Seeing Tribulation
Why Seeing the Tribulation Coming Actually Matters:
Tribulation is a lot like a stream. The thread of it has run throughout God's story of redemption. All the way back to Cain and Abel, the prophets, the generation of Jesus, through to today...in fact, in this hour tribulation is increasing like no other time in history.
If tribulation is a stream, the river is nearing the sea. It is widening, and deepening. As time goes on, it will get harder and harder to cross. Everyone walking with Jesus...no exceptions...must cross the stream called tribulation:
Luke 21:12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.
Paul said this was not just a normal and expected part of the walk with Jesus...it was something to be embraced:
Romans 5:3-5 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
At the last supper, Jesus looked at His disciples and then prayed for me to be one with those first disciples...one in the glory they walked in...one in the patience they walked in...and one in the tribulation of love they walked in:
John 17:20-21 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
John the Beloved heard that prayer, and then watched the answering of it over many years...as he helped build church after church...contending for truth far and wide...John saw the reality of what it means to “love the appearing of the Lord”, and he made this fascinating statement:
Revelation 1:9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John goes on to describe the amazing intensifying of tribulation coming to planet earth alongside truth. But before John describes the intensity, he says this: the Kingdom of Jesus, the Patience of Jesus, and the Tribulation of Jesus all go together. You don't get one without the other. Everyone has to cross from the dying world into the reality of the world to come.
John says “if you are reading and believe Revelation, then you are my brother and companion in TRIBULATION, PATIENCE, and the KINGDOM.
The kingdom is coming, and we are supposed to be contending for it with patience in tribulation. There is a land we belong in, and you have to cross the stream of tribulation with patience to get there. The tribulation is evidence you are entering into a new land. Without the evidence of tribulation, your transition is not real. Period.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, (4) who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (5) For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. (6) Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. (7) And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
Tribulation…and specifically coming through tribulation…crossing the stream…is essential as evidence of the reality of salvation. And the word of this testimony is what will cause the entire Church to “overcome.” The Blood of the Lamb (His Tribulation) and the word of our testimony (our tribulation in partnership with Him…sharing in His suffering).
If you love Jesus, you gotta cross the stream of tribulation one way or another. Picture a mountain stream running down into the valley below. At the top, the stream is just a trickle. You might get a foot wet crossing, but you can hop over that thing with no problem. The further down the mountain you follow that stream, the wider, the deeper, and more powerful that stream gets. It is better to cross that stream earlier than later. By the time you get into the valley, that stream could be deadly to cross. That is exactly what Jesus and the disciples described happening to the stream of tribulation. Because the world violently opposes the owner of the vineyard bringing light into the garden, it resists the changes that come with truth emerging. This creates an intensifying of tribulation that turns into a raging flood. To try and cross tribulation later is harder than dying to your idea of a peaceful life now and simply wading across the stream.
Daniel was told the end comes like a flood of trouble...the flood of trouble is connected to the revelation of the single event that marks the final seven years:
Daniel 9:26-27 .... The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”
Right now tribulation is increasing. Almost everyone I talk to feels it. They might not understand it, but they see and feel it. Right now, there is no real persecution of Christians in America, but there is tribulation. There has always been tribulation, and until Jesus splits the sky and brings the fullness of truth back to planet earth, there will be increasing tribulation.
Yes, according to the Matthew 24, persecution is coming globally…including America…but you don’t have to wait for persecution to overcome tribulation. In fact, overcoming tribulation is what produces patient endurance that will be the oil in your lamp to overcome persecution.
Jeremiah felt the tribulation of telling His own people about the coming trouble. Practically no one believed Jeremiah. Even His own brothers resisted the release of His message. Jeremiah’s warnings were directly from God, and they all came true. But, because He was one man saying something different than all the other prophets, almost no one listened.
Jeremiah got fed up one day and laid it out before the Lord. God showed Jeremiah the most amazing truth: the resistance was actually preparing Jeremiah to stand in the coming trouble. Jeremiah crossed his own stream of tribulation early…he settled on the reality of the transition that WAS coming to Israel either way, but by crossing that stream early, it would prepare Him to stand in the truth while those who resisted Him fell into their own traps and pits...
Jeremiah 12:5-6 “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan? For even your brothers, the house of your father, Even they have dealt treacherously with you; Yes, they have called a multitude after you. Do not believe them, Even though they speak smooth words to you.
Truth is confronting darkness in this hour. Darkness does not like the light, because darkness wants to stay. The existing power structures of the earth....in and out of the church, just like in Jeremiah’s day and just like in Jesus' day...do not want anything to unsettle them. They like things the way they are and want to push off the prophesied return of the Messiah until later…until it comes the way they want it to. But Truth IS coming either way...no one is stopping this flood.
