by W. Fraser Naismith (Scotland)
The Lord has given His people a "Blessed Hope," Tit.2.13; a "Steadfast Hope," Heb.6.19; and a "Purifying Hope," 1Jn.3.3. Despite the many great and precious promises, some, in our day, believe that the saints of this present dispensation will undergo the terrible throes of the Great Tribulation. "To the law and to the testimony," said Isaiah; so we shall proceed to examine the Holy Scriptures to ascertain what God has declared regarding this time of severe testing and trial.
There are six definite and direct allusions to the Great Tribulation in the Word of God at which we may profitably look. (There are numerous indirect references, to some of these also, we may refer).
The first is in Jeremiah 30.7, and reads thus: "Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it." Note the words, "the time of Jacob's trouble." Who was Jacob? He was the wrestler of Gen.32 who had his name changed to ‘Israel.’ Paul distinguishes the peoples of this earth in 1Cor.10.32 saying, "Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Church of God." Born again souls in this economy are in the Church of God which Christ loved, and for which He gave Himself, Eph.5.25. Promethean hate has kindled the flames of persecution throughout this long period of divine grace, and many of the dear saints of God have won the martyr's crown for their unswerving fidelity to Christ and the truth of God's Word. The persecution, or tribulation spoken of by our Lord in Jn.16.33 has no reference to "The Great Tribulation," called "The time of Jacob's Trouble." This period of time relates to God's earthly people Israel; and exemption must be claimed for those who compose the "body of Christ," the Church.
The second Scripture to which we would refer is found in Dan.12.1: "At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." It is worthy of note that Michael has always a special association with God's earthly people: see Dan.10.13,21; Jude 9; Rev.12.7. Michael is alluded to as "the great prince that standeth for the children of thy people." Who was Daniel? He was a Hebrew captive in Babylon. His people must have been Hebrews. There is going to be a time of trouble such as never was since national history began, and at that time Daniel's people are going to be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. The history of Israel has been a chequered one! What has the Church to do with that history or that particular nation? Surely there is only one interest and that is the salvation of the souls of the personnel who are Israelites.
Both of the Scriptures quoted are culled from the Old Testament Scriptures: and it should be kept in mind that the Church is not the subject of Old Testament declaration, but of New Testament revelation. Those who try to find the doctrine of the Church in the Old Testament are like the blind man in the dark room looking for a black cat that isn't there. How necessary to accept the exhortation of Paul to Timothy: "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth," 2Tim.2.15.
The third reference to the Great Tribulation is found in Matthew's Gospel, ch.24. The Olivet Discourse is the greatest prophecy extant, because it was given by the greatest Prophet, the Lord Jesus Christ. Two questions were asked by the disciples in Matt.24.3 — the first — "When shall these things be?" was answered in Lk.21. The second — "What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the age?" was answered in Matt.24,25.
It should be carefully noticed that the context of the first section of the Olivet Discourse, Matt.24.4-44, has a definite Jewish bearing. Note v14 where reference is made to "the Gospel of the Kingdom," which shall be "preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." The following verse refers to "the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet": see Dan.9.27. In v16 "Judea" is alluded to, and those living there are warned to flee. V20 refers to the "Sabbath Day", which was the day of rest for Israel, Ex.31.16-17. In verse 21 the Tribulation is referred to in such terms as "tribulation such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." V22 speaks of the "elect"— this has no reference to those who are "chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world," but to the elect of Israel. See. Deut.7.6 and Ps.139.16.
Perhaps the greatest evidence that it is not the Church period which is in view in this first section of the Olivet Discourse is in the usage of the term "Son of Man" six times: see v27,30,37,39,44. This title was first used by Christ to indicate His rejection, then afterwards to affirm His universal authority as supreme ruler. It is not a title used in the epistles relative to the Church, and found only in Rev.1.13 to indicate that Christ is the One who discriminates and judges as He moves among the lampstands.
