Defining the "Great" Tribulation

[vinsight4u]

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[shturt678]

Don't miss that Rev. 7 shows the harm times are divided up into parts.

hurt the earth
sea
trees


The first trumpet harms the trees.
The plague will occur because of the actions of the four angels of Rev. 7 that were given ways to hurt by the sealing set of angels that came from the east as ascending.


This means that elsewhere in Rev. is where John saw them descend first.

First and foremost, not so "literal." The 1st Trumpet is of the greatest import today! Just your ol' old friend Jack. Good to hear your voice again.

 

[vinsight4u]

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[vinsight4u]

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[vinsight4u]

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[Manasseh_]

I have seen certain perspectives where the "Great" Tribulation is viewed as an extension, or the "worse half" of the tribulation period. Whereas others say that it is simply to provide an additional detail on the severity of end time events in general, and does not necessarily distinguish between periods within the tribulation. Just to see the kinds of opinions on here, and if we were to go with the former...what exactly would be considered the Great Tribulation? What distinguishes it?

Christ defined it simply and clearly in his Olivet prophecy

He said it would be the worst time of trouble in mankind's history, no other time can be compared to it

then he went on to add that if God didn't directly intervene in this worst time of trouble mankind would annihilate all flesh (all living thngs) from the earth, but because his elect are still here at the time this happens he cuts it short before wicked men are allowed to do this

 

[Interplanner]

'Ges' often means just the land of Israel in the gospels. In mt 24 we already have the parallel to the preaching throughout Israel (Mt 10), which was maybe never finished--the language is very similar. Either way, there is the matter of speaking to Israel first so as to save the land. Mt 5's salt of the earth is easily understood as the preserving the land of Israel from destruction: his followers were not to be part of the rebellious/messianic crowd, and were even told to help soldiers. Paul seems to understand the whole end happening so fast, that he was compelled to get to all the nations he could, and even says it was preached to all nations twice; Col 1 and 1 Tim 2.

The worst time is relative to Israel's history. Given the fact that 'much is required of those whom much is given' it really was the worst. As for saving the elect, he had elect in Israel he wanted to save, and so told them to leave upon the imminent surrounding of the city.

I think Jesus puts it quite simply too, just not as future as you, until v29. Before that it is about Judea, direct, present danger, practical. After 29, with some similarities drawn, it is global and after the DofJ, with the allowance that the end was to be decided by the Father.