[b]The Tribulation which is in Jesus[i]by Zac Poonen
In Revelation 1:9-10, John refers to himself as a "fellow-partaker in
the tribulation which is in Jesus". Every wholehearted disciple of
Jesus should be prepared to partake in the "tribulation which is in
Jesus", as long as he is in this world. John did not get this
unveiling while living in comfort. He received it, while experiencing
tribulation at Patmos, because he had been faithful to "the word of
God and the testimony of Jesus" (Rev. 1:9). He had to experience
tribulation himself in order to be able to write about the saints
experiencing the great tribulation from the Antichrist in the last days.
God takes us through trials and tribulations first before giving
us a ministry to others who are facing tribulation. Paul said,
"God encourages us in all our affliction so that we may be able to
encourage those who are in any affliction, with the (same) encouragement
with which we ourselves are encouraged by God" (2 Cor.1:4 - Amplified).
It is not surprising therefore that the doctrine that Jesus would come
secretly and take (rapture) His church out of the world, before the
great tribulation, arose for the first time in a country (England)
where Christians were living in comfort, and at a time (mid-19th
century) when they were not facing any persecution for their faith at
all. Today this doctrine continues to be proclaimed and believed by
Christians who live in ease and comfort, in countries where there is
no persecution against Christians at all. Since the prayers of most
Christians are basically of this order : "Lord make my life more
comfortable on earth", it is not surprising that they have gladly
accepted this teaching of a pre-tribulation rapture of the church.
Thus Satan has succeeded in lulling multitudes of Christians with a
false comfort, so that they will be unprepared for the great
tribulation when it does come upon them.
The words of Jesus are clear: "In the world YOU HAVE TRIBULATION.
But take courage; I have overcome the world" (Jn.16:33). He never
promised that we would escape tribulation - whether small tribulations
or the great one. But He did say that we could overcome even as He
overcame. He is far more interested in making us overcomers than in
saving us out of tribulation, because He is far more interested in our
character than in our comfort. Neither did Jesus ever say that
escaping the great tribulation was a reward for faithfulness, as some
teach. On the contrary, He said that those who forsook everything to
follow Him would have even more tribulations than others who didn't
follow Him (Mk.10:30). When He prayed to His Father for His disciples,
He said, "I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep
them from the evil." (Jn.17:15). He did NOT want His disciples to be
raptured out of the world at that time, just because they were going
to face tribulation.
In the 3rd-century when Christians were being thrown to the lions in
the Roman amphitheatres and being burnt at the stake in different
parts of the Roman empire, the Lord did not rescue them from such
tribulations. The God Who shut the lions' mouths and took away the
power of the fiery furnace in Daniel's day, did NOT do such miracles
for these disciples of Jesus - for these were new-covenant Christians
who were going to glorify God through death. Like Jesus their Master,
they neither asked for, nor expected twelve legions of angels to come
and protect them from their enemies.
From heaven, God watched the Bride of His Son being torn to pieces by
lions and being burnt to ashes; and He was glorified in their
testimony - for they had "followed the Lamb, wherever He went", even
unto a violent physical death (Rev.14:4). The only word that the Lord
spoke to them was, "Be faithful until death and I will give you a
crown of life." (Rev.2:10). Even today, when the disciples of Jesus
are being tortured and persecuted for His Name in many lands, the Lord
does not take them away from the earth. And He will not rapture us to
heaven before the great tribulation either. He will do something far
better. He will make us overcomers in the midst of the great tribulation.
Jesus is far more interested in saving us from evil than in saving us
from tribulation. He permits us to go through tribulation because He
knows that that is the only way that we can become spiritually strong.
Such a message is strange teaching indeed to a comfort-loving
Christendom that has been coddled in their pews every Sunday for years
by ear-tickling preachers. But this is the message that the apostles
preached to the early churches. "They (the apostles Paul and Barnabas)
strengthened the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue
in the faith, saying, 'Through many tribulations we must enter the
kingdom of God.'" (Acts 14:22). The little trials that we face at
home and at work now, are but a preparation for the greater ones that
will come in the days to come. That is why it is essential that we are
faithful now. For God says, "If you have run with footmen and they
have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses?" (Jer.12:5).
John speaks here about being a "fellow-partaker in the tribulation and
kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus" (Rev 1:9). We have to
enter into fellowship with Jesus in tribulation first, before we can
share His throne with Him in His kingdom. Perseverance is a great
virtue that is emphasised throughout the New Testament. Jesus Himself
said "They will deliver you to tribulation.....but the one who endures
to the end shall be saved" (Mt.24:13).