The Seven Year Tribulation!

                                                                                           

                                                                            By Pastor F. M. Riley

                                                                                                 

 

    “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me,

    Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.”

 

                                                                                                   Isaiah 46:9-10

 

Introduction

 

    There has been a lot of debate lately about the length of the Tribulation period.  God’s people [true believers] throughout this present dispensation have always taught a future seven year Tribulation.  But those who advocate a shorter Tribulation have come out in force lately, “reinterpreting” Daniel 9:26-27 and Revelation 11:2-3, and insisting that the Tribulation period is only 3½ years in length.  They scorn and ridicule the teaching of a seven year Tribulation, claiming that “there is not a Scripture in the Bible that says that the Tribulation will be seven years in length.”  Oh!  Is that so?

  

    What a silly argument!  There are many Scriptural truths taught in God’s Word that are not explicitly stated in some Scripture.  After many years in the ministry I am personally convinced that the Lord inspired His Word in this way to promote the serious study of the Word by all honest seekers of the truth, and to expose those claiming to be “Christians” who do not seriously study the Word of God nor deal honestly with the Scriptures.  Read again Matthew 7:21 and 13:10-16, and let the message soak in.  There is a huge difference between a “professor” and a “possessor,” and the Lord knows how to separate “the tares from the wheat.”

 

    In this study I am going to demonstrate by God’s inspired Word that, contrary to what some claim, a future seven year Tribulation is explicitly stated and taught in the Scriptures.  Read on…..

 

Remember…..

 

    The Lord explicitly and emphatically stated in Isaiah 46:10 that He had declared “the end from the beginning,” and “from ancient times the things that are not yet done.” I accept Isaiah 46:9-10 as literal truth.  In this passage the Lord said what He meant, and meant what He said.   

    Preceding this statement, in verse 9 the Lord urged the Jews to “Remember the former things of old…”  Why should it be important to the Jewish people to “remember” those things that had happened hundreds of years previously at “the beginning” of their history?  Because, if this passage is taken literally, what happened at “the beginning” of Israel’s history is what will again happen to them as the Lord brings the end of this age to a close.

Confirmation

 

     In confirmation of this truth, I suggest our readers also carefully notice Solomon’s

 

 statement in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and

 that  which is done is that which shall be done:…..”   Do you believe this statement, or did Solomon just lie?  Well…??  Notice that Solomon repeated this truth for a second time in Ecclesiastes 3:15, “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.”   Again, was Solomon stating the truth in this passage?  Well…??   Be careful how you answer.  God is listening!

    Also in 1 Corinthians 10:1-11, the inspired Apostle explicitly states twice that the things that happened to ancient Israel are “examples” [typos…types], and that “they are written for our admonition [instruction] upon whom the ends of the world [age] are come.”  See verses 6 and 11.  Obviously then, the “seven years famine” at the time Jacob took his family down into Egypt was also a “type” recorded in God’s Word for the instruction of those living today at “the end” of this present age. 

    

    Now read Isaiah 46:9-10 for yourself.  Read this passage over and over several times.  Ask the Lord to give you understanding, John 16:12-13.  Do these verses say that the Lord has declared “the end from the beginning,” or do they not?  You know they do!  If we take these verses at face value for what they actually and literally say, then the verses explicitly state that God has declared “the end from the beginning.”  Period!

 

    Keep in mind that in the Book of Isaiah the Lord is giving the prophet Isaiah a vision of the things “concerning Judah and Jerusalem,” Isaiah 1:1.  In other words, everything recorded in this book, in one way or another, concerns the Jewish people.   Therefore, if we want to know how Israel’s history is going to be concluded at “the end” of this age, then we need to look at “the beginning” of Israel’s history. 

 

Israel’s Beginning

 

    The first time the word “Israel” occurs in the Bible is in Genesis 32:27-28.   This is where the Lord changed Jacob’s name to “Israel,” apparently in view of making a nation out of the twelve sons of Jacob.   At the time the Lord changed Jacob’s name, Jacob was  certainly not a nation.  But remember that Isaiah 46:10 says that God declares “…..from ancient times the things that are not yet done…..”   Glory! 

    A few years later Jacob left Canaan and took his whole extended family down into Egypt to sojourn.  There the children of Jacob [Israel] became a nation.  Who says so?  The Word of God says so, “…..A Syrian ready to perish was my father, and he went down into Egypt, and sojourned there with a few, and became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous,” Deuteronomy 26:5. 

