Definition and Overview:
Tribulation, in a biblical context, refers to a period of severe trial, suffering, or distress. It is often associated with the end times and is characterized by widespread hardship and persecution. The term is derived from the Latin "tribulatio," which means "affliction" or "distress." In the Bible, tribulation is both a general experience of believers and a specific eschatological event.

Biblical References:

1. General Tribulation:
· Throughout Scripture, tribulation is depicted as a common experience for believers. Jesus Himself warned His followers of the trials they would face. In John 16:33 , Jesus says, "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world." This passage highlights the inevitability of tribulation in the Christian life but also offers hope through Christ's victory.

2. Eschatological Tribulation:
· The concept of a future, intense period of tribulation is most prominently featured in the Book of Revelation. Revelation 7:14 refers to those who have come out of the "great tribulation," indicating a time of unprecedented suffering. This period is often associated with the end times and the events leading up to the Second Coming of Christ.

3. Purpose and Meaning:
· Tribulation serves multiple purposes in the biblical narrative. It is a means of refining and purifying believers, as seen in Romans 5:3-4 : "Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." Tribulation is also a test of faith and a demonstration of God's justice and sovereignty.

4. Theological Implications:
· Theologically, tribulation is understood as part of God's redemptive plan. It is a reminder of the fallen state of the world and the need for divine intervention. Believers are encouraged to endure tribulation with faith and patience, trusting in God's ultimate deliverance and the promise of eternal life.

5. Encouragement and Hope:
· Despite the challenges of tribulation, the Bible offers encouragement and hope. Romans 8:35-37 assures believers that nothing can separate them from the love of Christ, even in the face of tribulation: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

Conclusion:
While tribulation is a reality for believers, it is also an opportunity for spiritual growth and a testament to God's faithfulness. The Bible consistently encourages believers to remain steadfast, knowing that tribulation is temporary and that ultimate victory is assured through Jesus Christ.Matthew 24:21
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Topicalbible.org

John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
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Daniel 12:1
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Topicalbible.org

Matthew 24:29
Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
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Revelation 13:7
And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.
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Daniel 9:24
Seventy weeks are determined on your people and on your holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
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Matthew 24:22
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
Topicalbible.org

Trouble or affiction of any kind (Deuteronomy 4:30; Matthew 13:21; 2 Corinthians 7:4). In Romans 2:9 "tribulation and anguish" are the penal sufferings that shall overtake the wicked. In Matthew 24:21, 29, the word denotes the calamities that were to attend the destruction of Jerusalem. (n.) That which occasions distress, trouble, or vexation; severe affliction.TRIBULATION

trib-u-la'-shun (tsar, tsar, "staid," "narrow," "pent up"; compare Numbers 22:26):

1. In the Old Testament:

Closely pressed, as of seals (Job 41:15 (7)); of streams pent up (Isaiah 59:9 margin); of strength limited (Proverbs 24:10, "small"). Hence, figuratively, of straitened circumstances; variously rendered "affliction," "tribulation," "distress" (Deuteronomy 4:30 Job 15:24; Job 30:12 Psalm 4:2; Psalm 18:7; Psalm 32:7; 44:11, etc.; Psalm 78:42; Psalm 102:3; 106:44:00; 119:143 Isaiah 26:16; Isaiah 30:20 Hosea 5:15 Ezekiel 30:16). Frequently, the feminine form (tsarah) is similarly rendered "tribulation" (Judges 10:14 the King James Version; 1 Samuel 10:19 the King James Version; 1 Samuel 26:24); in other places "distress," "affliction" (Genesis 42:21 Psalm 120:1 Proverbs 11:8 2 Chronicles 20:9 Isaiah 63:9 Jeremiah 15:11 Jonah 2:2 Nahum 1:9 Zechariah 10:11).