According to Matthew 24, Jesus told His disciples that the arrival of truth will produce a flood of tribulation that touches first the church...those who have a heart for the Lord, and then...once the church is prepared to walk in love and be a light to the nations by the word of HER testimony of overcoming tribulation...”Great Tribulation”...will touch the nations.
Matthew 24:9-14 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
God is preparing His bride to teach the nations to overcome tribulation just like she did…by the blood of the lamb…she will do this using the Word of Her Testimony and this will save many. The Bride HAS to have a testimony to use it. Many who want to dismiss the idea of tribulation right now don’t realize they are costing themselves strength exactly when they will need it. The 10 bridesmaids of Matthew 25 were supposed to fill their lamps with oil…settle their hearts, cross the stream and get ready…BEFORE the long dark night. If you wait to fill the lamp when the sun starts setting, you are simply too late:
Matthew 25:1-13 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (2) Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (3) Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, (4) but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (5) But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. (6) "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' (7) Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. (8) And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' (9) But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' (10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. (11) "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' (12) But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' (13) "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
The long dark night is the seven year tribulation. At midnight, it is going to get really intense. That is called Great Tribulation. Wise people get ready before the night is obvious. You don’t need to be ready to die or get raptured…those two events require no help from you…you need to get ready to endure and feed the other people. This patient endurance takes intentional vision and time.
The tribulation that touches the church has to do with the spread of the gospel...the whole gospel, which is the good news of the coming kingdom of Jesus. Revelation is a huge part of this gospel. The power structures of the earth that are comfortable with the way things are...are promised to resist anything that will upset that position...in and out of the church. This is problematic for Jesus, since He gave Revelation to comfort His people and prepare for transition. Jesus knew this resistance would be problematic. That is why there is command and a blessing for Revelation to be publicly taught:
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Jesus is mostly interested in coming home. The Spirit and the Bride are both supposed to contend for His homecoming, including the beautiful reality of overcoming tribulation with patient endurance...to love the day of His appearing...not quiet it down, cover it up, cool it off...we are supposed to be crying out "yes, come, and all the events you promised come too!...I love your appearing!"
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
II Timothy 4:8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Come Lord...come. Thank you for the tribulation that prepares me for the coming intensity. Let me cross that stream now, while its easy, and burn every bridge back to the false comfort of this world!
Tribulation is a lot like a stream. The thread of it has run throughout God's story of redemption. All the way back to Cain and Abel, the prophets, the generation of Jesus, through to today...in fact, in this hour tribulation is increasing like no other time in history.
If tribulation is a stream, the river is nearing the sea. It is widening, and deepening. As time goes on, it will get harder and harder to cross. Everyone walking with Jesus...no exceptions...must cross the stream called tribulation:
Luke 21:12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.
Paul said this was not just a normal and expected part of the walk with Jesus...it was something to be embraced:
Romans 5:3-5 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
At the last supper, Jesus looked at His disciples and then prayed for me to be one with those first disciples...one in the glory they walked in...one in the patience they walked in...and one in the tribulation of love they walked in:
John 17:20-21 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
John the Beloved heard that prayer, and then watched the answering of it over many years...as he helped build church after church...contending for truth far and wide...John saw the reality of what it means to “love the appearing of the Lord”, and he made this fascinating statement:
Revelation 1:9 I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
John goes on to describe the amazing intensifying of tribulation coming to planet earth alongside truth. But before John describes the intensity, he says this: the Kingdom of Jesus, the Patience of Jesus, and the Tribulation of Jesus all go together. You don't get one without the other. Everyone has to cross from the dying world into the reality of the world to come.
John says “if you are reading and believe Revelation, then you are my brother and companion in TRIBULATION, PATIENCE, and the KINGDOM.
The kingdom is coming, and we are supposed to be contending for it with patience in tribulation. There is a land we belong in, and you have to cross the stream of tribulation with patience to get there. The tribulation is evidence you are entering into a new land. Without the evidence of tribulation, your transition is not real. Period.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, (4) who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (5) For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. (6) Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. (7) And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.
Tribulation…and specifically coming through tribulation…crossing the stream…is essential as evidence of the reality of salvation. And the word of this testimony is what will cause the entire Church to “overcome.” The Blood of the Lamb (His Tribulation) and the word of our testimony (our tribulation in partnership with Him…sharing in His suffering).
