We are currently studying the book of Revelation in our evening study time. The messages are online at www.northwoodsbaptist.com
In Revelation 1:9 John writes:
I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
The phrase "tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience" is very important in understanding what John is writing about in this book. Unfortunately many things are not evident in the English.
In the Greek, the article is before tribulation, and all of the nouns, tribulation, kingdom, and patience are in the same case as the article, indicating that this whole phrase functions as a unit. This means that the tribulation, kingdom and patience cannot be separated in John's (inspired by God) thought. Therefore, it is foreign to John and God Himself that the tribulation and the kingdom could be separated, along with the patience.
Those who separate the tribulation from the kingdom, therefore, twist the Scriptures.
It is also quite important to understand this if you are a professing Christian. If your aim is the kingdom, you should know that you are in the tribulation of which John writes.
John himself identifies himself as a partaker in the tribulation, kingdom and patience, and all those who are in Jesus Christ, are his brothers and companions in all three, tribulation, kingdom and patience.
Do not be deceived by those who separate the tribulation and kingdom. Do not be deceived by those who say the tribulation is yet future. It is now.
2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
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Dear Rick,
ReplyDeleteYou said "Do not be deceived by those who say the tribulation is yet future. It is now." Normally when people say that the tribulation is in the future they are referring to the tribulation that will come just before Christ returns. I was wondering if you could clarify a little bit. When you say the tribulation is now are you referring to the tribulation that all people that try to live Godly and follow Christ will face? Or are you referring to the great tribulation that will come right before Christ returns?
Mike
Hi Mike
ReplyDeleteThe tribulation according to Scripture, more specifically according to the apostle John, is not some future event that will come right before Christ returns, but is associated with being in Jesus Christ.
In Rev. 1:9, John groups the tribulation, kingdom and patience together as one unit. There is one article in the Greek, the nouns "tribulation, kingdom, and patience" are all in the same case as the article, and therefore, they cannot be separated.
Other translations have "in Jesus" rather than "of Jesus" as the KJV has. "in Jesus" is the correct translation. The tribulation which John is writing about in the whole book of Revelation is that tribulation which comes upon all saints in Jesus. The tribulation is not related to some specific time (yet future) but it is related to a particular location, in Jesus, and therefore, related to faith.
Normally when Christians say that the tribulation is future, it is because they do not understand that the tribulation is now, of which John writes.
Antipas was a faithful martyr, in Rev. 2:13. The things which John writes he himself is involved in. He was not writing of some future tribulation, but the tribulation all saints would go through who are in Jesus Christ.
What the saints are experiencing in China, India, Indonesia, and other nations is the tribulation that John wrote about. North America has been isolated from this for many years, but with the way things are going here, the same tribulation that other Christians have been experienced in other nations, shall be once again experienced here.
There are saints being arrested for their faith in the USA because they voice God's word against sin.
Rick