On Matthew 24:21 and Revelation 7:14.
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Many preachers give long and hot sermons about a coming time of horrors, often calling
it the Great Tribulation. Unfortunately, their preaching tends to contain things
that are not biblical; they merely use hot sermons about a coming tribulation as
a tool for controlling their followers through fear.
The important thing is to find out, what does the Bible say about the Great Tribulation? What is the biblical teaching regarding that subject? What is the timing of the tribulation-periods that are mentioned in Matthew 24:21 and Revelation 7:14, and what are they like? Also: Does Matthew 24 point to the events of the first century, or to the future events in what we view as "the end time" – or to both times? Further: Who are subjected to those tribulations (persecutions), and who are allowed to escape, such as to a place of safety of some kind? What do the Scriptures in actual fact have to say about this matter? This essay takes a closer look at that subject.
This is really study on Matthew 24:21 and Revelation 7:14 and their context, because those are the most relevant passages in this regard, but even other scriptures will be considered, among them Mark 13 which contains a parallel to Matthew 24. In this study, it will be shown that one of the passages which many preachers love to quote, is about events that have already taken place, during the first century. But yes, certain things in the Bible indicate that there will a "tribulation" even in the future – a time when people who turn to God, will be intensely persecuted. That is why it is important to find out what the Bible actually says about tribulation or tribulations.
A note: Some preachers want people to think that the great tribulation refers to some "world war", or an attack by some nation against some other nation, or something like that. Also, some preachers want people to think that it is God who causes the tribulation. But, that is not what the Bible says. In the New Testament, the Greek word in question is thlipsis. It refers to such things as oppression and persecution. In the NT, the word thlipsis mostly refers to the persecution and other similar troubles that the saints were subjected to, by the Jews and the world in general, and by the Roman government. (Saints: People of the apostles' day.) In other words: That thlipsis (oppression, persecution, "tribulation") was not something that God did, but something that people did, against the saints. And, as will be shown below, the same applies to the thlipsis or oppression that is to come in what we view as "the end time".
Here are the passages in question:
Matthew 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. (KJV-1769)
Revelation 2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. (KJV-1769)
Revelation 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (KJV-1769)
Additionally, this passage contains the same Greek words as the ones quoted above:
Acts 7:11 Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance. (KJV-1769)
The Greek wordings:
The word thlipsis, without megalê as a companion, occurs in many other places in the Greek text of the New Testament, totally in circa 43 passages. The 1769 KJ version renders that word 21 times as "tribulation", 18 times as "affliction"; 3 times as "trouble", and 1 time each as "anguish", "persecution" and "burdened". (The NASB translates it as 20 times "affliction[s]", 20 times as "tribulation[s]", 2 times as "distress", and 1 times each as "anguish", "persecution" and "trouble".)
The time of affliction (thlipsis megalê) which is mentioned in Acts 7:11, is an event of the past:
Acts 7:11 Now there was no food to be had in all Egypt and Canaan, and there was great trouble: and our fathers were not able to get food. (BBE)
Even Revelation 2:22 refers to an event of the past. It talks about things in a certain assembly of saints who lived here on Earth in the apostle John's day:
Revelation 2:22 See, I will put her into a bed, and those who make themselves unclean with her, into great trouble, if they go on with her works. (BBE)
A note in connection with that verse: Those who have been subjected to the "church eras" dogma, should read the essay ea03d.htm which makes it clear that the Bible does not mention any such thing as "eras of the church" and does not in the slightest way even indicate that such "eras" would come to exist. (Apparently, the "church eras" dogma was invented in the 1800s, by the Freemason and Baptist preacher William Miller. Again, the essay ea03d.htm sorts out that matter.)
Again, only four NT passages contain the phrase "great tribulation" or the words thlipsis and megalê. As was shown above, two of them, Acts 7:11 and Revelation 2:22, refer to things took place in the first century. This leaves us only Matthew 24:21 and Revelation 7:14 as objects of study.
Let us begin by taking a look at the meanings of the English, Latin and Greek words in question.
Most English bible-versions, instead of translating things properly, copy the Catholic Vulgate version and use its Latin word tribulatio, merely adding an "n" to its end. This is the Vulgate's wording in Matthew 24:21:
erit enim tunc tribulatio magna qualis non fuit ab initio mundi usque modo neque fiet
That for instance the KJ version has copied and used Latin words from the Vulgate instead of translating the Greek text into proper English, has led to many misunderstandings. The confusion has been made worse by all kinds of religious dogmas and misconceptions that have been built around the Latinism tribulation.
