that will be fulfilled in the future. It also has a chapter about a Republican choice. This book is available to order at www.barackobamaprophecy.com. The physical book can also be purchased at Amazon from the following link: Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States: Is Barack Obama Fulfilling Biblical, Islamic Catholic, Kenyan, and other America-Related Prophecies? What About Republican Leaders? Second Edition for Second Obama Term.
Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition. This electronic version is available for only US$2.99. And you do not need an actual Kindle device to read it. Why? Amazon will allow you to download it to almost any device: Please click HERE to download one of Amazon s Free Reader Apps. After you go to for your free Kindle reader and then go to Barack Obama, Prophecy, and the Destruction of the United States-Second Term-Amazon Kindle edition.