The Coming Great Tribulation

Some teach that the Church will go through the great tribulation, which is already here or is coming. In Bethesda Chapel, we teach that the Church, the Bride of Christ, will NOT go through the coming great tribulation.

When Israel signs a peace treaty with the Antichrist, the 7-year great tribulation will begin. This period is also known by various names in the Old Testament:
1) Daniel’s 70th week
2) The time of the end
3) The day of vengeance
4) The day of the LORD
5) The great day of the LORD’s wrath
6) The day of distress
7) The time of Jacob’s trouble
8) The day of darkness and gloom

The Bride is the Church of believing Jews and Gentiles during the Church age. The Bride of Christ will not face God’s wrath described in the judgement of the 7 seals, the 7 trumpets and the 7 bowls. She will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so always be with the Lord (1 Thess 4:17).

During the great tribulation, the Bride will be in heaven in the Father’s house (John 14:1-2). The Lamb’s wrath will be poured out on the dwellers of the earth. On earth, the two Witnesses, 144,000 Jewish evangelists, tribulation saints, believing Jews and Gentiles will be faithful to Jesus Christ.

The Church today faces increasing tribulations and persecutions (Jn 16:33; 2Tim 3:12). But these tribulations are different from the great tribulation that God will bring upon the world.

The purpose of God’s wrath is to offer the gospel of the kingdom, judge the world for wickedness and unbelief and purge rebels from Israel.

At the end of the great tribulation, Christ will defeat the armies of the Antichrist in the battle of Armageddon. Christ will enter the east gate of Jerusalem from the mount of Olives. He will rule as King of kings from David’s throne in Jerusalem. There will be righteousness and peace on earth for 1,000 years!

Maranatha! (Come! Lord Jesus!)

Elder Yoong Yuen Soo