Let us now take a look at the Latin noun tribulatio. It came from the Latin verb tribulo which literally meant "to press" and by extension also "to oppress", "to afflict". Related Latin words: A tribula or tribulum was a threshing-sledge with iron teeth; tribulus and tribulosis referred to thorns or thistles.
But, that was Latin. The New Testament manuscripts are written in Greek. The word in the Greek text of Matthew 24:21 is thlipsis, related to the verb thlibô which literally meant "to press" and by extension "to oppress", "to afflict". (A note: In old Greek, the related words thlibôdês and thliberos were used in the meaning "oppressive".) In the New Testament, the word thlipsis mostly referred to the persecution and other similar troubles that the saints were subjected to. (Saints: People of the apostles' day.) There is more on this, and also some examples on how thlipsis was used in the Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament, in a footnote towards the end of this present treatise.
That was regarding Matthew 24:21 (and even Mark 13:19); there is more on those verses, below. Also Revelation 7:14 mentions a time of great oppression, in the Greek text tês thlipseôs tês megalês, which an innumerable multitude of people will be subjected to. That has not taken place yet. It will be a time when the word severely oppresses those who turn to God. Many will even be killed. Please note that that oppression is not something that God will bring on people, but rather something the world will bring upon those who turn to God. There is more on this, later in this essay.
Important: The coming time of persecution ("tribulation") of Revelation 7:14 is one thing, and the Day of the Lord (or the Time of the Lord) is another thing. Those are not the same; they are two separate and different things, time-wise close to each other but not simultaneous.
The problem with this matter is that most everybody "knows" what the Great Tribulation is. That is, they have read or heard what some church or preacher has said about it. But, it seems that very few have open-mindedly studied what the Bible actually says about that matter.
Connected to this matter, there are certain other, related subjects such as the identity and timing of the 144,000 and the great multitude. (The essay et03c.htm has more on those groups.) Even there, many have accepted church dogmas, instead of carefully checking things up in the Bible.
As was mentioned earlier, the persecution ("tribulation") that is mentioned in Revelation 7:14, is clearly a still future thing. So, there is a tribulation to come.
But, most of the other occurrences of the word thlipsis in the New Testament refer to persecution and oppression that the saints were subjected to – past time, things of the past. (Saints: People of the apostles' day, in the first century.) Below, it will be shown and made clear that this applies even to Matthew 24:9-29 and Mark 13:19-24.
Let us first take a closer look at Matthew 24. It records how Jesus spoke to his disciples and told them about things that were imminent and would soon happen. (Important: When one reads that chapter, one must realise and keep in mind that when Jesus said "you", he did not refer to people of our day but to the people he was talking to.)
Matthew 24:9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation [Greek thlipsin] and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10 "And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 "And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 "But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (NKJV, comment added)
Again, please note that this was something that Jesus said to his disciples, and perhaps also to the Jews in general – people of those days. Later in the first century, the persecution which Jesus spoke about, did come to happen, just as he had foretold. Not only were the saints severely persecuted (by both the Jews and the Roman government), but also the Jewish nation was severely distressed and almost wiped out. Had not that persecution and those troubles (thlipsis) been stopped, perhaps not a single Jew would have been saved alive. But as things went, the Roman soldiers killed "only" some three million Jews (3,000,000).
Jesus made it very clear that that particular persecution would take place during the lifetime of those whom he was addressing. (Again, when you read this, make sure to keep in mind that when Jesus said "you", he referred to the people whom he was talking to, and not to people of our day.)
Matthew 24:31 "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. (NKJV)
In short: That particular persecution or tribulation is an event of the past. Many saints were subjected to that persecution ("tribulation"), but the Lord put and end to that, cutting that persecution short. That was done by simply taking the surviving saints away, up to Jesus. They were allowed to escape, to a place of safety – in Heaven.
Yes, that happened in the first century. Jesus did not lie to those saints when he said that he would come for them. He did come for them, and took them away, [A] just as he had promised. There is more on this below, and especially in the essay eg04b.htm. There is also the matter of "trumpets". The essay et06d.htm has more on that subject, but in short: There are trumpets (of both God and angels) for what from our view point is "end time", but the particular trumpet that is mentioned in Matthew 24:31, 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16 was sounded in the first century and is a thing of the past.
