Trials and the Great Tribulation

Trials and the Great Tribulation

November 18, 2015 Year B

Trials and the Great Tribulation is the theme in Mark 13:9-23.

Trials

Persecution will continue for the Christian. It is something one should expect to happen. Persecution and the gospel will spread at the same time (Mark 13:9-10). When a Christian is brought up with criminal charges, they will be able to share the Gospel – even in hard trials (Mark 13:11). Hatred will overcome many people and they will direct the hatred at Christians (Mark 13:12-13).

Trials are followed by tribulations. In this case, the Great Tribulation. This tribulation is called great because it will be the worst in history. Jesus refers to a prophesied event (Mark 13:14) – when the Antichrist will stand in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem demand worship of Himself (Daniel 9:27, Daniel 11:31, Daniel 12:11). This prophecy is so important that it is mentioned three times in the book of Daniel. Mark makes the statement that the one who reads the book of Daniel should understand that this is very important.

Tribulations

What follows is the worst period of persecution in history. This will be a time of great tribulation. People must flee at once it will be so hard (Mark 13:14-18).

This tribulation will be the worst in history (Mark 13:19). It will be so horrible that the time period of the program will be shortened (Mark 13:20). The Antichrist will announce his program in the middle of the seven-year period. We don’t know how long he will plan for this program. But we know that it will not be longer than 3.5 years. However, I think that Jesus will shorten that period (Mark 13:20). The reason is just like the Holocaust of the twentieth century, if it were to continue to completion, every Christian will be annihilated (“for the sake of the elect, those He chose”).

We are reminded to watch and pray about these events. We need to be aware because it will happen (Mark 13:21-23). Just as there are people who deny the Holocaust, there will be people who will deny that the trials and tribulation will come.