There is nothing in this section of the Olivet Discourse to indicate that the Church is in view: in fact, it is quite the reverse. (The divisions of the Olivet Discourse are as follows: Matt.24.4-44, Christ's coming in relation to His earthly people. Matt.24.45-25.30 is the second division and relates to Christ's coming to Christendom. Matt.25.31-46 presents His coming to the living nations). The whole context of the first section, in which a lone reference is made to the Great Tribulation, has a definite bearing on the Jew and not on the Church.
The fourth reference is found in Mark 13.19. In this passage there is presented the Olivet Discourse, and it would be unnecessary to cover the same ground again. In v20 there is the shortening of the days and these are confined to 1,260 days, Rev.11.3; 12.6; or 42 months. Rev. 13.5; or "a time, and times, and half a time," Rev. 12.14; Dan.7.15; 12.7.
The fifth reference is found in Rev. 3.10: "Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." The foregoing is part of the statement made by Christ to "the angel of the church in Philadelphia." The writer accepts the outline of Rev.2,3 as a preview of church history. The period alluded to in the message to Philadelphia is this epoch of time in which our lot is cast: in fact the last three messages, to Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea run concurrently to the close of church history. With the darkening clouds gathering, and paucity in numbers characterising the saints — "thou hast a little strength;" and loyalty to divine truth being maintained — "thou hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name;" the promise of the Lord is, "I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." The Lord did not say, "I will keep thee through the hour;" nor did He say, "I will keep thee in the hour;" but "I will keep thee from the hour." The hour is not sixty minutes: it is a measured span of time, e.g., Jn.12.27; Mk.14.35; Lk.22.53. The hour referred to in Rev.3.10 is a period of three and a half years — the latter half of Daniel's last week. The question may be asked, "How will the Lord keep the saints of this Church period from the Great Tribulation? He will take them into eternity, free forever from the limitations of the inveterate hate and fierce fires of the Tribulation. Isn't it simple? Isn't it sublime? Why then do people desire to pass through the Great Tribulation? It is a blessed hope we have, and not a haunting nightmare. If it could be established that the saints of this present dispensation must go through the Great Tribulation then there would be sleepless nights, and a haunting spectre of carnage such as has never been experienced on earth before would invade our hearts and minds; then we would seek death, as did Elijah. Lift up your heads! The coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
The sixth and final allusion to the Great Tribulation is found in Rev.7.14. This chapter is a revelation of the purposes of God — relative to Israel, and consequent upon that in relation to the nations of the earth. The hundred and forty-four thousand of the tribes of Israel are sealed: that is, they are set apart to God. Today the believers are sealed, Eph.1.13, the sealing is Godward, as the ‘Earnest’ of the following verse is manward. So in that coming day God will set His soul on the remnant who will be preserved through the Great Tribulation, so "all Israel shall be saved;" compare Rom.9.27; 11.26. This will be the nucleus of the nation which will people the Millennial Earth as the head of the nations and not the tail. There will also be an innumerable company of all the nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues who shall be prepared for, and blessed through the Millennium. When John sought to know who this latter company was he was informed "these are they which have come out of Tribulation the great one, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." They are morally before the throne of God. (Daniel has been cast into the den of lions alive and Darius made a decree when he was preserved there, thus: "that in every denomination of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel"). This was not a scene in heaven, any more than that of Rev.7. It is a scene characteristic of those who are on the earth who have been cleansed and prepared for the delights of the Millennial reign of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It will have been noticed that there is not even a trace of a suggestion that the Church will pass through the Great Tribulation. Let us therefore be satisfied with the divine revelation which clearly teaches that the Great Tribulation is not a fire kindled for the purification of the Church: Christ does that "By the washing of water by the word," Eph.5.26. It relates to God's earthly people of whom He says, "I will sow her unto Me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not My people, Thou art My people! And they shall say, Thou art my God," Hos.2.23.
Lay your head on your pillow in the blessed hope of being out of this scene when the Great Tribulation rages: "He that shall come will come, and will not tarry."