[A] Took them away – where? Well, let us read the answer to that question in John 14:
John 14:2 In my Father's house are rooms enough; if it was not so, would I have said that I am going to make ready a place for you? 3 And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to be with me, so that you may be where I am. (BBE)
That is, Jesus took those saints to his Father's house in Heaven, just as he promised that he would.
A side-note: Strangely, certain churches that have "the great tribulation" as a very central dogma, at the same time deny the totally clear biblical fact that the saints were to be taken to Heaven. Further, they have created a dogma regarding an earthly place of safety. But, the Bible has only good things to say about Heaven and makes it clear that the saints were to go there (and to stay there). Also, the Bible does not mention any earthly safe place. (The essays eb04c.htm, eb05b.htm and ex11b.htm have more on the saints and Heaven.) Also, those churches and their preachers handily sweep aside the true saints, the "first-fruits" group of 144,000 of the first century, as if they never existed. There is more on the first-fruits matter, below, and especially in the essay et03c.htm which contains a closer study on the 144,000 and the great multitude. The essay eb09c.htm sorts out the matter of resurrections.
But again, other bible-passages such as Revelation 7:14 indicate that even in what we view as "the end time", there will be a time of intense persecution, similar to what happened to the saints in the first century. Apparently, that will happen in the days when the two witnesses are active.
For various reasons, churches and preachers try to explain away Jesus' clear words (Matthew 24:34), and claim that when he said that those things were to happen during the lifetime of those whom he was talking to, he supposedly did not at all mean that. But, Jesus was not lying to those people. When he told them that those things would happen during their lifetime, he meant precisely that. And, he certainly knew what he was talking about.
The problem is that the meaning of Jesus' words has been misrepresented, partially through misleading bible-translations but mostly through erroneous dogmas where his words have been twisted in various ways. Many people have been subjected to misleading dogmas regarding the saints, Heaven, resurrections, and many other things – and their timings. Because of that, many may find this hard to understand, but that does not change the facts. Again, the above-quoted things, those that are recorded in Matthew 24, were fulfilled in the first century and are past time. But again, the Bible indicates that even in what we in our day view as "the end time", there will be a similar time of persecution (and a trumpet-blast that will mark its end). There is more on this, below.
We read:
Revelation 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen." 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir, you know." So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple. And He who sits on the throne will dwell among them. 16 "They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 "for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (NKJV)
Verse 14, "these are the ones who come out of the great tribulation" – that is, the great multitude, see verse 9. (Well, also the first-fruits group of 144,000 – which consisted of people of the apostles' day – had to go through a persecution, but that was in the first century. The essay et03c.htm has more on that first-fruits group.)
It is important to understand, that in the future, in what we view as "end time", it is the great multitude who will be gathered up by the angels and taken up to Jesus, away from the oppression (tribulation). The 144,000 (the saints, people of the apostles' day) were taken up and away a long time ago, just as Jesus had promised them.
Again, a note: The group of 144,000 simply does not consist of people of our day. It consists of the first-fruits, the saints – people of the apostles' day, first century. The essay et03c.htm has more on the 144,000 and the great multitude, and shows that while the former group consists of people of the apostles' day, the latter group will come to consist of people of our day or later. It may be that the 144,000 saints will accompany Jesus when he comes for those (the great multitude) who in that still future time turn to God, but it is important to understand that the 144,000 were raised up (or changed) and gathered up to Jesus, a long time ago. The essay eb09c.htm on when the saints who had died, were raised up ("resurrected"), and when those who did not or do not have the Holy Spirit when they died, will be raised up. Please also read the essay eg02c.htm; it makes these things easier to understand.
Another note: It may be that many in the "great multitude" will not be raised up at all – just as it was when the saints were taken away. That is, it seems that a part of that multitude will not die and will thus not need to be raised, but will instead be changed and become immortals, just as it was for the saints in the first century.
In the first century, the saints were sealed. The seal they received was the Holy Spirit – see 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13 and Ephesians 4:30.
Also, it is important to understand that the group of 144,000 of Revelation 14:1-4 consists of the first-fruits, that is, of people who were sealed with the Holy Spirit in the apostles' day. People of our day are not and cannot be a part of that first-fruits group. The essays eg03c.htm, eb01c.htm and eg02c.htm have more on this.
