SPECIAL TOPIC: TRIBULATION (thlipsis)

There needs to be a theological distinction between Paul's use of this term (thlipsis) and John's.

  1. Paul's usage (which reflects Jesus' usage)
    1. problems, sufferings, evil involved in a fallen world (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND)
      1. Matt. 13:21
      2. Rom. 5:3
      3. 1 Cor. 7:28
      4. 2 Cor. 7:4
      5. Eph. 3:13
    2. problems, sufferings, evil caused by unbelievers
      1. Rom. 5:3; 8:35; 12:12
      2. 2 Cor. 1:4,8; 6:4; 7:4; 8:2,13
      3. Eph. 3:13
      4. Phil. 4:14
      5. 1 Thess. 1:6
      6. 2 Thess. 1:4
    3. problems, sufferings, evil of the end-time
      1. Matt. 24:21,29
      2. Mark 13:19,24
      3. 2 Thess. 1:6-9 
  2. John's usage
    1. John makes a specific distinction between thlipsis and orgē or thumos (wrath) in Revelation. Thlipsis is what unbelievers do to believers and orgē and thumos is what God does to unbelievers (see F. F. Bruce, Answers to Questions, pp. 138-139).
      1. thlipsis ‒ Rev. 1:9; 2:9-10,22; 7:14
      2. orgē ‒ Rev. 6:16-17; 11:18; 16:19; 19:15
      3. thumos ‒ Rev. 12:12; 14:8,10,19; 15:1,7; 16:1; 18:3
    2. John also uses the term in his Gospel to reflect problems believers face in every age ‒ John 16:33. (see SPECIAL TOPIC: SUFFERING)
  3. Bob's view
    1. I believe the Church will go through the end-time tribulations (i.e., "postribulation," see Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, 2nd ed, pp. 1230-1231).
    2. The Church has suffered greatly in this fallen world for centuries, why should one generation of believers be spared?
    3. I hold to one second coming, involving
      1. rapture (1 thess. 4:13-18)
      2. resurrection (1 Corinthians 15)
      3. judgment (Matthew 25; Revelation 20; 1 Cor. 5:10
        SPECIAL TOPIC: RAPTURE
        SPECIAL TOPIC: RESURRECTION
        SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGMENT IN THE NT
        SPECIAL TOPIC: SECOND COMING (chart)
    4. Please see my exegetical notes on these eschatological texts free online at www.freebiblecommentary.org

 

Copyright © 2014 Bible Lessons International