Has the tribulation already happened?, page 1

Originally posted by scitzomonk
Can anyone explain what tribulation is?
I've guessed somewhat, that its going to be when the proverbial hits the fan, in a very bad way for humans.

I'm hoping it was Ceaser Nero personally..

My half-patched opinion on biblical texts, think back how long ago it was, how many times its been edited to omit certain things/add certain things and that its been translated a few times. It might not be for a couple of thousands years yet. Or might not happen at all *fingers crossed*

matthew 24:[21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
[22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

tribulation - : distress or suffering resulting from oppression or persecution ; also : a trying experience

if you read in revelation 6
[12] And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
[13] And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.
[14] And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.
[15] And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
[16] And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
[17] For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

i just want to focus on the mountains for a moment. mountains are sometimes symbolically representative of governments or structures of society and have this apparent permenance. after all, you cant move a mountain unless you have huge amounts of power. otherwise its just always there.

well there will be a time in the future where the world is ¨shaken¨. what seemed stable in the past will seem to fall apart.

the initial fulfillment of matt 24:21 was quite disturbing. the romans sieged jerusalem but then retreated giving the christians (who heeded jesus´warning) time to get out. when the romans returned, they built a palisade wall around the city to control the traffic. they also happened to attack during one of the festivals, so they allowed jews in, but then wouldnt let them leave.

so now imagine yourself stuck in jerusalem. theres no food and you cant leave. if you leave then you will be crucified to the palisade wall. you cant fight your way out and the city is in a constant state of fighting. everything you knew, all the faith you had in jerusalem (probably you would thing ¨jerusalem cant fall!¨) would be shattered. your daily routine. everything you were familiar with is gone. in that respect, your mountains have ¨moved¨

josephus who was a historian of the time said that some were eating their own babies. that is definetly a great tribulation.

the global great tribulation will be bad. likely elements of this system of living will begin to fall apart. staples that we depend on will be scarce. then you can imagine all the things that usually result from a situation like that. i wouldnt be surprised if there are riots and wars that result from all of this. likely people will do desperate things to survive.

those days have to be cut short. in other words armageddon has to come early (before the great tribulation can play out) otherwise noone would survive.

so the great tribulation gets so bad that if god didnt intervene, human life on earth would be eradicated. (the passage also has a spiritual fulfillment but that a different topic)

[edit on 17-1-2009 by miriam0566]