But, in days that are still to come, a great, "innumerable" multitude of people will be sealed by the Holy Spirit, just as the saints (people of the apostles' day) were sealed by the God's Spirit in the first century. Revelation 7 talks about the sealing.
A note: The great multitude has not been sealed yet, but it will be, before Jesus' return, most probably during the period of time when the two witnesses are active here on Earth. For understanding this, one must first understand the matter of the distribution of the Holy Spirit. The essay eb01c.htm has more on that subject.
Another note: Many people have only vague ideas regarding the two witnesses who are mentioned in Revelation 11, and regarding the nature and timing of their work. A more careful study of the matter indicates that their work will coincide with the coming great oppression ("tribulation"), and that they will be killed shortly before the angels gather up those who are sealed in those future days which we view as "end time". The essay et01e.htm has more on the two witnesses.
Those who have read the Bible with care, may have noted that there are trumpets of God, as well as trumpets of angels. More: The Bible makes it clear that the trumpet of the seventh angel cannot be the one which will declare Jesus' final return as the Lord of lords. The essay et06d.htm shows why this is so, and also considers the matter of the "last trumpet" which the apostle Paul mentioned, what he meant by that, and when that particular trumpet was sounded.
Regarding the trumpet that is mentioned in Matthew 24:31, 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – this may be a "hard thing" for many people, but that trumpet has nothing to do with what we view as "end time". It was connected to the saints and their taking up. (Saints: People of the apostles' day, first century.) That did happen. That is fulfilled prophecy. That is past time. There is more on this, in the second footnote towards the end of this present treatise, and also in the essay et06d.htm.
Many people are confused regarding these things, simply because they have been subjected to all kinds of unbiblical dogmas. One of those things is the matter of "resurrections". That subject is too large to be included here; the essay eb09c.htm has more on that matter.
For some people, especially in certain churches, the matter of Heaven is another big problem. This is because a number of preachers have caused their followers to fiercely reject Heaven, God's holy dwelling, and to turn their backs on it and to feel it to be "bad" to even mention the word Heaven. Indeed, despite what the Bible clearly says about the saints and Heaven, in certain churches people have been caused to have a virtual hate against Heaven, and to strongly feel that no man supposedly will ever go there, and that they should not do that, either. In short: There are Heaven-hating deceivers who have poisoned many people's minds.
Even though it may not be easy to see that directly, the matter of Heaven is in certain ways related to (the timing of) the great persecution (tribulation) – the one that still remains to come. In order to properly understand the nature and timing of that time of persecution, one must first understand the matter of the 144,000 and the great multitude, and the matter of the saints and Heaven; there is no way out of that – but, even that matter is too large to be included here. The essays eb04c.htm and eb05b.htm have more on Heaven.
On the first of those occasions, Jesus will "descend" from the Heavens of God, but will not come down to the surface of this planet. At that time, he will only send down his angels to take the sealed ones up to him.
A note: This with angels taking up the great multitude is not very clearly stated in the Bible. The angels of Matthew 24:31 were connected to the event when the saints were taken up to Jesus, in the first century. But, the Bible contains numerous hints and notes here and there, and they all add up to that there will be a similar event even in what from our viewpoint is "end time", for taking up the great multitude. "The harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are the angels", is one such passage. (Matthew 13 – one must read all of that parable, beginning with verse 24. The essay ew11c.htm has more on that parable.) And again, the essay et03c.htm has more on the 144,000 and the great multitude.
When the group who will be sealed in the future (the great multitude) has been taken away and are in Heaven (Revelation 7:9-17), after that, the seven angels (Revelation 8:2) will be allowed do their work of destruction, punishing and capturing the rebels who today still control this planet. That punishment-period ("the Day of the Lord", or more exactly, "the Time of the Lord") will take several months, perhaps even several years. It is only after those things, that Jesus will formally come down on the surface of this planet, as the Lord of lords.
The essay et06d.htm has more on the "trumpets" matter.
This has to do with such passages as Jeremiah 30. Anglo-Israelist preachers have confused many people, regarding who really will be punished and destroyed in what from our point of view is "end time". Often, those preachers talk about "the time of Jacob's trouble". But, those who check what chapter 30 in the book of Jeremiah really says, will find that it talks about a coming time when Israel will be restored and saved, while her enemies will be destroyed. The essay ey08c.htm has more on this.