    So “the beginning” of the nation of Israel was when Jacob took his family down into Egypt to sojourn.  God’s inspired Word says so!  Glory to God!  Praise the Lord!  Our readers should pay close attention to this event, because Isaiah 46:9-10 explicitly states that God has declared “the end from the beginning.”  So exactly what was going on in the world at that time which caused Jacob to take his whole extended family down into Egypt? 

 

A Seven Year Famine

 

    What was going on at that time was a world wide “famine,” Genesis 41:56-57, exactly as had been predicted in the dreams that God had given to Pharaoh in Genesis 41:1-7.  And how long was this “famine” predicted to last?  According to the inspired  dreams that God gave to Pharaoh, as interpreted by Joseph, this “famine” would be upon all the

 

nations of the world for “seven years,” Genesis 41:25-32.

 

    Folks, notice carefully that it was not 3 ½ years that this “famine” was predicted to be upon the earth.  In fact, no where in this entire account is a 3 ½ year period ever mentioned.  Read it for yourself.  It is explicitly stated that the “famine” was to be on the earth for “seven years.”

 

     The expression, “seven years of famine,” occurs three times in this account.  See Genesis 41:27, 41:30, and 41:36.  Wow!  Glory!  The number, “27” [verse 27], is the Bible number signifying “the fulfillment of prophecy.”  The number, “30” [verse 30], is the Bible number signifying “blood; bloodshed; the shedding of blood.”  The number, “36” [verse 36], is the Bible number signifying “enemy; adversary.”  Three times seven is twenty-one, the Bible number that is repeatedly connected with the 21 judgments poured out upon the earth during the coming seven year Tribulation.  Now add up all of the numbers from 1 through 36 and they will add up to “666,” the number of the Antichrist or “beast” [Revelation 13:18], who will be Israel’s enemy during the coming seven year Tribulation period. 

    Folks, is all of this just coincidence?  Or, do you suppose this “seven year famine,” which occurred at “the beginning” of Israel’s history, is portraying in “type and shadow” the seven year Tribulation period which is prophesied to come upon Israel [and the whole world] at “the end” of this age?   What about it?

 

Defining “Tribulation”

 

     Some of our readers may object that a “seven year famine” is not the same as a seven year Tribulation.  Oh!  Is that so?  Let’s just see about this…..

 

    The English word “tribulation(s)” occurs 22 times in the New Testament, and is translated from the Greek word “thlipsis” each of those times.  This Greek word literally means, “pressing; pressing together; pressure; oppression; affliction; distress; in straits; persecution; trouble; tribulation.”  See Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, page 291, Strong’s No. 2347.  In other words, the basic meaning of the word is “trouble,” regardless of the source or kind or degree of such “trouble.”  The basic meaning of the word is TROUBLE. 

    Now you tell me…..would a “seven year famine” upon the whole earth mean “trouble” for those living on the earth?   Well…??  If you were one of those on the earth starving to death for lack of food, would you think you were “in trouble?”  If people all around you were starving, and there was no food for them, would they be “in trouble?”  If you own loved ones were starving to death right before your eyes because of a world wide “famine,” and you could not obtain food for them, would you consider that “famine” as a “time of trouble?”  Read Matthew 24:21 and Mark 13:19.

 

    Folks, if you claim to be a “Christian,” then let’s deal honestly with God’s Word.  Three times in Genesis 41 the exact words, “seven years famine,” are used. It is obvious from the account set forth in the inspired Word of God that this “seven years famine” brought terrible trouble upon  the whole world at that time.  It is also explicitly stated in Isaiah 46:9-10 that God has declared “the end from the beginning,” clearly indicating that this “seven years famine” is going to be repeated at “the end” of this age. 

    Since the Greek word “thlipsis” basically means “trouble,” then the expression, “seven years famine,” could just as easily have been translated as “seven years tribulation”[trouble], for that is exactly what occurred during the time of that “seven years famine,” and it is exactly what is prophesied in “type and shadow” to occur again at the end of this age.

     Now tell me again that “that there is not a Scripture in the Bible that speaks of a seven year Tribulation.”  Hello!  I’m not hearing you.  Speak a little louder.    

 

A Seven Year Repetition   

 

    Folks, the inspired Word of God explicitly states that there was “seven years of dearth…..in all lands” at “the beginning” of Israel’s history, Genesis 41:54.  I have clearly demonstrated in this study that this “seven years famine” is to be repeated at “the end” of this age.  Is there any evidence today that such is about to happen?  Is there…??

 

     Is it just coincidence that at this very time in human history, the whole world is facing another world wide “famine”?  Food shortages are swiftly developing all over the world as I write.  The price of food is skyrocketing right here in the United States, while the supply of food is swiftly being exhausted. 

