What About The Great Tribulation?

Since we maintain that biblical eschatology has been fulfilled, the question above is a quite natural one. Christ said in Matthew 24:21-22, "...for then there will be a great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall. And unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short." It is argued that Christ's coming will be preceded by or followed by (depending on one's view) a time of upheaval like has never been witnessed before, and will never be equaled again.

From a casual reading of our English translation, it is easy to see how must of us accepted that view. While it would be silly to suggest the following argument as a proof of fulfillment, it is a rather obvious conclusion that even today there has never been a worse conflict than the worst one history records. How would we be able to identify THE tribulation before the fact?

Fortunately, we are not left to such musings. To understand what Christ is saying in this passage, we must understand the "world" He has in view. It is not planet earth, but the  kosmos or system. The world/system was that of Old Covenant Judaism (see  Heaven and Earth).

From it's bondage in Egypt to its fall in A.D. 70, Israel's history is marked by periods of tribulation. Christ warned that something was about to happen that was so bad it could never be repeated. It is this portion of the warning that raises doubts about the tribulation surrounding the fall of the city.

Those who heed the history understand why the horror of that period could never be repeated or surpassed. To be very direct, it could never happen again because their world ceased to exist and, contrary to popular teaching it never will be reestablished! Now many will claim the modern state of Israel is reestablished biblical Israel, but as we demonstrate elsewhere on this site, that is not biblically permissible. God divorced the physical nation of Israel and redeemed true Israel (those who receive Christ as Messiah).

Some will take that statement to be anti-Semitic but it is certainly not intended that way. Even the Rabbis teach that biblical Judaism ended in A.D. 70. All the records were lost. No Jew can prove their identity. There is no biblical prescription for a new priesthood except the priesthood of Christ and His followers. That will certainly not prevent some from rebuilding the temple and reestablishing the sacrificial system with all its ordinances. Nonetheless, if that happens it will simply be the work of man and not a fulfillment of prophecy.

We hold that the gospel is available to all those claiming Jewish heritage and that as many as the Lord may call will be saved throughout all generations. We find the popular view that two-thirds of the Jewish population will perish at some point in the future to be most inhospitable toward them. We much prefer an optimistic view!

It is amazing that many Christians hold to the idea that so many must perish in Jerusalem, and at the same time are involved in trying to get as many Jews as possible to migrate from all over the world to this location where most will perish! Can you see the patent absurdity in that?

In conclusion, it makes much better sense of scripture to understand that the tribulation which fell on Jerusalem in the years immediately prior to it is fall is precisely what Christ prophesied. He made it clear that this tribulation would fall on that first century generation. Why?

It was the only generation which physically witnessed God Incarnate and rejected Him. They refused His release and ask Pilate to release "son of no one" (Barabbas) instead of The Son of The Father. Some have suggested that Barabbas' name suggests he was a bastard and that may well be the case. It would indeed make a stark contrast in the decision before those who crucified Christ.

That aside, the real significance lies in the fact that Christ's generation rejected Him. Not only that, but they did so with the affirmation, "His blood be on us and our children". Such a proclamation set the stage for the greatest crime in history and the greatest crime necessitates the greatest punishment.

It is no wonder that on Pentecost Peter urged his hearers to "save yourselves from this untoward generation". The wrath of God was about to be poured out like it never had been before. Their entire world was about to collapse and  "new heaven and new earth" would arise.

Since this crime can never again be repeated, the justice it required will never be meted out again. The fall of Jerusalem was the greatest catastrophe in the history of God's chosen people. That generation filled up the measure of sin and received its recompense in God's wrath in A.D. 70 as judgment for crucifying the Lord of Glory.

Those looking for a future fulfillment of "the great tribulation" hold a pessimistic outlook that not only shrouds their worldview in darkness but makes it unappealing to the masses who long for the promise of a better day.

The night has passed away. The Daystar of Zion has arisen. Proclaim the glory of the Lord!

© Copyright 2003 ~ Jim Wade