For more on the fate and status of Israel's "lost" tribes in our day, see the essay ey01b.htm; see also the index-page keyw-t4.htm and look under the heading "Tribes of Israel".
A footnote regarding the use of the word thlipsis in the New Testament and in the LXX or Septuagint, an ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament.
First, some New Testament passages where the word thlipsis occurs:
Matthew 13:21 and 24:9, Mark 4:17, John 16:33, Acts 11:19, 14:22 and 20:23, Romans 5:3, 8:35 and 12:12, 2 Corinthians 1:4 and 8, 4:17, 6:4, 7:4 and 8:2, Ephesians 3:13, Philippians 1:16 and 4:14, Colossians 1:24, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 3:3, and 3:7, 2 Thessalonians 1:4 and 6, Hebrews 10:33, Revelation 1:9 and 2:9 and 10.
In those passages, the word thlipsis referred to troubles and oppression which the saints were subjected to, in one way or another. Not war or any such thing, but oppression and persecution which the saints were subject to. (Saints: People of the apostles' day, first century.)
And then, in a few New Testament passages, the word thlipsis referred to other things, such as a woman's pains when she gives birth (John 16:21), Joseph's imprisonment in Egypt (Acts 7:10), and also, a certain time of hunger (Acts 7:11).
In addition to the New Testament passages mentioned above, here are some examples of how thlipsis and related words were used in the Greek Septuagint translation of the Old Testament. These passages show that those words often refer to oppression:
| Bible passage | English word in the KJV | Septuagint (LXX) word |
| Exodus 22:21 (22:20 in the LXX) |
oppress | thlipsête (θλιπσητε) |
| Leviticus 19:33 | vex | thlipsete (θλιπσετε) |
| Deuteronomy 23:16 (23:17 in the LXX) |
oppress | thlipseis (θλιπσεις) |
| 1 Kings 22:27 | (bread of) affliction (in prison) | thlipseôs (θλιπσεως) |
| 2 Kings 13:4 | oppression | thlipsin (θλιπσηιν) |
| Nehemiah 9:27 | vexed | thlipseôs, ethlipsan, thlibontôn (θλιπσεως, ελιπσαν, θλιβοντων) |
| Psalms 34:6 (33:7 in the LXX) |
troubles (of a poor man) | thlipseôn (θλιπσεων) |
| Isaiah 49:26 | oppress | thlipsantes (θλιπσαντες) |
Thlipsis and other words that begin with thlip-, had other meanings
also, but the idiom behind them really was "to press" or "to oppress". That is,
in the context that we are discussing here, something that men do to other
men. Something that the world did against the saints, and something the world will
do against those who in the future will turn to God (the great multitude).
A footnote regarding the trumpet of Matthew 24:31, 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
Many people make the correct conclusion that the trumpet of Matthew 24:31 must be the same as that which the apostle Paul wrote about, 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16. But, however hard it might be, one must also understand that that particular trumpet-sounding was something that was to happen – and did happen – in the first century.
Consider the fact that Jesus was addressing, not people of our day but his disciples, people of those days. And, consider Jesus' clear statement regarding the time-frame of those events (notice especially verse 34 which gives the timing):
Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near: 33 So likewise you, when you shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. 34 Truly I say to you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. 35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (AKJV)
In short: The trumpet mentioned in verse 31, belongs to those days – it was an event that took place in the first century, during the life-time of the generation of people to whom Jesus on that occasion was talking to. The essays eg02c.htm and eg04b.htm have more on this.
Likewise, when the apostles Paul and Peter wrote to saints in different places, they wrote to them, and they wrote about events which were imminent and would take place during their lifetime.
Here, Paul wrote about a trumpet (clearly, the trumpet that Jesus had mentioned, the one that was to be sounded during the lifetime of those he spoke to, Matthew 24):
1 Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (AKJV)
Again – please note that Paul wrote those things, not to people of our day but to those saints in Corinth. When Paul wrote "we", that referred to those saints and Paul himself, and things and events during their lifetime. Not people of our day, but people of those days. Paul wrote to those saints about things which were soon to take place. And no, he was not "wrong in his timings" as some have claimed, neither was Jesus.
More, regarding that same trumpet:
1 Thessalonians 4:15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain to the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Why comfort one another with these words. (AKJV)
Even here, such words as "we" and "you" do not refer to people of our day. No, those words referred to those saints, people of the first century. And, as anyone can see, that was something the apostle Paul wrote, regarding things that he knew would soon take place, during the lifetime of the saints whom he was addressing.
