For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. Matthew 24:21 ESV
“No, I’ve read the end of the book, and I know how this story ends: It ends with God ruling and me living with Him!”
That believer’s confidence is well-placed, but we must remind ourselves that the worst period in world history will occur between today and the end of the book (Bible). The prophecies of Daniel, Revelation and the Olivet Discourse explain God will send a concentrated period (seven years) of intense judgment against the world in the future. Jesus spoke of it as a “time never before seen, nor will ever be seen again.” In other words, the ten worst periods in world history to date are nothing but a warm-up for what is to come. It should be no surprise that we refer to this future period as “The Great Tribulation.” Perhaps “The Greatest Tribulation” would be a more fitting term, though.
The Bible says there will be wars and rumors of wars, unprecedented famine, earthquakes that will displace islands, freak storms featuring hail of incredible size, volcanic eruptions that will likely change the world’s climate, meteor damage, the unleashing of the worst demonic angels from their current prison, the climactic Battle of Armageddon for all the marbles… And all of that is just barely scratching the surface.
The newspaper headlines will talk about one disaster after another for the space of seven years. The people will go to bed talking about one disaster only to wake up the next morning talking about a new disaster! At the end of those seven years, more than two billion people will be dead and there will be nothing the United Nations can do to stop it. “The great day of His wrath has come and who shall be able to withstand it?” (Revelation 6:17).
But do you know how the book of the Revelation ends? It ends, “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life”(22:17).
God finishes His book by reaching out to a lost, dying world and saying, “Come to Me and let Me give you the free gift of eternal salvation! You need to get right with Me so I encourage you to come and let us reason together; though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool. So come to me.” Aren’t you glad He invited you?
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