2. In the New Testament:

The Greek is thlipsis, a "pressing together" (as of grapes), squeezing or pinching (from verb thlibo); used figuratively for "distress," "tribulation"; Septuagint for tsar and tsarah; Vulgate (Jerome's Latin Bible, 390-405 A.D.) tribulatio pressura (from tribulum, "a threshing sledge"). The verb form is rendered "suffer tribulation" (1 Thessalonians 3:4 the King James Version, "suffer affliction" the Revised Version (British and American)); "trouble" (2 Thessalonians 1:6 the King James Version, "afflict" the Revised Version (British and American); compare 2 Corinthians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 4:8; 2 Corinthians 7:5 1 Timothy 5:10; Hebrews 11:37). The noun form is rendered in the King James Version variously as "tribulation," "affliction," "persecution," though more uniformly "tribulation" in the Revised Version (British and American). The word is used generally of the hardships which Christ's followers would suffer (Matthew 13:21; Matthew 24:9, 21, 29 Mark 4:17; Mark 13:19, 24 John 16:33 1 Corinthians 7:28); or which they are now passing through (Romans 5:3; Romans 12:12 2 Corinthians 4:17 Philippians 4:14); or through which they have already come (Acts 11:19 2 Corinthians 2:4 Revelation 7:14).

Edward Bagby Pollard

2347. thlipsis -- tribulation
... tribulation. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: thlipsis Phonetic Spelling:
(thlip'-sis) Short Definition: persecution, affliction, distress ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2347.htm - 7k

2346. thlibo -- to press, afflict
... afflict, suffer tribulation, trouble. Akin to the base of tribos; to crowd (literally
or figuratively) -- afflict, narrow, throng, suffer tribulation, trouble. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2346.htm - 7k

4973. sphragis -- a seal, a signet
... "Seal" is often used metaphorically (Ro 4:11; 1 Cor 9:2; 2 Tim 2:19; Rev 9:4). For
more discussion see 4972 (), and the at "the Great Tribulation.". ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4973.htm - 7k

1062. gamos -- a wedding
... This eschatological celebration is described in Mt 22:2-10 and Rev 19:7-9 -- "and
apparently occurs at the final day of the seven-year Tribulation" (G. Archer ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1062.htm - 7k

3354. metreo -- to measure, measure out
... See 3355 (). (Rev 11:1,2) This relates to the holy places in the "which symbolizes
the " who come " the Tribulation" (, cf. also Ezek 40:5, 42:20; Zech 2:1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3354.htm - 7k

6869. tsarah -- straits, distress
... Short Definition: adversary. adversary, adversity, affliction, anguish,
distress, tribulation, trouble Feminine of tsar; tightness ...
/hebrew/6869.htm - 5k

6862. tsar -- narrow, tight
... an opponent (as crowding) -- adversary, afflicted(-tion), anguish, close, distress,
enemy, flint, foe, narrow, small, sorrow, strait, tribulation, trouble. ...
/hebrew/6862.htm - 6k

Of Tribulation
... AS TRANSLATED BY RICHARD MISYN IN 1434 FROM DE EMENDATIONE VITAE' BY RICHARD ROLLE
OF HAMPOLE: AND NOW DONE INTO MODERN ENGLISH CHAPTER V OF TRIBULATION. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/rolle/the fire of love/chapter v of tribulation.htm

November the Sixth Peace in Tribulation
... NOVEMBER The Sixth PEACE IN TRIBULATION. JOHN xvi.25-33. ... I am to enjoy the gift
of peace, and yet I am to be smarting under tribulation! ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/november the sixth peace in.htm

In Great Tribulation.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CLXXII. In great Tribulation. 7.7.7.7.7.7 James
Montgomery. In great Tribulation. God! be merciful to me,. ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn clxxii in great tribulation.htm

Vision Fourth. Concerning the Trial and Tribulation that are to ...
... The Pastor: Book First."Visions. Vision Fourth. Concerning the Trial and
Tribulation that are to Come Upon Men. Chap. I. Twenty ...
/.../the pastor books first second third/vision fourth concerning the trial.htm