The apostle Peter does not mention a trumpet in his letters, but they contain certain passages which are similar to what was quoted from Paul's letters, above. That is – even Peter wrote about events which he expected (knew) to shortly come to pass – and so did John.
In short: The particular trumpet which is mentioned in Matthew 24:31, 1 Corinthians 15:52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16, was connected to something that happened in the first century. That trumpet marked (for the saints) the end of the great persecution which took place in those days. When that trumpet was sounded, those saints were taken up to Jesus. Thus, that particular trumpet has no connection with what from our point of view is "end time", or with the (second) time of great persecution which is yet to come.
For understanding this matter in more depth, please also read the essays on Heaven (eb04c.htm), the 144,000 and the great multitude (et03c.htm), resurrections (eb09c.htm) and on the trumpets of the "end time" (et06d.htm). Also, the essay eg04b.htm which considers what happened to the saints in the first century, and the essay eg02c.htm as a general help for understanding these things.
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Additional reading at the Bible Pages, on related as well as other issues:
A clarifying explanation of the short names for the bible-versions quoted or mentioned at this site, such as that NKJV stands for New King James Version, YLT for Young's Literal translation, HCSB for Holman Christian Standard Bible, NRSV for the New Revised Standard Version, and so on. → es09c.htm
Jesus warned his disciples about false prophets, teachers of falsehood, deceivers and deception. He said that many would be deceived. → eo09e.htm
The identity and timing of the 144,000 and the great multitude of Revelation 7, and the first-fruits or virgins of Revelation 14:1-4 – who those groups really are, and when they came or come into existence. → et03c.htm
Gentiles, pagans and heathen or heathens – what do those words mean? This exposition makes it plain and clear what the concepts "gentile", "pagan" and "heathen" actually refer to, in the Bible. → eg01c.htm
On different kinds of prophetic trumpets that are mentioned in the Bible – trumps of God, and those of the seven angels. Also, what is the "last" trumpet which the apostle Paul wrote about? → et06d.htm
The two witnesses of the book of Revelation. Also: Similarities between their work and that of Moses, Elijah, and John the Baptist. → et01e.htm
Church eras – do they exist? Are there seven "eras of the Church", as some have claimed – "Sardis era", "Philadelphian era", "Laodicean era" and so on? Is there any biblical basis for that dogma? The question in a nutshell: The seven assemblies mentioned in Revelation 2 and 3 – were they contemporary assemblies of saints in the days of John (as the book of Revelation describes them), or are they, as some have claimed, successive "eras of the Church of God" that exist in later times and continue to our day? → ea03d.htm
On Elijah of the Old Testament and John the Baptist and the coming Elijah or Elias who is mentioned in the New Testament. → et02c.htm
The Great White Throne Judgment, a time when both living and dead will be judged. When will it take place, where, and who will judge? Also, there is more to take into consideration, because the Bible talks about more than one still future times of judgment. → et07e.htm
Many people wonder, why does God allow evil, sickness, pain, war and suffering? What is the biblical answer – does the Bible explain that matter, or in some way make it understandable? → ew01b.htm
Gog and Magog and the armies which will invade the land of Israel (Ezekiel 38, Ezekiel 39, Revelation 16:12, Revelation 20:8). → et10b.htm
Regarding the timing and sequence of certain "end time" events. → keyw-t2.htm (Look under the heading "Time, times, timings".)
