The translation "tribulation" comes from a Greek root word which is a verb thlibo and means "to press upon" or "to put under pressure". In the KJV the noun thlipsis is translated tribulation, affliction, persecution, pain, suffering, and trouble --- NONE of which correctly convey the meaning of this word.
Greek verbs are very powerful and establish a foundation for translating other parts of speech. This verb is used when Jesus was walking through the market with His disciples and the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years reached out to touch the hem of his garment and received her healing. Jesus, feeling power leave Him, stops and says "Who touched me?". The disciples react by saying "Are you crazy? Here we are BEING CRUSHED by all these people and you ask who touched you?"
This verb is used when Jesus is preaching by the Sea of Galilee and is literally being pushed or pressured into the water.
This verb is used when Jesus expounds on the narrow way, a way of pressure, which leads to life.
"Tribulation" is a terrible translation of this Greek word thlipsis.
Acts 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Paul's message to disciples is that it is only through pressure that people can enter the kingdom of God. Entering the kingdom of God does NOT mean going to a place called heaven. It means learning how to live life as it is lived in heaven HERE ON EARTH!
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Here Paul explains that pressure is what makes disciples great (the meaning of glory) because it produces patience through experience, that experience gives us hope, and that hope expands the love of God to others.
But God puts others under pressure.
Romans 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
In this verse Paul makes it plain that sinners are put under pressure, whether Jew or Gentile, and that means EVERYONE.
Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Beginning with chapter 8 and following through most of chapter 9 is a list of the disasters that God pours out upon the earth. Verses 20 and 21 point out that the purpose of all these disasters is to lead men to repentance, i.e a change of mind about their Creator and sin.
So God puts EVERYONE under pressure. He puts His own people (saints) under pressure to become like Him, i.e to take on His character. He puts sinners under pressure to repent and change how they think about life and sin and their relationship with Him.
It is the misunderstanding produced by a terrible translation (tribulation) that has led to so much error in doctrine regarding these end times and even man's relationship to his Creator.
Greek verbs are very powerful and establish a foundation for translating other parts of speech. This verb is used when Jesus was walking through the market with His disciples and the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years reached out to touch the hem of his garment and received her healing. Jesus, feeling power leave Him, stops and says "Who touched me?". The disciples react by saying "Are you crazy? Here we are BEING CRUSHED by all these people and you ask who touched you?"
This verb is used when Jesus is preaching by the Sea of Galilee and is literally being pushed or pressured into the water.
This verb is used when Jesus expounds on the narrow way, a way of pressure, which leads to life.
"Tribulation" is a terrible translation of this Greek word thlipsis.
Acts 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Paul's message to disciples is that it is only through pressure that people can enter the kingdom of God. Entering the kingdom of God does NOT mean going to a place called heaven. It means learning how to live life as it is lived in heaven HERE ON EARTH!
Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Here Paul explains that pressure is what makes disciples great (the meaning of glory) because it produces patience through experience, that experience gives us hope, and that hope expands the love of God to others.
But God puts others under pressure.
Romans 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
In this verse Paul makes it plain that sinners are put under pressure, whether Jew or Gentile, and that means EVERYONE.
Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.
Beginning with chapter 8 and following through most of chapter 9 is a list of the disasters that God pours out upon the earth. Verses 20 and 21 point out that the purpose of all these disasters is to lead men to repentance, i.e a change of mind about their Creator and sin.
So God puts EVERYONE under pressure. He puts His own people (saints) under pressure to become like Him, i.e to take on His character. He puts sinners under pressure to repent and change how they think about life and sin and their relationship with Him.
It is the misunderstanding produced by a terrible translation (tribulation) that has led to so much error in doctrine regarding these end times and even man's relationship to his Creator.
