Why tribulation?

Halbhh

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When God allows our faith to be tested by tribulation, is it so we will know how weak we are, or is it so God will know? It seems to me that God already knows me, and so perhaps its me who needs to know God and myself.

---This answer was presuming 'tribulation' in the OP meant the Great Tribulation of the end times! Whoops! Not the tribulation meant....
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Be interesting to see it there are good answers. I've only had the thought that those dramatic events could, just like in the Old Testament, serve as direct evidence for some people that are the kind of people that need direct evidence, and/or fear. Powerful events that radically alter their lives.

Because of our great technology and decadence....

That because of our Tower, our pride, our power, out technology...the lostness these cause for so many.

That this could be the only way to get through to some people, in those days, who might not otherwise turn and be saved, except for such events. That more might be saved.
 
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JESUS=G.O.A.T

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When God allows our faith to be tested by tribulation, is it so we will know how weak we are, or is it so God will know? It seems to me that God already knows me, and so perhaps its me who needs to know God and myself.
good question I would say it's for us to know ourselves. One of my favorite verse indicates that as well, God knows what we are and what we can become and need to develop so he sends us in tribulations so we can discover that and develop that for ourselves.


Romans 5:3-4King James Version (KJV)
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
 
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W2L

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Be interesting to see it there are good answers. I've only had the thought that those dramatic events could, just like in the Old Testament, serve as direct evidence for some people that are the kind of people that need direct evidence, and/or fear. Powerful events that radically alter their lives.

Because of our great technology and decadence....

That because of our Tower, our pride, our power, out technology...that this could be the only way to get through to some people, in those days, who might not otherwise turn and be saved, except for such events.
Thanks for the re. Yes it will be interesting.
 
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W2L

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good question I would say it's for us to know ourselves. One of my favorite verse indicates that as well, God knows what we are and what we can become and need to develop so he sends us in tribulations so we can discover that and develop that for ourselves.


Romans 5:3-4King James Version (KJV)
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
Thank you. Here are more scriptures i just posted on another thread.

1 Peter 1:6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.


Acts 14:22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

2 Corinthians 1:8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does[a] deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
 
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Hidden In Him

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When God allows our faith to be tested by tribulation, is it so we will know how weak we are, or is it so God will know? It seems to me that God already knows me, and so perhaps its me who needs to know God and myself.

Yeah. It's so we will know. But it serves other purposes also. It builds endurance (James 1:3), and it proves our faith like gold purified in the fire (1 Peter 1:7).
 
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OrthodoxyUSA

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When God allows our faith to be tested by tribulation, is it so we will know how weak we are, or is it so God will know?
I don't think it either of these. Tribulations can come from many things.
I believe in Divine Providence. All things worked though him are for good. Sometimes it might just be an opportunity for others to serve.

Forgive me...
 
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W2L

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I don't think it either of these. Tribulations can come from many things.
I believe in Divine Providence. All things worked though him are for good. Sometimes it might just be an opportunity for others to serve.

Forgive me...
Look at Pauls words here. He says that they endured great hardship, so much that they despaired of life itself. This was so they could experience the resurrection of the dead, in a spiritual sense, and so they would learn to trust in God who raises the dead.

2 Corinthians 1:8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does[a] deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
 
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Halbhh

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I don't think it either of these. Tribulations can come from many things.
I believe in Divine Providence. All things worked though him are for good. Sometimes it might just be an opportunity for others to serve.

Forgive me...

Yes, we already have our testing before the tribulation. The answers about testing are pointing at a true thing, but not really about the tribulation it seems. Severe testing has happened to people often and in many ways.

So, the tribulation must have another reason entirely unconnected to testing.
 
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Halbhh

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Huh? Are we reading the same scriptures?

You're point about testing is 100% true. But it already happens without the Great Tribulation. Isn't your question in the OP about the coming Great Tribulation?

OH!....lol, Tower of Babel strikes again. Sorry!

You meant only normal tribulations that happen now. You've already got the answer to that one. :=)
 
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W2L

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You're point about testing is 100% true. But it already happens without the Great Tribulation. Isn't your question in the OP about the coming Great Tribulation?
No, im not referring to the great tribulation. Im referring to any and all hardships that we face. I believe this is what the scriptures i posted are referring to.
 
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Halbhh

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Thank you. Here are more scriptures i just posted on another thread.

1 Peter 1:6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.


Acts 14:22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

2 Corinthians 1:8 For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, 10 who delivered us from so great a death, and does[a] deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us, 11 you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Good set of helpful quotes. I was struck by the wording in 2 Cor 1, "...burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life." ! Wow. That can happen, but that it happened even to one as strong, very strong, as Paul.
 
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Halbhh

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Yeah. It's so we will know. But it serves other purposes also. It builds endurance (James 1:3), and it proves our faith like gold purified in the fire (1 Peter 1:7).

Glad I opened up that 1 Peter 1 chapter. Such a nice verse there.
 
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bling

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When God allows our faith to be tested by tribulation, is it so we will know how weak we are, or is it so God will know? It seems to me that God already knows me, and so perhaps its me who needs to know God and myself.
Tribulations are opportunities to succeed and not for failure.
 
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2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Btw W2L, sorry about speed reading through Post #5 or I would have noticed you had already cited those verses I did. This particular verse brings up yet another reason: It gives God the ability to manifest His power through us in our weakness. Paul was beaten half to death several times, and even was stoned to death at one point. And yet the power of God continued to raise him up supernaturally to continue his ministry. Regardless of what the Devil threw at him, nothing could stop Paul, and his time was not up until GOD finally said his time was up. :oldthumbsup:
 
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