Herbert W Armstrong

Good News Staff  

   How can I prove that the Tribulation and the Day of the Lord are two separate events?

   Here is what certain denominations and men claim:
   "It is again important to emphasize the fact that the day of the Lord IS the day of His wrath. So also is the tribulation. That is the only explanation of the terrible things that come to pass at that time" (Strombeck, J.F.; First the Rapture. p. 47).
   But notice what the BIBLE SAYS concerning these two events:
   "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" (Matt. 24:29).
   Notice, carefully! These are the events recorded to happen after the
Tribulation:
   1. Sun is darkened.
   2. Moon doesn't give out light.
   3. Stars fall from heaven.
   4. Powers of the heavens shaken.
   This all happens AFTER THE TRIBULATION!
   Now notice another scripture.
   Revelation 6:1-11 gives us the first FIVE SEALS, The fifth one is the GREAT TRIBULATION where we find "the souls of them that were slain for the word of God" (Verse 9).
   Then we read about the sixth seal — after the Tribulation! These are the Heavenly Signs:
   "When he had opened the sixth seal [the Tribulation is now over), and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth" (Rev. 6:12-13).
   So these are the events recorded after THE TRIBULATION — which is the fifth seal:
   1. Sun became black.
   2. Moon became as blood.
   3. Stars fell to the earth.
   4. There was a great earthquake.
   Compare these with the events in Matthew 24:29. They are identical — and OCCUR AFTER the Great Tribulation!
   But then a most surprising fact becomes apparent. These events — the Heavenly Signs — occur BEFORE THE DAY OF THE LORD! (Rev. 6:17).
   Joel tells us, "I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth... The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, BEFORE the great and the terrible day of the Lord come" (Joel 2:30, 31).
   Read very carefully! What does this say?
   It says that the identical signs (sun being darkened and moon turning to blood) — come AFTER the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:29; Rev. 6:9, 12, 17) — and BEFORE the Day of the Lord (Joel 2:30, 31)!!!
   There is just one conclusion.
   First, comes the Great Tribulation; second come the Heavenly Signs; third, comes the Day of the Lord. Any men who hold theories to the contrary are found to be in total error, The Bible again is proven to be the perfect Word of God!
   Mark these verses in your own Bible so you will remember them. Put these cross references in your margin — they will remind you of the answer to the question if it ever comes up again — and you may be able to use it to help someone else!

Good News Magazine

May 1964

Vol XIII, No. 5