Make no mistake – God’s people will suffer incredible tribulation during the future Antichrist’s reign. Those who persevere and remain faithful will be brought out of that Great Tribulation and saved from God’s subsequent wrath.

A popular belief these days is that there’ll be a secret pre-second-coming gathering of the Church before this happens. But the relatively recent concept isn’t scriptural. The Bible tells a different version of the end, reminding us that tribulation is often necessary and that followers of our Christ will indeed go through the greatest tribulation in the last days. Let’s take a look at what the Bible has to say about our current tribulations along with a glimpse of the last, great tribulation – and the benefits of making it through them.

• Going through trouble grows perseverance, character, and hope:

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope. —Romans 5:3-4.

• Refining comes through testing:

If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. —1 Corinthians 3:15.

I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself . . . —Revelation 3:18.

. . . so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ . . . —1 Peter 1:7.

• Christ’s followers may suffer tribulation but will escape the last-days wrath of God:

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. —Romans 5:9.

THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME. AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED. —Acts 2:20-21.

You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. —Mark 13:13.

Just as exercising your muscles promotes physical strength and health, staying the course during trouble can make us emotionally and spiritually stronger.  So, don’t bemoan those trials – tackle them head-on knowing that we have strength through our Christ to overcome. Persevere, grow, and live!