Tribulation

For those will be days of tribulation, the kind that hasn't been from the beginning of the world, which God created, until now and never will be again! Unless the Lord limited those days, no one would survive. But He limited those days because of the elect, whom He chose. - Mark 13:19-20

In his description of the end times, Matthew followed Mark to the letter (24:21-22). Luke, however, departed briefly to say that the "celestial powers will be shaken (21:26)." Do Matthew and Mark speak of the Great Tribulation at the end of this earthly age or just the tribulation Judea would face at its destruction in A.D. 70? Obviously, theologians differ.

Many years ago a pastoral search committee asked what my view of "the tribulation" happened to be. I realized that the person forming the question already had a "view" and wanted to know if my position on the "end-times" matched his. I replied that a believer should "count it all joy" when he faces tribulation, because everyone will face it in one form or another.

He was not amused.

Yet, for the person who has to endure tribulation, it will always seem great. We must help one another endure that which God uses and avoid that which He will certainly send upon those who refuse to believe.

God would not rub so hard if it were not to fetch out the dirt that is ingrained in our natures. God loves purity so well that He had rather see a hole than a spot in His child's garments. - William Gurnall