What does Revelation 14:10 mean? Will men or angels be tormented with fire and brimstone, for ages and ages? → et08b.htm
The Babylon of the book of Revelation, what or where is it? What about the Beast, or beasts, that are mentioned in the book of Daniel and in the book of Revelation? → ew03b.htm
The concepts "saint" and "sainthood" analysed. Does the Bible define or clarify who is a saint and what sainthood consists of? Also: Are there saints here on Earth, in our day? What do the Scriptures say concerning these things? Further: What is the etymology of the word "saint", and what does it really mean? → eg03c.htm
What does the Bible say about calling, election, sanctification and justification? → eb02c.htm
Predestination. The destiny of humans: Is it already fixed and decided, as some have claimed? Are all people, or some individuals, "predestined"? → eb03d.htm
What does the Bible say about Heaven? What does it look like? Were the saints to go there, and if so, for how long? What about others? → eb04c.htm
The Promises spoken to Abraham, and the saints' heavenly Rest and Inheritance. How the earthly Land of Israel symbolised and foreshadowed a Promised Land in Heaven. Also, how the words Promise, Inheritance, Rest and Land in certain bible passages point to the same thing. → eb05b.htm
What happened to the saints, in the first century? Also, some notes on the "early church". → eg04b.htm
A clarification of the actual nature of the sabbatismos or Rest of Hebrews 4:9. → ex11b.htm
What does the Bible say about resurrection? How many resurrections do the Scriptures talk about? → eb09c.htm
Rapture and parousia – are they biblical concepts? → eg05b.htm
How to understand the Bible. Easy keys to interpreting and understanding Scripture in a better and deeper way, by avoiding certain fundamental but common mistakes and errors in bible study. These vital keys are really the basics for objective bible study. Knowing these keys will make many things easier to interpret and comprehend, and one will see several central matters in the Bible from a new and different perspective, especially in connection with the Gospels and the Epistles. → eg02c.htm
The Holy Spirit – an outline and a no-nonsense synopsis of the matter of the distribution of God's Spirit, in the past, today, and in the coming days of the future. Also: Whose baptism is valid? Churches and preachers baptise people, but they are not notably changed and no obvious signs or fruit of the Spirit are seen in their lives. Why is that? Is the Spirit of God at all given to humans, at this present time? → eb01c.htm
Matthew 13:24-30 and 36-43, the parable of the darnel or "tares", the wicked seed sown by the Enemy. → ew11c.htm
Jeremiah 30:7, "the time of Jacob's trouble". What does chapter 30 in the book of Jeremiah really mean and refer to? → ey08c.htm
The lost ten tribes of Israel in prophecy. What happened to Israel's northern tribes? Where are they today? Does the Bible give any clues regarding their fate? → ey01b.htm
On the prophet Ezekiel and his message and commission. Was Ezekiel a failure so that some preachers more than 2500 years later must do his job, as some have claimed, or did he in fact deliver the messages God gave to him, just as he was told to do? → ey09c.htm
Essays related to the ten "lost" tribes of Israel. → keyw-t4.htm (Look under the heading "Tribes of Israel".)
Matthew 16:18, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it". What was Jesus talking about? What is the immortal assembly or ekklêsia which he said he would form, and where is it located? Is it an earthly religious organisation in this world – a church – or is it a heavenly assembly that has as its members the saints who have become immortals? → ea01d.htm
The origin and meaning of the word "church". → eg06b.htm
Check your bible knowledge. A basic self-test with 15 biblical questions (with answers and commentary). → es04b.htm
How to study the Bible in a deeper way. Some simple guidelines and notes on study methods. Also, advice and information on easily available practical study helps and useful modern-day tools and resources which, on top of many other things, can help one to view and translate the Hebrew OT and Greek NT texts. → es01d.htm
What does the word "righteous" really mean? What does the Bible say about righteousness? → eg08b.htm
The King James bible, the Authorised Version – is it somehow "the inspired Word of God", better than other translations, or a particularly "holy" bible-version, or the best or most exact or accurate one as some have claimed? Also: In what way or sense is it authoritative, or, who "authorised" it? This essay has some details of the story behind the King James translation or KJV, including the men who were involved in producing it. Two examples of pages in KJV-1611 are included as well; one is an image showing the page with Hebrews 1, the other is a PDF-file containing a facsimile, picture format copy of the book of Matthew in the year 1611 edition of the King James version. There are also some brief remarks on the so-called "Received Text" or Textus Receptus, the Greek NT text compilation produced by the Catholic priest Gerrit Gerritszoon ("Erasmus"). → es03c.htm
The meaning of the words Christ, Christian, Messiah and Messias. Also: Did the saints call themselves "Christians" – christianos or christianoi? → eg07b.htm
"Amateur bible students" versus "professional theologians". Some preachers have spitefully called people who actively study the Bible on their own, "amateur theologians". Indeed, many a clergyman seems to feel that a layman should not put his or her nose into theological studies but should rather leave those things to "experts". But, is that correct? This treatise sorts out that matter, and clarifies and explains in layman's terms the linguistic and historical background of the concepts "clergymen" and "laymen", and gives the definition and actual meaning of such words as "clergy", "laity", "scholar" and "scholarly". → es07c.htm
Matthew 25, the parable of the ten virgins. The five wise virgins, the five foolish ones, the lamps and the oil. → eb07d.htm
Covenant signs, including the sign of the New Covenant which shows who really are God's people. The Old Covenant's sign was the circumcision of males. What is the New Covenant's sign, seal or token? → ec09b.htm
What is the Kingdom of God? Where is it located? Does it exist already, or is it only going to be established in the future? Or, is it only something "in the hearts of men" as some have claimed, quoting the translation "within you" in Luke 17:21? → eo01b.htm
Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you". What did Jesus mean? How were the disciples to go about "seeking the Kingdom"? Also, what did the expression "all these things" really refer to, and when and where were those things to be "added" to those disciples? → eo10d.htm
Info on the goal and purpose of this site, and a contact address.
