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“They will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death.”
Matthew 24:9. “For ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10. |
Christians began to be persecuted by Jews in the year 31, and by Romans, as early as when Nero burned Rome in 64. |
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“He [the little horn] shall speak words against the Most High, and
shall wear out the saints of the Most High.... and they shall be
given into his hand for a time, two times, and half a time [1260
yeardays].” Daniel 7:25. “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God.... Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer.... When he opened the sixth seal.... the sun became black." "After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude. .. clothed in white robes ... they who have come out of the great tribulation.” Revelation 6:912; 7:914. “There will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been shortened, no human being would be saved.” “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened.” Matthew 24:21, 22,29. “I will throw her [Thyatira] on a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent.” Revelation 2:22. |
Repression of deviant views became a wellknown characteristic of Roman
Christianity during the 1260 yeardays. It grew notably more severe after
the establishment of the Papal Inquisition in 1232 and again after the
Reformation. The worst was over before the sun was notably darkened on May
19, 1780. See Revelation 6 and 7 and GC 1:132,133. Feudal rivalry, religious hostility, and nationalistic wars spread anguish during this period. At different times the terrible Black Death and the frightful Thirty Years War took perhaps a third of the population. See pages 125,126. |
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“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time; * but at that time your people shall be delivered, every one whose name shall be found in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life.” Daniel 12:1,2.
“Because you have kept my word of patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial which is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell upon the earth. I am coming soon.” Revelation 3:10, 11. |
After the completion of the preadvent judgment, the seven last plagues and other endtime developments produce unequaled suffering, but God’s true people are delivered. See pages 111-113 and GC 1:299, 301. |
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* The tribulation of the 1260 year-days was the greatest in history in that it continued for centuries and from time to time produced extremely high percentages of mortality. The tribulation at the end of time will be the greatest in history in that, though very short, it will involve the dreadful seven last plagues. Each is worst in different ways. |