    Are you aware that the governments and the military forces of the world are buying up and storing vast quanities of food from every available source on earth even as I write?  No, I didn’t think so, for the liberal New World Order news media is not telling or warning the people that this is happening.  Just a few weeks ago the world’s largest “food merchandiser” publicly announced that they are accepting no more orders for food, because every scrap of food they have contracted to buy through 2010 has already been placed under contract to be “sold” to the governments and military forces of the world.  Why are the governments and military forces buying up all of the world’s food supplies?  Is it possible that the political and military leaders of the world “know something” that they are not willing to share with the public?   Think about it!  Their massive purchases of the world’s food supplies are helping to create food shortages throughout the world, and are driving up the cost of food for the rest of humanity.   

    Folks, the whole world is facing the worst “famine” mankind has ever faced in human history, Matthew 24:21.  Now do you understand why God’s Word predicts world wide food rationing just after the beginning of the seven year Tribulation? See Revelation 6:5-6.   Do you now understand why a loaf of bread [a measure of wheat or three measures of barley] will be selling for a days wages [a denarius] just after the beginning of the Tribulation?  Read Revelation 6:5-6 for yourself, believe it, and be warned! This “seven years of famine” is staring humanity in the face right now.

 

    How long? How many years?  One year?  Two years?  ­Three and a half years?  No!  God Almighty, in His inspired Word, says this world wide “famine” that is right now staring humanity in the face, is going to last “seven years,” Genesis 41:27; 41:30; 41:36; 41:54.  Read Isaiah 46:9-10 again, and this time believe it.

 

Truth Vindicated

 

    In view of these things, it then becomes obvious that the theory of a 3 ½ year Tribulation is just fiction.  It is also obvious that the claim that the Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the first half of the Tribulation by His personal ministry is also just a fictitious theory.  Neither of these theories have any Scriptural support whatsoever.  Quite to the contrary, both of these silly theories are corruptions of the Scriptures brought forth by those who either don’t know how to “rightly divide the Word of truth,” or who think more of their theories than they do of dealing honestly with God’s Word.  Their motives ARE known to the Lord, Jeremiah 17:9-10; Proverbs 21:2.  .

   

    Folks, the Scriptures presented in this study make it quite clear that the “seven years of

 famine” that occurred at “the beginning” of Israel’s history, are going to be repeated at “the end” of this present age as Israel’s history draws to a consummation.  This is speaking of the swiftly approaching seven year Tribulation period.  In this study I have given book, chapter, and verse to prove this truth to any honest reader. 

    If there now remains any reader who wants to call Almighty God a liar, and still insist that the Tribulation will be only 3 ½ years in length, then choose your own judgment.  I will have no part in such wickedness.  I love the Lord with all my heart, but I also fear Him.  I have absolute respect and reverence for Him and His Word, and I will never be a part of making the Lord or His Word out to be a lie, 1 John 1:6-10.   

    The “interpretation” of Daniel 9:26-27 which has been traditionally taught by all true believers right through the centuries is completely vindicated.  The debate is over!

 

Conclusion

 

    As I close this study, I would now ask our readers if they are READY to meet the Lord?  Are you prepared to pass into eternity?  Do you have assurance that you have been saved by the grace of God?  Are you facing the future with joy and anticipation of being “…..caught up…..to meet the Lord in the air…..” at the rapture of God’s people?  Folks, as I write there are only a few more days until our Lord is coming to resurrect and rapture His people to glory.  Therefore I admonish you, “…..give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall,” 2 Peter 1:10.

 

    On the other hand, are you one who has never been saved?  Or, are not sure of your salvation? Perhaps you are still lost in sin and facing a bleak future without any hope?  Friend, if my questions are probing your heart, then I admonish you; yea, I beg you to seek the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior right now while you still have time and opportunity to be saved.  Read Luke 13:1-5, John 5:24, 14:6, Acts 16:31; and Romans 10:8-13.  Bow your heart before our righteous and loving God, and ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into your heart, cleanse you from your sin, and save your soul.  Do it today!  Tomorrow may be too late!   I would like to meet you in glory.  Don’t disappoint me! 

 

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    NOTICE:   Permission is granted to all true believers and Christian ministries to reproduce this study to share with others, or to quote from it in context as written.

     This ministry is financed solely by the freewill offerings of those who feel led of the Lord to help us send forth God’s wonderful Word.  

    Address all comments, questions, or other correspondence to:  Pastor F. M. Riley, Last Call Gospel Ministry, 184 County Road 108, Harrisburg, Missouri 65256.   I can also be contacted via email at:  fmrglbd5@yahoo.com      or     fmr7sngn@centurylink.net.     

 

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