How when Tribulation Cometh we must Call Upon and Bless God
... THE THIRD BOOK. ON INWARD CONSOLATION CHAPTER XXIX How when tribulation
cometh we must call upon and bless God. Blessed be thy name ...
/.../kempis/imitation of christ/chapter xxix how when tribulation.htm

Yet He Added, "But Such Shall have Tribulation of the Flesh...
... Section 16. Yet he added, "But such shall have tribulation of the flesh?
16. Yet he added, "But such shall have tribulation of ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/of holy virginity /section 16 yet he added.htm

"Accuse not Thyself Overmuch, Deeming that Thy Tribulation and Thy ...
... THE SIXTEENTH REVELATION CHAPTER LXXVII "Accuse not thyself overmuch, deeming that
thy tribulation and thy woe is all thy fault." "All thy living is penance ...
/.../julian/revelations of divine love/chapter lxxvii accuse not thyself.htm

God's Dealings with the Earth During the Tribulation Period.
... Chapter Nine The Worldward Results of the Redeemer's Return 3. God's dealings
with the earth during the Tribulation period. The ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/3 gods dealings with the.htm

But when the Living Father Perceived that the Soul was in ...
... 8 But when the living Father perceived that the soul was in tribulation
in the body? But when the living Father perceived that ...
/.../the acts of the disputation with the heresiarch manes/8 but when the living.htm

Because for the Believer There is "No Judgment" and all Upon Earth ...
... Seven The Beneficiaries of the Redeemer's Return 5. Because for the believer there
is "no judgment" and all upon earth during the Tribulation period are ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/pink/the redeemers return/5 because for the believer.htm

Tribulation (43 Occurrences)
... Trouble or affiction of any kind (Deuteronomy 4:30; Matthew 13:21; 2 Corinthians
7:4). In Romans 2:9 "tribulation and anguish" are the penal sufferings that ...
/t/tribulation.htm - 24k

Encouragement (25 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 1:4 who encourages us in all our tribulation, that we may be able
to encourage those who are in any tribulation whatever, through the ...
/e/encouragement.htm - 14k

Distress (169 Occurrences)
... Romans 2:9 tribulation and distress, on every soul of man that works evil,
both of Jew first, and of Greek; (DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV). ...
/d/distress.htm - 36k

Tribulations (11 Occurrences)
... (DBY YLT). Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing
that tribulation worketh patience; (KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS). ...
/t/tribulations.htm - 9k

Affliction (120 Occurrences)
... thought of affliction as a discipline or form of Divine teaching is found in Job,
especially in the speeches of Elihu, who insists that tribulation is intended ...
/a/affliction.htm - 53k

Overflowing (54 Occurrences)
... my freedom of speech unto you, great my glory on your behalf; I have been filled
with the comfort, I overabound with the joy on all our tribulation, (See NAS). ...
/o/overflowing.htm - 23k

Worketh (49 Occurrences)
... (KJV ASV WBS). Romans 2:9 tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that
worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek; (ASV). ...
/w/worketh.htm - 19k

Temporary (13 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:21 and he hath not root in himself, but is temporary, and persecution
or tribulation having happened because of the word, immediately he is stumbled ...
/t/temporary.htm - 10k

Encouraged (37 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). 2 Corinthians 1:4 who encourages us in all our tribulation, that we may
be able to encourage those who are in any tribulation whatever, through the ...
/e/encouraged.htm - 17k

Encourage (34 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 1:4 who encourages us in all our tribulation, that we may be able
to encourage those who are in any tribulation whatever, through the ...
/e/encourage.htm - 16k

What is the Great Tribulation? | GotQuestions.org

What is the Tribulation? How do we know the Tribulation will last seven years? | GotQuestions.org

Why do Daniel and Revelation give varying counts of 1,260, 1,290, and 1,335 days for the tribulation? | GotQuestions.org

Tribulation: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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