→
purpose.htm
Table of contents for this site, including a synopsis or a short, summary description
of each essay or article. →
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Search for specific words, phrases or bible passages at this site. →
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An alphabetical bible topic keyword index of the essays and articles at this site:
1-9
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– V
– W
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– Y – Z –
Detailed index overview
If you find any of the essays or treatises at this site interesting and helpful, please provide a copy to other people as well. But before printing or distributing anything, make sure to get the very latest version, exactly as it is, directly from this web site. In regard to printable copies of these pages, for example as PDF-format papers, booklets or brochures or so – there are no specially printer friendly variants (except some bible puzzles), nor is there a need for that – simply, when you print an essay, set the margins and the text size to fit your needs and the paper you use, in the program you use for viewing these pages, and then send it to your printer. (This varies in different browsers and word processing programs. In web browsers, for setting the margin size and headers and footers, look for "Print Format" in the File menu; to set the text size for print-out, look under "Preview" or "View" in the same menu.)
Important: You are welcome to quote the documents at this site – the Bible Pages – provided that you mention the source, by giving the full web address to the page in question. Please link to these essays and give copies to friends. However, you may not re-publish any part of the contents of this site, as a booklet, brochure or on the Internet or in other ways, without a permission from the author; he retains the copyright. For more on copying and quoting, and a few words about the author and his religious education and credentials, see the page purpose.htm.
The essays at this site are not in "bible lesson" or "bible study course" format, nor are they meant as on-line "bible study classes" of some kind. Even though this site gives ready answers to biblical questions of many kinds, its main goal is providing food for thought on a variety of biblical subjects, and challenging and encouraging people to get started with deep personal bible study and then continue with that. (Many religious organisations and denominations have their bible lessons and correspondence courses; they are ready-made "studies" which are shrewdly constructed and written in such a manner that they lead the reader to conclusions that fit the dogmas of the group in question.) A careful, closer study of the books of the Bible with proper tools will help a believer to gain better and deeper biblical understanding. In that way, one will find out more about what the Bible really says, means and teaches. One can then, with wisdom, use that knowledge as a guide for one's life, instead of accepting as "biblical truths" whatever commercial religion – churches and their ministers (preachers) – have taught and want people to believe.
A more thorough, bible-based study with care and with thought will, not only help one to learn more, but also show one how many a popular belief has no scriptural basis or support but is altogether false and not biblical at all. This applies, not only to prophecy and "end time" related things, but also to many other subjects where prevailing dogmas are often taken "for granted". For this reason, it is extremely important for believers to personally study the Writings, and to thoroughly analyse them down to the smaller details, in order to find out the real facts. For doing that, it is not necessary to know the Hebrew, Greek or Latin languages (even though learning their letters and alphabet can be a good idea); there are modern, advanced tools which can help one to study in an effective way – see the pages es01d.htm and es02c.htm for more on this. The essay eg02c.htm supplies a number of easy, elementary keys to acquiring a better and deeper understanding of the Bible, simply by consciously and methodically avoiding certain usual errors and pitfalls.
This site is non-denominational and non-sectarian. It is not connected to any church, sect or religious organisation or movement. This site looks at things from a biblical perspective, and not from a dogmatic one. It does not claim to be without error or to "know it all" or to have a perfect or complete explanation to all things – it consists of an ongoing bible study that has been made public, and as the study goes on, the contents of these pages are revised and also expanded, with new topics and themes being addressed. Readers are invited and welcome to write to the author with thoughts and comments, or to ask questions or to point out a mistake if they feel that they have found one. For more on this, see the page purpose.htm.
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This page was created or modified 2010-02-28.