 The Tribulation Jesus spoke of was a time of trouble on "this people," the Jews, beginning when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem — not a 7-year period in the end times as Left Behind teaches. According to Martin Luther: "...Luke expresses it clearly in these words, 21, 20f: 'But when ye see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that our desolation is at hand. Then let them that are in Judea flee unto the mountains; and let them that are in the midst of her depart out; and let not them that are in the country enter therein. For these are days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.' And further, "'Woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days! And pray ye that your flight may be not in the winter, neither on a Sabbath: for then shall be great tribulation, such as had not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.' "All this pertains still to the Jewish nation. For if this should come upon us at the end of the world, then would we, according to the text, have to be in the land of Judea, because he really points to that country. It is also true, when he says that no greater calamity has been or can be upon the earth than was at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem; as we see in history, how unmercifully they were slaughtered and even killed one another, cast themselves into the fire, and permitted themselves to kill one another. Yea, the famine was so great that they ate the strings of cross-bows and even their own children. It was so shameful and abominable that like pity and distress shall never be heard again. ...Thus far Jesus speaks concerning the Jews." —Martin Luther, "Sermon for the Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Trinity; Matthew 24:15-28" from his Church Postil, first published in 1525, (bolded for emphasis) available online at http://www.orlutheran.com/mlsemt2415.html
Compare these parallel passages from the Gospels, first in the New International Version:
...and then in the King James Version:
The tribulation would continue a VERY LONG TIME from 70 A.D., and would climax in the Holocaust. It would end when the "times of the Gentiles" would end, and Israel would be restored to the Promised Land. Surviving Jews would 'possess the kingdom' Israel (1948) Daniel 7:22,27 This would set the stage for the Messiah's triumphant return, which is preceded by an international move against Jewish Jerusalem. (See JerusalemVerses.com and BlueHelmetsToJerusalem.com)  After the Tribulation's climax in the Holocaust, the nation of Israel was restored, and the heavens lost their power as men began to rocket into space. The heavenly bodies figuratively fell from the sky, as they came within mankind's reach. |
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Daniel's 70th week came right after the 69 weeks, not 2000 years later as an end-times tribulation as Left Behind teaches. "Christ confirmed the covenant with many during the last week..." - John Calvin MORE |
The Tribulation Jesus spoke of was a tribulation on "this people," the Jews, beginning when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem — not a 7-year period in the end times as Left Behind teaches. "'for then shall be great tribulation, such as had not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever shall be.' All this pertains still to the Jewish nation." - Martin Luther MORE |
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The Antichrist is not a future leader like Left Behind's Nicolae Carpathia, but came to power when the Roman Empire, which was restraining it, got out of the way. The papacy and Islam are "the two horns of Antichrist." - John Calvin MORE |
The Temple in Jerusalem does not need to be rebuilt, with its priesthood and sacrifices, to fulfill prophecy. "He will make to cease the sacrifice and offering ... Christ ... offered himself up as a victim, then all the rites of the law came to a close." - John Calvin MORE |
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The Abomination of Desolation was fulfilled by the Romans at the desolation of Jerusalem. "But the abomination of which Daniel writes is that the Emperor Cajus, as history tells, had put his image in the temple at Jerusalem as an idol, for the people to worship, after everything there had been destroyed." - Martin Luther MORE |
No 7-year "second chance" for unbelievers after the Rapture. Christ is coming once, not twice as Left Behind claims. 'the Lord himself shall descend from heaven ... Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up ... to meet the Lord in the air ... then sudden destruction cometh upon them ... and they shall not escape.' - Paul MORE |
| RELATED SITES: 1260days The Tribulation, the Antichrist and end-times events in the light of the Holocaust, the restoration of Israel and the rise of radical Islam AnswerJW.com AnswerJW.com helps you answer Jehovah's Witnesses from the Bible BeastsOfRevelation The 7-headed beast of Rev. 13 is a composite of the 4 beasts of Daniel 7, which were the empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. So it appears to represent human rulership, a monster empowered by the dragon, Satan the Devil. BibleForetoldHolocaust.com The Third Reich murdered more than 6 million Jews. Holy Scripture foretold this would happen. BlueHelmetsToJerusalem The prophecies about Jerusalem have serious implications for our modern world. Complete book to download or read online. Comments from the Friends Complete books and booklets online refuting Jehovah's Witnesses, including How to get Jehovah'sWitnesses to LISTEN and After Death - what? ...according to Jesus Christians, Repent! Jesus tells Christians, "Repent, or else..." Jerusalem Verses Many blame worldwide terror on the situation in and around Jerusalem. Long ago the Bible foretold a time when the world would focus on that Holy City. LeftBehindAnswered.com The new LEFT BEHIND teachings answered from Scripture. Will unbelievers get a 7-year second chance after the rapture? Not according to Luther and Calvin. Left Behind Answered Verse by Verse Read online the complete book LEFT BEHIND Answered Verse by Verse from David A. Reed, author of Mormons Answered Verse by Verse and Jehovahs Witnesses Answered Verse by Verse Messiah Is Coming Don't let so-called Jews turn you away from the living God! Don't let so-called Christians turn you away from the Messiah! ProphecyTimeline Prophecy was fulfilled by the Holocaust, by the restoration of Israel to the Promised Land, and by the end of Gentile control over Jerusalem. The Great Tribulation A future time ruled by the Antichrist? Not according to Scripture. Compare the same passage in Matthew and Luke. Why Believe the Bible Two predictions can be used to prove the Bible reliable. The first is the prophecy that the gods of the Gentile nations would be forgotten, in favor of the God of Abraham. Why Read the Bible You get the full flavor of the written Word of God only when you read it in its own context - not when a few verses are sandwiched into a book or sermon. |