If you love Jesus, you gotta cross the stream of tribulation one way or another. Picture a mountain stream running down into the valley below. At the top, the stream is just a trickle. You might get a foot wet crossing, but you can hop over that thing with no problem. The further down the mountain you follow that stream, the wider, the deeper, and more powerful that stream gets. It is better to cross that stream earlier than later. By the time you get into the valley, that stream could be deadly to cross. That is exactly what Jesus and the disciples described happening to the stream of tribulation. Because the world violently opposes the owner of the vineyard bringing light into the garden, it resists the changes that come with truth emerging. This creates an intensifying of tribulation that turns into a raging flood. To try and cross tribulation later is harder than dying to your idea of a peaceful life now and simply wading across the stream.
Daniel was told the end comes like a flood of trouble...the flood of trouble is connected to the revelation of the single event that marks the final seven years:
Daniel 9:26-27 .... The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”
Right now tribulation is increasing. Almost everyone I talk to feels it. They might not understand it, but they see and feel it. Right now, there is no real persecution of Christians in America, but there is tribulation. There has always been tribulation, and until Jesus splits the sky and brings the fullness of truth back to planet earth, there will be increasing tribulation.
Yes, according to the Matthew 24, persecution is coming globally…including America…but you don’t have to wait for persecution to overcome tribulation. In fact, overcoming tribulation is what produces patient endurance that will be the oil in your lamp to overcome persecution.
Jeremiah felt the tribulation of telling His own people about the coming trouble. Practically no one believed Jeremiah. Even His own brothers resisted the release of His message. Jeremiah’s warnings were directly from God, and they all came true. But, because He was one man saying something different than all the other prophets, almost no one listened.
Jeremiah got fed up one day and laid it out before the Lord. God showed Jeremiah the most amazing truth: the resistance was actually preparing Jeremiah to stand in the coming trouble. Jeremiah crossed his own stream of tribulation early…he settled on the reality of the transition that WAS coming to Israel either way, but by crossing that stream early, it would prepare Him to stand in the truth while those who resisted Him fell into their own traps and pits...
Jeremiah 12:5-6 “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, Then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, In which you trusted, they wearied you, Then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan? For even your brothers, the house of your father, Even they have dealt treacherously with you; Yes, they have called a multitude after you. Do not believe them, Even though they speak smooth words to you.
Truth is confronting darkness in this hour. Darkness does not like the light, because darkness wants to stay. The existing power structures of the earth....in and out of the church, just like in Jeremiah’s day and just like in Jesus' day...do not want anything to unsettle them. They like things the way they are and want to push off the prophesied return of the Messiah until later…until it comes the way they want it to. But Truth IS coming either way...no one is stopping this flood.
According to Matthew 24, Jesus told His disciples that the arrival of truth will produce a flood of tribulation that touches first the church...those who have a heart for the Lord, and then...once the church is prepared to walk in love and be a light to the nations by the word of HER testimony of overcoming tribulation...”Great Tribulation”...will touch the nations.
Matthew 24:9-14 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
God is preparing His bride to teach the nations to overcome tribulation just like she did…by the blood of the lamb…she will do this using the Word of Her Testimony and this will save many. The Bride HAS to have a testimony to use it. Many who want to dismiss the idea of tribulation right now don’t realize they are costing themselves strength exactly when they will need it. The 10 bridesmaids of Matthew 25 were supposed to fill their lamps with oil…settle their hearts, cross the stream and get ready…BEFORE the long dark night. If you wait to fill the lamp when the sun starts setting, you are simply too late:
Matthew 25:1-13 "Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (2) Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. (3) Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, (4) but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. (5) But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. (6) "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!' (7) Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. (8) And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' (9) But the wise answered, saying, 'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.' (10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. (11) "Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' (12) But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' (13) "Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
The long dark night is the seven year tribulation. At midnight, it is going to get really intense. That is called Great Tribulation. Wise people get ready before the night is obvious. You don’t need to be ready to die or get raptured…those two events require no help from you…you need to get ready to endure and feed the other people. This patient endurance takes intentional vision and time.
The tribulation that touches the church has to do with the spread of the gospel...the whole gospel, which is the good news of the coming kingdom of Jesus. Revelation is a huge part of this gospel. The power structures of the earth that are comfortable with the way things are...are promised to resist anything that will upset that position...in and out of the church. This is problematic for Jesus, since He gave Revelation to comfort His people and prepare for transition. Jesus knew this resistance would be problematic. That is why there is command and a blessing for Revelation to be publicly taught:
Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.
Jesus is mostly interested in coming home. The Spirit and the Bride are both supposed to contend for His homecoming, including the beautiful reality of overcoming tribulation with patient endurance...to love the day of His appearing...not quiet it down, cover it up, cool it off...we are supposed to be crying out "yes, come, and all the events you promised come too!...I love your appearing!"
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
II Timothy 4:8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Come Lord...come. Thank you for the tribulation that prepares me for the coming intensity. Let me cross that stream now, while its easy, and burn every bridge back to the false comfort of this world!
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