The Remaining Prophetic Timeline
Part 2 – The Tribulation Period
Dr. Jesse Martinez
I. The Tribulation
- The tribulation of the Church (cf. 1 Thessalonians 3:1-4; Colossians 1:24)
- This is the persecution of the Church, not the prophetic Tribulation period spoken of by the prophets and by Jesus.
- That the Church has suffered persecution is obvious to the casual observer (cf. Revelation 2:8-11)
- The tribulation of Israel (cf. Jeremiah 30:4-9)
- Israel is the focus of the Tribulation period
- v. 4 – “concerning Israel and concerning Judah”; not the Church
- v. 5-6 – “trembling… fear… paleness?”; tribulation
- v. 7 – “Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”; not the Church, but Israel!
- v. 8 – “that I will break his yoke from off thy neck… strangers shall no more serve themselves of him”; Israelites were not slaves in Assyria nor Babylon, hence this being a reference of a future event.
- v. 9 – “… and David their king, whom I will raise up…” Jesus Christ, King of Kings!
- Jesus called this time “the beginning of sorrows” (cf. Matthew 24:8)
- A parallel is observed between Jesus’ warnings in Matthew 24:5-9 and the first five seals of Revelation 6:1-11.
- False Messiahs who will mislead many; Seal One (cf. Matthew 24:5; Revelation 6:2)
- Wars, rumors of wars, nation rising against nation; Seal Two (cf. Matthew 24:6; Revelation 6:3-4)
- Famines; Seal Three (cf. Matthew 24:7; Revelation 6:5-6)
- Death through famine, pestilences, and earthquakes; Seal Four (cf. Matthew 24:7; Revelation 6:7-8)
- Believer’s delivered up and killed; Seal Five (cf. Matthew 24:9; Revelation 6:9-11)
- A parallel is observed between Jesus’ warnings in Matthew 24:5-9 and the first five seals of Revelation 6:1-11.
- Israel is the focus of the Tribulation period